13. Savannah

Chapter 13

Savannah

"Are you sure you guys don't mind driving separately? I don't have to take stuff home today."

"Hush, it's fine. We don't care at all, right Chad?" Devon calls over her shoulder, helping me with a box.

"Nah, it's cool, baby. I don't want you to have to make the drive back and forth in a few weeks, it's pointless."

My stomach clenches, knowing my time here is ending. As this chapter of my life ends, I don't know what's going to happen next. Chad will stay, Devon will stay, and I'll be leaving.

Will we all stay close? Will Chad and I keep dating? Will Nixon and I become friends again?

I frown at the thought of Nixon. He's been popping into my head more and more recently. When he was just invading my dreams, it was one thing. But now he's invading my waking thoughts too.

I'm sure it's the fact I haven't seen him in so long. It's curiosity, nothing else. Right?

"Do you guys want to follow me?" Pulling the front door shut, I twist the key, locking it.

"I think you should just give us the address. In case we lose you or need to stop and get gas or something." Devon suggests, bouncing down the steps like this is the best day of her life.

"Yeah, I agree. There's no reason for you to stop with us, you have people looking forward to you getting home." Chad adds, following after Devon.

"Oh, ok. You know they're excited to meet both of you too."

"They're not, but thanks for trying to make us feel better, Sav." Chad presses his lips to my forehead in the briefest kiss ever. Then he's hopping in Devon's car before I even know what's happening.

Two hours into the drive, I want to pull over to stretch my legs. I hate nothing more than being stuck in a car for a long time. And by a long time, I mean more than thirty minutes. I'm a child when it comes to road trips.

Pressing the button on my steering wheel, I dial the one person I know will be more than willing to talk to me for a little bit.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Dad."

"Hey, Sav. Did you leave yet?"

"Yup! I'm about three hours away."

"Good, I can't wait to see you."

"Me either. I forgot how much this drive stinks to do alone though."

"Alone? I thought that friend of yours was coming, and that boyfriend of yours." He says boyfriend like the word personally offends him.

"They are, but they're driving separately."

"Your boyfriend is driving with your friend instead of you? That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard of."

"Well, I packed up my car with things I'll need to bring home at the end of the semester. I figured it was better to only have to make one trip home. There wasn't room in the car for them and my things."

"But why didn't the boyfriend drive separate and take some of your things? I don't like the idea of you driving this far alone."

"They offered to drive together. I'm fine being alone, it's not the first time I've made the drive and it won't be the last."

"This guy sounds like a piece of shit," Dad grumbles under his breath.

"Dad! He's a good guy."

"A good guy wouldn't let you drive alone," he mutters. "If you want a good guy to date, I'll have one waiting for you when you get home."

"You're not setting me up! Just be nice to Chad."

"Chad," he spits out the name. "I'll be nice… for you, not for this boy."

"He's not a boy." I sigh. "He's the same age as me. Please, Dad."

"Just because he's your age doesn't make him a man. Being a man is all about how you act, not the age on your driver's license. A man would want to protect his woman and put her needs above his own. Chad sounds nothing like a man. I promise I'll be nice, Sav. I don't promise to like him or give him my blessing to date you."

"Let's start with nice, then we can see what you think of him."

"Alright… Listen, I need to go, your mom needs help."

"Ok, I love you."

"Love you too, sweetie. Hurry home, we all miss you."

The line goes dead and I blow out a long breath. This weekend is going to be more stressful than I thought. Dad already hates Chad and they haven't even met yet. Hopefully Mom likes him, she'll keep Dad on his best behavior.

One thing he said keeps floating through my head. Why didn't Chad come with me? We could've put boxes in Devon's car. They both seemed more than eager to drive separately though.

I pass the rest of the time listening to an audiobook from the series I've been reading. I love narrators who put so much passion and emotion into their reading. It makes it so much better than the others.

I wonder what it'd be like to create your own characters, your own universe and the stories within it. Thoughts of different story lines run through my head. Romantic scenes of couples reuniting for the first time, the first kiss, the first I love you .

