She climbs in the cab and I go in after her. “I’m nervous,” she says after a long silence.
“Don’t be. I’m going to be right here with you the whole time. There’s nothing he can say or do to separate us.” I wink at her. “Besides, I’ve got something on him that will keep him in line.”
“Care to tell me what that is?”
“Let’s wait and see if he’s willing to play ball first,” I say, and she nods.
When we get to her parents’ house, long-stored-away memories rattle as I park the truck and get out. I was never invited over to Savannah’s house, but I rode over here a few times with Aiden when he had to drop his sister off. It was hard on everyone when he lost her, but I know how hard that hit Savannah. There were so many nights I drove by here in this very truck and wished I could go in and give her a hug. But I knew her father looked down his nose at me and I heard the rumors about how controlling he was. It didn’t take long for me to see it for myself and then realize what I was going to have to do to make her mine.
I help her out of the truck and before her feet have hit the ground the front doors are thrown open. Her mother is in a silk robe with feathers around the sleeves and neck. It’s a bit like a soap opera as she stands there waiting on us to walk up the stairs to the front door.
“Mother,” Savannah says, and I squeeze her hand in mine.
“Where the hell have you been, young lady?” she says, as if Savannah isn’t a grown woman. “Your father has been worried sick.”
“And you? Have you been worried, too, mother?” Savannah straightens her spine and I want to fist pump that she’s not letting her mother run the show.
“How dare you speak to me like some common stranger.” Her mother places her hand on her chest like she’s been physically attacked. “The scandal the two of you have caused has turned this house upside down. I haven’t been able to show my face anywhere because of it.”
And here we are, back to how this affects everyone except Savannah. I roll my eyes and I hear her mother make a tsking sound.
“Get in the house before the neighbors see you,” she orders. She peers around suspiciously and ushers us in.
“When will father be home?” Savannah asks as we step inside the foyer.
“I called him when I saw that vehicle in the driveway.” She looks like she’s swallowed a bug when she references my truck. I’m even happier I brought it now. “He’s finishing up at work and he’ll be here soon.”
“Good,” I say, and her mother looks over at me with a sour face.
“I’ll have Matilda bring drinks to the lounge. I need to lie down after all you’ve put me through,” she whines as she puts the back of her hand on her forehead and pretends to be unsteady on her feet.
Savannah lets go of my hand and I want to grab it back, but she walks towards her mother. For a second I’m worried she might push her over but then to my surprise Savannah wraps her up in a hug.
“I feel so sorry for you,” she says, and her mother’s eyes widen in shock. “You have no idea what it’s like to be loved, and I forgive you.”
“Forgive me?” her mother asks, and Savannah releases her and takes a step back. “For what?”
“For being a shitty mother and all-around terrible person,” Savannah explains. She squeezes her mom’s shoulder and comes to stand beside me.
The woman looks like she’s just been slapped in the mouth as she stares openly at the two of us.
“We’ll see ourselves to the lounge,” I say, pulling Savannah in my arms and we walk right past the frozen woman. “How did that feel?” I whisper to Savannah as we walk into the room and close the door behind us.
“Amazing,” she says as she turns in my arms to look up at me. “I didn’t think I could do it, but I really do forgive her. After what we shared last night I know that she has no idea what it’s like to be loved like you love me.”
“To be fair, I don’t think anyone on this earth does,” I say, tucking her hair behind her ear. I lean down and press my lips to hers.
“I love you,” she whispers against my lips and I pull back to look at her.
“Say it again,” I demand. I take a step closer to her and she takes a step back.
“I love you, Wyatt. I don’t know why I hesitated last night because I’ve only ever loved you my entire life. And right now I feel brave and free, and I know it’s because you’re here with me.”