15. Savannah

Chapter 15

Savannah

"Is dinner ready yet? I'm starving!" Dad calls, rounding the corner into the kitchen.

Pulling out of Nixon's arms, I swipe a finger under my eyes, fixing any smudges of makeup from my tears.

"You're beautiful, stop worrying about your makeup," Nixon whispers, then turns his attention to Dad. "Hold your horses, ya old man. I'm making magic happen in this kitchen."

"Ha!" Dad snorts with laughter. "You think anything you make could be any more magical than what Carla can do? I think not."

"Donny, stop harassing the boy. I swear you two are like long lost brothers." Mom sweeps into the room with the biggest smile on her face. "You'll be begging to go back to college by the end of the weekend with these two hanging around."

"I missed you guys," I sigh. "I always forget how much until I come back home."

"Not too much longer, sweet pea. Soon you'll be all ours again."

Chad and Devon stumble into the room whispering to each other. All eyes snap to them and Devon's cheeks heat in embarrassment, before she recovers.

"Taste this and tell pops how magical my cooking is." Nixon winks, holding out a wooden spoon with sauce on it.

My gaze bounces between him and the spoon, trying to decide if I should do it. Something about tasting food from a spoon being held by someone else makes it feel… romantic.

"Oh, here we go." Dad mocks with an eye roll.

I have no choice, if I refuse to try it Dad will never let him live it down and I'll hurt Nixon's feelings. Leaning in, I close my mouth around the edge of the spoon. I take a quick taste before stepping back. Flavors burst over my taste buds and surprise me. I have to fight to hide the moan fighting to break free. I can't believe Nixon made this.

"Well? Don't keep us waiting? Can the model worthy Adonis cook or what?" Devon blurbs out.

"It needs some pepper." I wink, lifting the pepper grinder, sprinkling in the smallest amount.

"Savvy, you gotta little something…" Nixon steps closer.

His hand lifts and his thumb brushes against my bottom lip. My entire body goes on high alert as heat races from his touch, spreading through my entire body. When he pulls his hand back, he licks the sauce off his thumb.

"Oh, fuck. Please tell me you're single," Devon groans, fanning herself with her hand.

"Devon! Shut up!" I hiss over my shoulder.

"Nuh, uh. If a guy like that looked at me the way he's looking at you… Damn, Sav, I'd throw myself into his arms and never let him go. No other guy could ever compete."

"What the hell?" Chad mutters from next to her.

"Oh shush. I'm not dating you."

"Yeah, but still." He pouts, seeming to care more about Devon's reaction to Nixon than mine.

"Dinner's ready. Everyone can grab a seat while I bring all the food out." Nixon's voice startles me, I didn't realize he was so close to me.

"Can I help?"

"Nah, go sit with your friends. I can handle it."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. I'm fine."

When I get to the table, I'm surprised to find Devon sitting next to Chad like she belongs there.

"Am I not allowed to sit next to my boyfriend?" I chuckle, making them think I'm joking around, but I'm not.

They've seemed too close for comfort recently. I wonder how long it's been going on, but I've been stuck in my head recently. I study every chance I get, nothing else matters.

"You can, but then I can't stare at Nixon. I need to be across from him," Devon whines. "Can't I please sit here? You can stare at Chad then too!"

"Whatever," I grumble, dropping into the seat across from Chad.

He gives me a sad smile, almost like he's sorry. I can't help but wonder why.

Nixon carries in a big bowl of linguini and a huge platter of crispy chicken. He leaves, then comes back with garlic bread, sauce, and a salad.

"Wow, this looks amazing. You're just the total package, huh?" Devon nibbles on her bottom lip, trying to get Nixon to pay attention to her. He's either blind or completely uninterested.

"Would you stop embarrassing yourself? He's obviously not interested," Chad growls.

My brows lower into a frown. Chad never cared when Devon flirted with guys before. She's known for overdoing it and embarrassing herself, but he's always laughed about it and ignored her. What's changed? Why does it bother him now? He used to find it amusing.

"You don't know that," she singsongs.

"I'm not," Nixon deadpans, taking the seat next to me.

"Ok…" Dad stares at me with wide eyes. "How about we say grace, then we can dig in."

He holds his hands out to me and Devon. She shoots me a bemused expression. I motion for her to take his hand. Maybe it was a mistake bringing them home with me. I should've known better. I've made it a point to never bring Devon anywhere important. I don't know why I thought bringing her into my family was a great idea.

Chad and Nixon take Mom's hand. I freeze when I realize I'm going to have to grasp Nixon's. He holds out a hand, waiting for me to take it. Slowly, I slide mine into his. Tingles immediately shoot up my arm and spread through my body. It's like electricity is pulsing within me, I've never felt anything like it before.

It takes everything in me to not jump back, severing the connection we have. Nixon intertwines our fingers, giving my hand a squeeze.

"Lord, bless the family around us and the food you've provided. Thank you for letting us gather together and help us remember all of the things we're thankful for. The things you have given us. We praise you and thank you, amen," Dad says, dropping my hand.

I try to pull out of Nixon's grasp, but he keeps a tight hold on me.

"Let go," I hiss under my breath.

His lips quirk up on one side before he releases me.

