Letting Go (Mitchell Family #1)(23)
Author: Jennifer Foor

“Do you want to stay? I mean, I can’t stay up much longer, but you don’t have to leave.” I asked.

He stood in front of me and took both of my hands in his as he talked. “I don’t want to be a distraction Savanna. You need a good night’s sleep for tomorrow.”

“Well doesn’t this friendship include cuddling?”

He let go of one of my hands and played with his hat. “Cuddling?” He put his hands over my face. “Stop givin’ me those puppy dog eyes Savanna. I can’t ever say no to them.”

“It’s fine if you want to go. I just wasn’t ready to be without you yet. What happens if you get a flat tire on the way home and that hostess stops to help you.” I joked, well kind of.

“If you are that worried, I guess I can stay. I wouldn’t want you losing sleep over me.” He replied.

I pulled off Colts shirt and took off my jean shorts before we climbed into my small bed together. He was so tall, I knew he couldn’t be that comfortable. He never complained though, instead he buried his head into my hair and wrapped his arms tightly around me.

After a few moments I heard him starting to snore. It wasn’t an annoying snore, but something more subtle, almost like it was letting me know he was there. I wrapped my arms into his and closed my eyes knowing that I was in the safest place.

His arms.

The next morning, I let my alarm go off for ten minutes before I shut it off. I refused to get out of bed and Colt’s strong hold. I tried to climb out without waking him, but it was impossible.

When I got myself ready for class, Colt was standing up putting on his shoes. “You going to call me later?” He asked.

“I thought you would stay and sleep.” I assumed.

He shook his head before giving me a hug. “I gotta go let Sam out. She has been in the house since last night. She is a good girl, but I know she has to go.”

“Okay. Well I guess I will call you later.” I reached up and pecked him on his lips.

Colt pulled me back for another kiss. This one was more passionate, and it made the heat rush between my legs. From the first touch of his tongue I thought I was going to squeal. Colt broke our kiss and looked into my eyes. “I really hope you do.” After one more soft kiss he followed me outside and we parted ways.

From the moment I lost sight of him, I felt like something was missing. When I got to my class, it was even worse. I made it through my exam with little distraction, by forcing myself to give it my all. Finally, when my tests were all complete, I rushed out of the building and started searching for his number in my phone. I didn’t have to search far, because he had already sent me a message.

Colt

Just to be kind, I sent Savanna a quick text as I left her dorm. She needed to be focused and not worried that I had used her for sex or anything else.

Missin’ your pretty face –C

The text had been time stamped for ten minutes after he left my dorm. I smiled and realized he sent it before my first final started.

I laughed out loud while I messaged him back.

All done. When can I c u? – S

Do you have any finals tomorrow? –C

Two more and then I am done for the summer – S

Supposed to have dinner with family tonight. Do you want me to come later? – C

No just call me. We can hang out tomorrow. – S

Call me if you need anything. – C

TY- S

I felt really bad for not being able to hang out with Savanna, but I hadn’t spent any time with my aunt and uncle. Since I had snuck Savanna into the carriage house over the weekend, I had avoided them like the plague.

My aunt had called me this afternoon and told me that they were having her famous chili and that I better be there. I hesitated for only a minute before agreeing to dinner. I was staying on their farm and they would soon figure out my secret if I kept dodging from seeing them.

I played with Sam at the swimming hole for over an hour and the whole time all I could think about was my time there with Savanna. Her muddy face and hair came flashing in my mind. Savanna needed to study for her last two finals, so I knew she would be busy for the entire evening. I walked into my family’s farmhouse ready to chow down on some spicy good food.

As soon as I reached the living room, I noticed the difference. Growing up, my aunt had been a fanatic about having pictures that documented everything Ty had ever done in his life. Some pictures were there, but all of the ones of he and Savanna were gone. I’m not talkin’ like small pictures, it was more like the eight by tens were missing from the wall, and you could see the spot that had been removed, because nothing replaced them.

My mouth dropped.

My aunt came into the room and cleared her throat when she realized what I had noticed. “I couldn’t stand looking at her every day. It is bad enough I can’t get her away from that damn hospital. It’s a little too late to show him how much she cares, if you ask me.”

I had never wanted to hurt my aunt, but at that very moment, was the first time in my life where I could have hurt a woman. How could she be so bitter? They both loved Ty. It didn’t have to be this way.

“I don’t really get it. I saw her at the hospital the other day. She seems to really love him.” I said defensively.

“Colt, I really don’t want to talk about that girl in my house anymore. Get on in that kitchen and wash your hands for supper boy.”

Just like that, she ended the conversation. Once my uncle came in, we talked about the upcoming summer and what my job duties would entail. They didn’t talk much about Ty, and I was actually okay with that, although my mind was elsewhere the entire time.

I was pretty thankful when supper ended abruptly with some game show that both of them watched every weeknight. I said my goodbyes and Sam and I left the farmhouse. I checked on the horses before heading into the carriage house. It seemed lonely without Savanna there, but the last thing I wanted to do was seem clingy, so I refused to call her.

After flipping through the television channels and playing fetch with Sam, I ran out of things to occupy myself. I couldn’t explain the sense of loneliness that had overcome me. Even when my ex lived with me, I never felt like I had missed her when she wasn’t around. Savanna was haunting my thoughts and I didn’t know whether it excited me or scared the pants off of me.

Our friendship was more than we were both admitting and jumping in as fast as we both had, had thrown us into a place neither of us knew what to do with.

When I finally couldn’t take it anymore, I went into the bedroom and called my dog up on the bed. She seemed like the only constant in my life. I was lonely, hell at home I could have called several young ladies to keep me company, not that I ever did. I was the kind of guy that preferred to be alone. Nobody had ever been that interesting to me. I never had a relationship where a woman was my friend.