Page 20 of Finding Hayes
“It was pretty hard, Woody,” she said, before hysterical laughter escaped her. “Oh, my gosh.That’s what she said!”
That had always been our inside joke when we were in high school. It used to bug the hell out of Kate that Savannah and I had this language that was all our own. I guess it should have been a big red flag that my girlfriend didn’t have a sense of humor at all.
“You nailed it.” I arched a brow and then followed it with the same joke. “That’s what she said.”
“Well played.” She pushed to her feet. “Okay, I’m going to check out this puzzle and head home.”
She walked over to where Cutler was intently working on his puzzle. Savannah ended up sitting beside him and helping him for the next hour.
I stayed out of their way and cleaned up the dishes and justlistened to them talk and laugh.
“Okay, I’m going to get out of your hair. Thanks for dinner and for the car. I will pay you back when I get this money from Abe.” She shrugged as she slipped her coat on.
“River said he was going to meet with you on Monday morning. You sent the paperwork over to him?” I asked.
“Yep. Ruby made a copy and gave it to him. Hopefully, he can get me out of that whole marriage thing.” She pulled her hat onto her head.
“Why do you think Abe put that in there?” I asked as I walked her to the door.
She thought about the question. “Well, you remember how I used to always say I was going to get married someday and have lots of babies?”
“Yes. You definitely knew what you wanted, even when we were young.” I’d always admired that about her. The confidence and faith she had in others. In this grand plan for having the life she’d pictured for herself.
“Well, he knew that I wanted to be married and to have kids. That I always knew what I wanted for my life. But I haven’t had a lot of luck lately. He thought I was wasting time on dating apps and that I should do it the old-fashioned way and go out there and meet someone.” I shrugged. “He and Lily had that rare kind of love, and he didn’t want me to give up on that. But come on, putting that in the contract and forcing me to marry someone? That’s madness.”
“Yeah. It’s pretty crazy. Are you dating someone now? Is that why he thought he could speed things up?”
She studied me for the longest time before she spoke. “Are you curious about my life now, Woody?”
I’d always been honest with this girl. I wouldn’t start lying now.
“Yeah. Of course, I am. Just because you moved away doesn’t mean I don’t care what happens to you.”
And with those words, her gaze hardened. “Well, you need not worry. I don’t plan on marrying some random guy in the next thirty days. I’ll find a way out of it.”
She made her way out into the snowy night and climbed into her car.
I didn’t like her driving that piece of shit, especially in this weather.
But Savannah didn’t want my help, and she’d made that clear.
What I couldn’t figure out was why I couldn’t just stay the fuck out of her business.
That was my specialty.
I didn’t get involved.
I kept to myself.
I liked it that way.
But now that she was back in town, I couldn’t seem to stop thinking about her.
Maybe it was just our history or the shitty way things had ended.
Maybe it was the fact that I’d missed my best friend.
I’d definitely missed her.
