Finding Hayes (Magnolia Falls #5)

by Laura Pavlov

To anyone who has ever felt judged, misunderstood, alone or not seen. This one is for you. I see you. XO

Savannah Abbott had the best laugh. Always had. She was the one person who could bring it out of me because she was funny as hell. At least, she used to be. She also used to be a scrawny little thing, with her hair tied back in a ponytail. But today, long caramel-brown waves ran down her back, and she didn’t look like the sixteen-year-old teenager who’d left town in a hurry. Who’d left me.

There was a peace that came over me, knowing that Savannah was here. Home. My world had always been better with her in it.

My father had left me and my sister when we were young. My mother had failed us time and time again, as well. My fiancée had faked a pregnancy and fucked my coworker. And none of those losses compared to the loss of Savannah Abbott in my life.

My woman. Fake or real—it didn’t really matter at the moment. She was here with me, and she felt like mine. Maybe she’d always felt like mine.

His moss-green eyes locked with mine. “I’d like to kiss my wife before I agree to spend my life with her.”

“But you, Shortcake, you were always different. You were a part of me in a way that I can’t even explain. I would do anything for you, but I also trusted that you would do anything for me. It went both ways. I leaned on you, I told you everything, shared my hopes and my fears, which I don’t usually do. So losing you—it hardened me in a lot of ways.”

“Get the fuck away from my wife,” I growled, as I moved across the room and stood beside her.

“Now, do your husband a solid, and sit on my face. I want you to smother me. I want you to come so hard, you can’t think of anything but my mouth on your pussy.”

“You’re more than my best friend, Sav. I like coming home to you. I like knowing you’re in my bed, even when I’m not there with you. Knowing that you’re waiting for me. Knowing that everyone thinks you’re mine. Because you are mine, Savannah Woodson. And I know you only married me because you had to, and I’m not the guy you’d choose in a different situation because I can’t give you all the things that you want. But I fucking love you. And even if you divorce me in a few months, I’d still want to date you.”

“Why do we have to? Hell, I’d stay married to you if I knew you wanted that. I don’t want this to end, Sav. Now that I’ve got you back, I don’t want to let you go. Not now, not in another month, not in another year. I. Want. You. Whatever way I can have you.”