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“Did you bring it?” I ask, practically bouncing with excitement.
He chuckles, the sound always making my toes curl, and nods before holding the same large envelope into the air. “Of course, Sav, I don’t think you would’ve let me live another day if I didn’t.”
I push his shoulder playfully, then squeal. “Well, come on, let's open them!”
The sound of the paper ripping echoes through the air as we both see what I already knew — we’ve both been accepted.I jump into his arms with tears gathering in my eyes. He rubs small circles along my back before tightening his hold on me and letting my feet fall back onto the ground. I expect a smile on his face when I look at him, anything to indicate that he’s just as happy as I am, but there’s nothing but sadness in his bright blue eyes.
“Dawson, what’s wrong?” There’s a sinking feeling in my stomach as he turns away from me and runs a hand through his thick dark curls. “Dawson?”
His eyes are shining when he turns back around to face me and he shakes his head. “Sav, this isn’t going to work anymore.”
My heart cracks and I let out a nervous chuckle. “What do you mean?” When I take a step towards him, he backs away as if I’ll hurt him, and I cock my head to the side. “Dawson?”
“This isn’t where my life is going to end up, Sav, not anymore, but that shouldn’t mean yours will be ruined,” he chokes out. “I’m breaking up with you.”
As soon as the words are out of his mouth, I shake my head and let the tears fall out of my eyes. “What are you saying? No, Dawson, this isn’t what we planned.”
He sighs. “No, this isn’t whatyouplanned. I went along with it, but I can’t anymore, Sav.” His gaze falls onto the trail I just walked down moments ago and he says, “You should go home.”
“Dawson!” I cry out. “No! This can’t be happening.” I’m shaking now, trying to keep control of myself as he steps away from me without taking his eyes off me.
“Go live your life, Sav, I have no doubt you’ll rock it out there.”
Before I can say anything else, he turns around and rushes through the trees that lead toward his house and I’m left with my heart shattered. Tears stream down my face like a waterfall and I swipe at them, waiting until I’ve calmed down before I head back home. Easton’s bedroom light is off when I get home and I pull myself over the ledge of my window, almost landing on my ass when I get inside.
Autumn, my best friend, sends me a text asking how the night is going, but I don’t have it in me to text her back as I curl into a ball on my bed. I didn’t think I had anymore tears left in me, but they keep falling as I close my eyes and wish that this is all some horrible nightmare.
What did I do wrong?
Twenty minutes ago I threw my cap into the air and watched as Dawson walked off with his family, his gaze not once meeting mine along the way, and I wish it didn’t hurt as badly as it did that first night.
I won’t have to deal with this pain much longer though.
Autumn is leaning against the side of my new car as I walk along the parking lot, trying my hardest not to search for him throughout, and she gives me a small smile when I get close to her. “You’ll call me at every stop you make along the way?”
“Of course. I’d rather keep my life even if it’s depressing as hell,” I say with a smile.
She sighs and glances over my shoulder, a frown pulling at her brows, then she wraps her arms around me tightly. “I’m going to miss you, Sav.”
I’ve already said my goodbyes to the family, Autumn was the only one left to say it to and it’s hurting more than I thought it would. This is what’s best for me though. Anything to get as far away from here as I can. “I have to get on the road. I need you to make sure my brother’s head stays on straight, okay?”
“Sure,” she mumbles.
I sink into the driver’s seat and take a deep breath, my hands gripping the steering wheel tightly as I catch Dawson’s gaze on me, then I look at Autumn. “Guess I’ll see you soon. Come visit me, okay?”
She waves with tears in her eyes as I pull away from her, my eyes not leaving the rearview mirror until I disappear around the corner. It only takes a few minutes before I’m passing the exit sign for Maple Creek, feeling lighter than I have since my heart was left in pieces by the lake.
Here’s to hoping my heart will heal after some time away.
Chapter One
Savanna. Present Day.
I’m just walking through my front door when my phone rings in my pocket and I let it go to voicemail, not wanting to deal with anyone right now after the work day I’ve had. Not even a minute later it starts ringing again and I sigh, taking the device out with a frown, and see Easton’s name on the screen.
“Easton, hey, what’s up?”
“Sav, it’s Dad.” Easton’s voice cracks and I freeze in the middle of my kitchen. “There’s no easy way to say this so I’m just gonna say it. He’s had a heart attack.”
