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To anyone who has ever felt judged, misunderstood, alone or not seen. This one is for you. I see you.
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.
“‘Finding Hayes.’
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.”
“Such a bossy little wife,”
“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.”
“This is the thing about you and me, Sav. We may have spent those years apart, but we never lost this connection. It’s too strong. That’s why when the fake marriage idea came up, I didn’t hesitate. Because it’s you. I have no fucking desire to ever be married. I don’t want that life. I don’t want to care about anyone that way. I’m not looking for a fairy tale. But if there’s something that I could ever do for you—I wouldn’t think twice. P and C, right?”
“Get the fuck away from my wife,” I growled, as I moved across the room and stood beside her.
“We’re married. We’re happy. That’s all anyone needs to know. That’s all that fucking matters.” Hayes pushed to his feet and tossed his empty coffee cup into the garbage can. “And you’re getting that money. And your dad is going to get into that trial, and he’s going to be okay. Because you deserve that, Sav. You’re the best person I know. You’re my wife, and you fucking deserve everything good.”
“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.”
“How about you and I agree that you don’t speak about my wife? You don’t think about her. You don’t talk about her. And we won’t have a problem.”
“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.”
“If you ever fucking speak to my wife that way again, you’ll regret it.”
I know we want different things, but maybe none of that matters as much as we think it does. Maybe all that matters is you and me. Because when I’m with you, I’m happier than I’ve ever been. And I know it’s selfish to ask you to be with me when someone else can give you everything you want. But I’m a selfish man when it comes to you. I don’t want to let you go.”
“Life is a journey. And the road is bumpy. But if you’re willing to go through the rough spots, you can come out okay on the other side.”