"Let me serve you. I'm assuming you want a little of everything." Nixon holds out a hand for my plate.

"I want a lot of everything. I've been at college for months, I don't get home-cooked meals."

"Well, it's not because you don't know how to cook," Mom huffs like I just insulted her.

"You're right. I just don't have the time."

"All Savannah does is study, study, and study some more. Most of the time she doesn't even have time for me." Chad frowns.

I scowl at him, but don't say a word. I refuse to apologize for putting my schooling and future before him.

"Well, I for one am happy Sav's putting school first. She's a smart girl, I couldn't be prouder." Dad beams over at me.

"Thanks, Dad." I squeeze his hand before I take my first bite, piling chicken, sauce, and pasta onto my fork all at once. "Oh, wow. Holy crap," I mutter around the food.

"Are you ok?" Nixon eyes me with amusement.

Finishing my bite, I swallow before turning my full attention to him. I smack him in the stomach with the back of my hand.

"You ass, you never told me you could cook like this!"

"Ow, Savvy!" He chuckles, blocking me from hitting him again. "I didn't know I could cook! This was my first try."

"Wait… seriously?" My jaw practically drops to the floor.

"Yes. I wanted to make you dinner. I picked your favorite."

"Aww, isn't that cute," Chad growls.

"I thought it was adorable." Mom beams from the head of the table.

"Tell me, Nixon ," Chad spits his name. "How long have you and Savannah known each other?"

"Well, she's twenty-two, so that means… twenty-two years. She was born right after I turned two. Our moms were friends and we lived across the street from each other. We were inseparable."

"Until you turned your back on her. You haven't spoken to her for several years, right?" Devon smirks from the other side of the table. Tilting her head to the side, she examines Nixon.

"Yeah, why exactly did you do that?" Chad arches a brow, taking a sip of his drink.

"I think that's between Savvy and I." Nixon tries to appear unaffected, but his clenched jaw and the fist balled in his lap gives him away.

"Chad, stop it. There's no reason to try to start shit." Reaching for Nixon's hand, I give it a quick squeeze. When I try to pull my hand away, he grips it in his own, threading our fingers together all over again.

The rest of dinner goes as smoothly as I can hope for. Chad and Devon keep their snide comments to themselves. They glance at each other every few minutes, having a silent conversation I'm not part of. Nixon doesn't let go of my hand the entire time. It's comfortable, reassuring, and feels like home.

"So, Chad, what are you planning on doing after graduation?" Dad asks when we're all relaxing in the living room on the couches.

"The plan is for me to take over my father's construction business."

What? He never told me that. Chad has never told me a single thing about what he plans to do with his life. I thought he didn't know yet. I never knew he had his whole future planned out. One I don't think he plans on including me in.

"That sounds like a good plan. Where are you from?"

"California."

Dad turns his gaze to me, studying me. His eyes soften, he's always been able to read me like a book. He knows I'm thinking California is a long way from Pennsylvania.

"Devon, what are your plans?" Mom moves the focus away from me. She's always been the best at that.

"Oh, I'm a business and event management major. I'm planning on being an event coordinator when I go back home. I live in California, actually I'm pretty close to where Chad's from."

"That's a long way from here. Has to be at least a five-hour long flight, maybe more." Nixon's voice hits me like a bus.

I know that tone. He's trying to make a point, yet keeping his emotions out of it. He doesn't like Chad and Devon; the feelings are mutual. Well, maybe not from Devon. I'm sure she likes him, and she definitely likes to look at him.

I glance up at Nixon, finding his eyes already on me. The heat of his stare makes me squirm in my spot next to Chad.

Chad's sitting in the center of the couch, Devon and I on either side of him. He has an arm around each of our shoulders. Dad's relaxing in his chair with Mom on his lap and Nixon's on the other chair.

"Yeah, but it's beautiful out there. So much better than around here. I've hated every second of college. I miss the ocean and the warmth," Chad replies.

"What will happen with you and Savvy after graduation?" Nixon stares him down.

"I don't know. I still have another semester left. There's no point of focusing on something so far off."

"It's like five months away. Not that far off at all," Nixon says slowly, almost like he can't believe how stupid Chad is. "Plus, Savannah's done after the current semester."

I stare down at my hands, avoiding everyone's gaze. I can't believe I thought it'd be a good idea to bring Chad and Devon home for the holidays. This is turning out to be a disaster.

"Well, I guess if she wants to move to Cali, then we can continue this. Otherwise, I don't know. It's not like I can up and move a construction company. It doesn't work like that."

"Ok!" Mom claps. "Who's ready for dessert?"

"I'll go get it." Jumping off the couch, I rush into the kitchen before anyone can volunteer to help me. I just need a minute alone before I walk back into the lion's den. There are so many emotions overwhelming me right now.

My boyfriend basically just told my family that unless I want to follow him to California, our relationship is over. My best friend doesn't seem to know if she wants Chad or Nixon keeping her company at night and Nixon's trying his hardest to show Chad he's not going anywhere.

I swear, Dad, Mom, and I are just watching them volley insults and snide comments back and forth at each other. I'm starting to regret inviting Chad and Devon home with me. No, not starting. I fully regret it.