My thoughts quickly turn to what it's going to be like seeing Nixon again for the first time. Our own reuniting. It won't be romantic. Nothing about reuniting with the man who broke your heart is romantic.

Before long I'm pulling into the driveway. All the tension from the drive leaves my body when Dad opens the door with a big smile. I jump out of the car and run into his waiting arms.

"Baby girl," he breathes into my neck. "I've missed you so much."

"I missed you too, Dad."

"Where's the boyfriend and friend?"

"They're still about thirty minutes to an hour out. They stopped for food."

"And you didn't?" He raises a brow.

"Of course not! I wanted an empty stomach to fill with Mom's cooking." I beam up at him. "It's not my fault they're going to miss it."

"That's my girl." His rich laughter fills the air. "C'mon, let's go see her."

We head straight to the kitchen, she's rarely in any other room of the house.

"My baby!" She squeals the second her gaze lands on me. Her bear hug almost knocks me off my feet. When she pulls back, she looks me up and down. "You must be starved, let me make you a snack until dinner's ready."

"It's fine, Mom. I can wait."

My gaze sweeps the kitchen, taking in the food covering practically every surface.

Then I notice the man standing at the stove. His chocolate eyes are locked on me, but he doesn't make a sound.

He's wearing a pair of black jeans, a white button up shirt that's rolled up to his elbows and a pair of black suspenders. He should look ridiculous, but he doesn't. His dark hair falls over his forehead, begging to have my hands run through it. He's familiar, yet I can't place him.

One of Mom's aprons is wrapped around his thin waist as he stirs the pot of sauce.

Is he… cooking? No one outside of the family cooks in this kitchen, she'd never allow it.

His eyes rake me up and down, taking in each and every inch of me. A smile tugs on the corner of his plump lips. He brushes his hands on the apron, taking slow steps over to me.

"Hey, Savvy."

The second I hear his voice, it hits me.

"Nixon?" My voice comes out as barely a whisper.

"Come here…" He holds his arms open.

I'm hesitant to move closer, but when Mom pushes me from behind, I have no choice but to go to him. He hugs me tightly, holding me longer than acceptable for a friendly hug. When I step back, he doesn't try to stop me.

"You look amazing. And I was right, you're beautiful."

"Thanks," I mumble, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. My cheeks heat, but I try to ignore it.

"C'mon, Carla. Let's give them some privacy." Dad sweeps Mom into his arms, carrying her out of the room.

"You… You have sauce on your chin." I point at him with a frown.

He swipes at his chin with his thumb, wiping away the sauce. Sucking his thumb into his mouth, he throws me a wink.

"All better." Turning back to the stove, he picks up the wooden spoon, continuing to stir the sauce. "Sit and talk to me. Keep me company while I finish making dinner."

"You're making dinner?" My jaw falls open. Mom never lets anyone make dinner.

"Yup! Mama bear's been teaching me her cooking tricks this week. I've been helping out at the restaurant too."

"Wow, the prodigal son returns. Fulfilling all of the parents' hopes and dreams," I deadpan.

"Savvy, you know it isn't like that." He frowns at me.

"But it kinda is, Nixon. They've always loved you, no matter what you did. Looks like that hasn't changed."

"They love you more."

"I'd hope so, I'm their actual child."

We're quiet for a few minutes, both of us lost in our own thoughts.

"I missed you." Nixon's voice is barely above a whisper.

My gaze snaps to him, he lifts his chin just enough for our eyes to meet. I search for something to say, but I come up empty.

"I-" I begin, but I'm cut off by the door bell ringing. "Oh, that's probably Chad and Devon… I should probably…"

"Yeah… go ahead." Nixon's confidence slowly slips away, hurt evident in his eyes.

"Nix…" I hesitate, unsure of what I'm supposed to do.

Do I stay and talk to him? How do I ignore Devon and Chad showing up? I know Mom would scold me for that. She taught me better manners than ignoring visitors when they arrive, especially visitors who are only here because of me.

"No, it's fine. Go see your boyfriend."