Letting Go (Mitchell Family #1)(14)
Author: Jennifer Foor

We decided to eat while sitting on the couch, so we could watch television. I let Savanna pick the movie and thankfully she picked a comedy. I got up and put our plates in the sink and got us two beers. The first movie finally ended and a love story came on. It ended up being about a couple who were forbidden to see each other. After the first intimate scene, I grabbed the remote and changed the channel. I couldn’t even look at Savanna.

“Want to play some cards now?” I asked.

She pulled her legs up on the couch and rubbed them with her hands. “Sure. If you’ re ready to get beat that is.”

We both smiled and I got up to get the cards, pen and paper. When I got back she was cracking her knuckles and pretending to have a game face. I sat on the floor across the coffee table from her, so that she couldn’t see my cards. Rummy was a serious card game for my family.

We played three hands and our scores were almost identical. After having three beers each, we were both feeling more comfortable. “How about we play for shots?” Savanna suggested.

“Girl, I can drink you under the table. Did you forget I saw you last night?” I teased.

“I don’t plan on losing.” She replied confidently.

“You’re on. I am just warning you now, I draw the line at holding your head when you’re puking later.”

She just smiled and started shuffling the cards, while I grabbed the bottle of whiskey that was in the bedroom. The bottle was still half full, so we had plenty for this game.

After four more hands, Savanna and I were dead even with two shots each. She was starting to slur her words like last night, but was convinced she was going to continue. I felt relaxed, but not drunk at all. When she lost the next hand, she stood up from the table.

“Are you cheating?” She asked as she pushed her finger against my nose.

I laughed. “No you silly little drunk. I am just that good.”

She stood there giving me that look again. “Do you know that I haven’t had sex in over six months. I went from having it like everyday to never. Do you know what that is like?” Before I could open my mouth she kept going, slurring away. “Of course you don’t. Someone like you probably gets ass every day. Hell, you probably have a little black book, or do they just each have a day of the week?”

I tightened my lips and creased my eyebrows. She couldn’t have been more wrong. “You are drunk. It would be best if you just stopped talkin’. You obviously have no idea about how I live my life.” I said defensively. “And just so you know, I am just a regular guy. You keep saying guys like me like I am some special breed. I aint Savanna. I am just as normal as you. I had one girlfriend in the past year and I have never had a f**kin’ black book.”

She looked directly into my eyes. I stood still for some reason. “Why do you keep calling me that?”

“What?”

“Savanna. Nobody calls me that.”

I ran my hands through my hair and turned to walk out of the room. I needed to separate us. Drinking was obviously a bad idea.

“Tell me Colt.”

I turned around and found her less than a foot from me. Her eyes looked up into mine. “You should probably go to bed Savanna.”

She never looked away. “You said it again. Tell me why.”

I smiled and looked away. “Fine. I can’t call you Van anymore. It doesn’t fit you.” I confessed.

I went to walk away but she grabbed my arm. “It is my name, how doesn’t it fit me?”

“No, it isn’t your name. Your name is Savanna and it is beautiful, just like you.” I said in almost a whisper.

I couldn’t look her in the eyes. I knew what would happen next if I did. I walked into the kitchen and started doing the dishes, trying so hard to focus on anything but her. When I got the last plate cleaned and turned around I found her standing there.

She had tears in her eyes. “Colt. Will you sleep next to me again tonight?”

I leaned against the countertop. “That really aint a good idea. Last night was different, but we both have been drinkin’ and I can’t promise that I will be a gentleman.” I confessed.

I put my head down so that she couldn’t see me reacting to her. Instead of saying something she approached me. I looked up at her as her hands touched both sides of my cheeks. They reached up and ran through my hair. “Savanna.” I whispered, wanting to tell her to stop, but the words wouldn’t come.

Her finger brushed over my lips and she traced them with it. I watched her bite her lip. It made me lick and bite mine. I leaned my forehead against hers. “We can’t do this.” I said hesitantly.

I closed my eyes but kept my head against hers. “I know.” She whispered.

With my hands on her shoulders I backed her away from me and turned her to face the bedroom. She looked back at me and started walking, but suddenly stopped. “Will you just please sleep next to me? Please?” She begged.

I shook my head. This was trouble. She needed to leave tomorrow. I couldn’t do this after tonight. Every part of my body wanted her, and it was becoming hard to restrain when she was in front of me offering.

I waited a few minutes before going into the bedroom. I hoped that she had passed out, but instead she was still standing on the side of the bed. She hadn’t seen me come in and I froze as she removed her shorts and climbed into bed. How in the hell was I supposed to sleep next to her when she was only wearing her f**king panties? I pulled off my shirt and made sure not to remove my shorts before climbing in the bed next to her. We were far enough apart where I didn’t have to touch her at all. I tried to get comfortable on the edge, but soon needed to lay on my back. As I was turning, I saw that she was laying on her side, just looking at me. “Sorry for earlier.” She said calmly.

I propped my head on a pillow and looked at her. I shouldn’t have, but I did. “It’s fine. I can’t imagine the stress you been under for all this time. I can understand that you are lonely, hell I get lonely a lot.” I confessed.

“Everyone blames me. I just can’t take it anymore. Sometimes I just wish it was me in that hospital bed.” She confessed.

I reached over and touched her cheek. “Please don’t talk like that Savanna. What happened wasn’t your fault. Shit, he wasn’t the angel they think he was.”

She sat up and I realized I stuck my foot in my mouth. “What does that mean? If you know something tell me?”

“I just meant that he was hooking up with all those girls instead of just waitin’ for you.” It was partially the truth. I didn’t have the heart to be the one to tell her he had cheated while they were really together.