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I remember when I first met Dawson, how terrified I was of the attraction that was building between the two of us, and as much as it turned out to be the worst decision I ever made, it was also the best. He taught me how to love while simultaneously teaching me what love ends up doing to you, and I’d do everything in my power to keep Bethany from learning the worst of it.
“So, this boy, does he like you too?”
She groans, then sighs when I arch a brown at her. “I think so, but I don’t know.”
I can sense that she’s getting sick of the conversation so, instead of continuing it, I pull back out onto the road and turn the music up. The silence isn’t as rough as it was moments ago, but the thoughts of Dawson are crawling right back. How big he smiled at me when we first met, his eyes twinkling at the sight of me, and how much he would try to hang around me.
Was I blinded by it all?
How could I have been so stupid and not see he was eventually going to break me into a million tiny pieces?
I take a deep breath and narrow my eyes onto the road, my hands tightening around the steering wheel. I’m not going to let that happen again. Dawson can step into my life as much as he likes while I’m here, but I refuse to let him break down the walls I built up because of him.
I’m only hoping that it stays this way.
Chapter Six
Dawson
I’ve been wanting to catch Savanna at a good time since she ran into me at the market — literally — but I haven’t caught sight of her again. It’s like she’s going out of her way to stay away from me and that only makes me want to see her more. When Easton ran into me the other day, there was nothing but venom spewing from his mouth as he told me to stay away from Savanna, which means she probably told him about me showing up at their house.
That’s why I’m not going to make that mistake again — not yet, anyway. I still haven’t had the chance to tell them that the flowers were for their mother, but that can come at a later date. Right now I am going to try spending my day offnotpining after the only woman I’ve ever loved.
If only it were that easy though because as soon as I catch sight of her walking into the local cafe, all bets are off and I make myway in the same direction. Maybe if it’s a public setting, she’ll be more keen on letting me in, giving me a chance to talk about things, or at least explain the reason for my actions seven years ago.
There’s a stream of people that push ahead of me through the door, blocking my view of Savanna, and I softly groan in frustration. Mrs. Langley is sitting at the table next to the window, just like she does every morning, and she catches sight of me through the throng of customers. She gives me a bright smile before waving me over excitedly and, being the great people person that I am, I move from my place in line and walk over to her.
“Mrs. Langley, how are you this morning?”
She sighs. “Fine, Dawson, just fine. Not on the clock today?”
I shake my head and smile. “Got the day off, how’s your husband doing?” He had a stroke last month, so I make a point to ask her every day how everything is going at home.
“He’s doing well, but only getting crankier.”
That’s to be expected, considering the role he plays in town. He’s the mayor, but their son has taken over for him after everything that’s happened. I imagine he’s probably getting sick of being tucked away at home, but Mrs. Langley was never one to give in to his demands.
Her gaze cuts to our left and I follow it, watching as Savanna slips between people with her head pointing up to the sky, and Mrs. Langley sighs. “I haven’t seen her in years. Do you know how her father is doing?”
I shake my head with a frown. “Nothing more than what the town knows. I’m not exactly the best person to get information from when it comes to the Gentrys.” It’s not like she doesn’t know this. Most of the people sitting in this place right now were there when things went south with Savanna and me.
Mrs. Langley smiles and nudges her head in Savanna’s direction. “Maybe you should try asking her. I’m sure she’d like that.”
Clearly no one knows everything, or maybe they’re all just trying to play matchmaker and get us back together. Little do they know that the woman sitting alone at the cafe table is far from the girl who used to stick close to my side. Mrs. Langley looks at me expectantly and I throw my hands up in the air with a smile. “If this backfires, that’s on you, ma’am. Enjoy the rest of your morning.”
She hums in response and leans back in her chair, those beady round eyes of hers following my every move as I inch closer to Savanna. This is the last thing I should be doing, but I can’t exactly deny this was my plan in the first place. Except I didn’t come in here to talk about her dad. When I reach her table, I clear my throat while sweat drips down my back.
I’m struck when Savanna glances up at me, her eyes narrowing at my presence and I take a deep breath. “Savanna, I just want to talk.”
She scoffs. “Talk? You’re about seven years too late for that, Dawson.” Her gaze darts toward the window, then she leans closer to me with a smirk. “And I’d rather run out into oncoming traffic than sit here and speak to you, so if you’d kindly leave me alone to enjoy my coffee?”
I can’t even bother to pretend that her words don’t hurt me – they crush me – and I physically flinch from the impact of them. Have I really hurt her so much that she’s not even willing to hear me out? She stares at me for a few moments before taking a deep breath in and huffing it out, the anger pouring out of her. “Just leave me alone,” she spits out, catching the attention of the crowd surrounding us.
“Okay, Sav,” I say breathlessly. “No problem.”
Mrs. Langley’s sad eyes are on me as I walk past her table, but I can’t bother to spare her much of a glance before pushing out the exit. My gaze finds Savanna through the large glass window, her eyes focused entirely on me, and I look away from her before I rush back in there.
There’s no way I’ll be able to know she’s here, walking around town, without attempting to win her heart back. I’ve got to try, at least, since she’s the only woman who’s ever had a special place in mine. It never mattered how many women I tried to drown the memory of her out with, no one ever lived up to the light shebrought into my life. I spent years trying to push her out, letting others in, but nothing ever worked.
