Page 55 of Decker

Chapter Twenty-Four

“I can’t believeyou didn’t tell me before.” Addie pursed her lips in annoyance and Savannah dropped her head.

“I’m sorry, Addie, I didn’t want to worry you, and honestly, I’m sick of the drama in my life so you must be sick of hearing it.”

Addie grabbed her free hand across the table in the hospital coffee shop. “Sav, you’re my friend and you were there for me. Let me do the same, okay?”

“Fine, I’ll tell you if anything else happens. But Aubrey knows about the break-in at my office and the damage done to my car. I’m sure it’s nothing but silly kids having fun.”

“Maybe, but we’re not taking any risks. I’m telling Lopez to keep an eye on your place.”

Savannah smiled for the first time in weeks. “You do realise how creepy that sounds right?”

“I know, but I don’t care. You’re my best friend and I won’t lose you to some nut job.”

Savannah grinned as she blew on her hot chocolate. “What about Astrid?”

Addie waved her hand in the air. “She’s my sister, she doesn’t count.”

Savannah laughed. “Okay, but don’t let her hear you say that.”

Addie joined in and then they sobered. “How are you really doing, Savannah?”

Savannah knew exactly what Addie was asking and wasn’t sure how to answer. She’d finally stopped crying herself to sleep and come to terms with the fact she’d foolishly let herself fall in love with a man she couldn’t have and who would never want her. He didn’t love her and had never lied about that. It had been her own silly fault to think what they had went beyond the rules he’d set. He’d never lied to her or offered her anything more, she’d let her heart get carried away and paid the price.

It was a horrible feeling to know that twice in her life she hadn’t been enough for the man she loved but she had to accept it. Andy had been a lost cause from the start and while she thought she’d loved him, and in her own way had, what she felt for Mark almost destroyed her with the loss.

“I’m okay.” She shrugged. “I miss him but what we had wasn’t real, at least not for him. I was a fool and fell in love with a man who was unavailable. Now I have to move on. Luckily I’m really busy with work.”

“I’m so sorry, Savannah, I really thought he loved you. The way he looked at you. God, it made me melt and I have my own hot guy.”

“That was lust, not love. They’re very different beasts.” She couldn’t allow her hopes to go wild with Addie’s words. That route only led to heartbreak for her, and she was done with all that. “Anyway, it’s done. I need to move on. Which brings me to my next bit of news.”

“Oh?”

“I’ve been offered the position as head of Neurosurgery at the Gesundheit Institute in Germany.”

Addie blinked in shock. “What? That’s amazing, I’m so proud of you.” Addie’s face dropped. “Does that mean you’re leaving?”

“Yes. It’s based in Berlin, so I’d have to transfer.”

“Are you going to take it?”

Savannah nodded even though the thought of leaving her home and these people made her sad. “Yes, I think so. Apart from you and Astrid and a few friends, I have nothing keeping me here. Percy and Andy are gone. The fate of the neurosurgery department is in doubt with the new board wanting distance from the troubles we’ve had, and it’s my dream job.”

“So why don’t you look happy about it?”

“I am happy, I just…” She sighed and pushed her cup away. “I guess my goals changed and I have to readjust my mind back to wanting them. I’d imagined this whole life with Mark here with my friends. I know that was stupid when we’d hadn’t been together long or rather fucking for long but that’s what happened and now, I need to kick my own ass into seizing this opportunity.”

“Well, I’ll miss you like crazy but if it’s what you want you should take it but expect monthly visits from me and Payton and Javier if he can get the time off.”

“You’d better visit me, and I’ll visit when I can too. It’s a great chance to really work with cutting edge techniques that will save hundreds of lives and I can be at the forefront of that and teach others.”

“Then I’m excited for you.”

“I am too.” And she was. For the first time in weeks, she felt excited about her job.

Addie hugged her as they walked out of the coffee shop and went in separate directions. She was about to head up to the second floor when Darla Jenkins walked toward her. Savannah tried not to roll her eyes. She had little time for the woman who’d fucked her husband, but she was grieving the man she’d loved and lost and was now heavily pregnant.