Letting Go (Mitchell Family #1)(24)
Author: Jennifer Foor

Savanna was my friend, but she was so much more. The idea of knowing that was the scariest of them all. If I had any hopes of my cousin waking up, then I needed to figure out what the hell I was doing with his girlfriend.

The problem was that for the past few days, she was all I could think about.

Chapter 14

Savanna

The next few days’ worth of finals seemed like they took forever. All I could think about was how little I had heard from Colt. I held my phone up in my hands several times a day just wanting to send him a text or give him a call. However, I didn’t want to seem needy. It killed me to not talk to him, in fact.

In all the months and even years I had been with Ty, I had never once considered I would have any interest in someone else. I adored Ty and everything about our past, but Colt made me see that I could smile again. He made me look forward to my days and I feared that I could easily fall for someone like him.

Since I had just finished my last final, my summer was official starting. I headed over to the hospital to sit with Ty for a bit, before making the drive back to town. I had been worried about summer break for months, knowing that I wouldn’t be close to the hospital if I was staying home at my parents. I considered staying here in town with someone, but really couldn’t afford to do something like that. After spending time with Colt this past weekend and taking a bunch of things into consideration, I decided that I would still make the drive twice a week.

My car was packed up with my clothes and important things from my dorm room. I didn’t bring anything that I didn’t need, since I would be returning in a couple months anyway.

I was greeted by several familiar nurses when I made it to Ty’s room. Once I was inside, I stood over his hospital bed and looked down at him. His face was thinner, but he still was handsome. I admired his long eyelashes and reached up to touch his face. The stubble on his face was something that took me a while to get used to. His momma insisted on shaving him herself on the weekends. Since we weren’t on speaking terms, I never argued with her about it.

I just didn’t see how Ty would care if his facial hair grew.

I ran my fingers over his lips and found myself leaning over to kiss him. I could feel the hot tears running down my cheeks. “I miss you.” I whispered as I pulled away.

I grabbed a chair and pulled it as close to the bed as I could get it. Even though he was hooked up to all kinds of equipment, I leaned my head on his chest, just sitting there stroking his hair. It didn’t matter how many times I had come in this room, it still hurt just the same as seeing him in here for the first time.

I don’t know how long I had been lying there on Ty’s chest. When I woke up I heard someone across from me clearing their throat. When I looked up, I saw Colt standing there. His John Deere hat was in his hands and he gave me a nod.

He put his head down, looking to his hat when he first spoke. “I reckoned I’d find you here.”

“I just wanted to come here before driving home this afternoon. I won’t be able to make the drive everyday this summer. It’s too much on my little car.” I admitted.

Colt walked over to the opposite side of the bed and looked down at his cousin. “I was just stopping by. We needed some parts for the tractor and I figured since I was in town I would say hello.”

I gave him a quick smile. It was weird for me to be here with both of them. I felt very guilty looking up at Colt as Ty lay here not knowing what we had done behind his back. It really had nothing to do with Ty, but my guilty conscience made me feel horrible about it anyway.

“Did you already pick up the part?” I asked trying to change the subject.

He winked at me, sending butterflies through my body. “Yeah, you hungry Darlin’?

“Actually, I am.” I confessed.

He started heading toward the door. “How’s about I give you some time alone with my cousin. When you are finished, I will meet you at your car.”

“Sounds perfect.” I said as I watched Colt leaving the room.

Me being here with Ty didn’t seem to bother Colt and I appreciated that a bunch, considering everyone else thought I was obsessed. I just couldn’t let go of hope that someday he would wake up. Colt kept telling me that I wasn’t responsible, but indirectly I knew I was.

I leaned over to kiss him one more time before heading out. My lips pressed hard against his forehead and although it felt warm, there was no reaction from him.

I found Colt waiting for me outside at my car, exactly where he said he would be. He was leaning on the hood looking down at his phone. I snuck up behind him and yelled “HEY”. He jumped about a foot in the air before turning around and trying to chase me. Once I sat down in the driver’s side, he gave up and climbed in next to me.

“You okay Savanna?” He asked.

It still made me smile hearing him call me that. Unless I was in class or in some kind of trouble from the parents, I never heard someone use my first name. My mother was into nicknames when I was little and from as young as I could remember, she called me Van. My grandmother hated it and always called me Savanna, but everyone else stuck with the nickname. Even my teachers in elementary school called me Van. When I graduated, I almost didn’t respond to my full name being called over the intercom. My friend behind me nudged me in the back to get me moving.

I turned to look at Colt. He was so handsome. His chiseled cheeks and five o’clock shadow made him even sexier. I couldn’t help but immediately think about how his whiskers had tickled when he touched me. “I’m fine. Are you okay?” I teased.

“I gotta admit somethin’ to you. I was hopin’ you would be here today. I kinda missed talkin’ to you.”

I blushed and looked down at the steering wheel. “Why didn’t you just call? I wanted to call you, but I figured you would call me.”

Colt started to laugh and shake his head.

“What?” I asked.

“I guess if I hadn’t stopped by here today, we would have both been waitin’ for each other to call.”

I gave him a half smile. “You are probably right.”

He lifted his hand and ran the back of it across my cheek. “Would you be mad if I wanted you to follow me back to town?”

I was confused. “ Don’t you want to eat?”

“Well sure, but I would rather have both vehicles home so we can spend more time together tonight.”

Relief washed over me. “I thought you just didn’t want to hang out.”