Forever Mine

by Kennedy Fox

  I let out a huff and grab a bottle of water because I’m so damn thirsty. “Whatever you say.”

  “Do you know what Veronica told me last night?” Hunter asks, crossing his arms over his chest and when I don’t respond, he continues, “That she’s in love with you. Just because a blast from the past popped up doesn’t mean you have to run back to it. Savannah’s just going to hurt you again. Nothing good will come out of this other than two old fuck buddies getting back together for one last go round.”

  I turn and scowl at him. He knows we were much more than fuck buddies, but I also know what he witnessed after the breakup and how much it affected us both. “I don’t give two shits about Veronica. You already know how I feel about her. The feelings are definitely not mutual.”

  “Well I hope you know what you’re doing because I refuse to sit around and watch you destroy yourself again,” he tells me before walking away.

  I want to tell him how much of a hypocrite he is, considering his current situation, but I find it better not to. It won’t solve anything, and the last thing I want to do is fight with my little brother. Seconds later, I hear the front door clicking closed. Knowing he’ll get over it, I go into my bathroom, strip off the suit, and hop in the shower so I can use soap and wash my hair this time.

  Thoughts of Savannah invade my mind, and I know I need to get her out of my head in case she writes me off again, and I’m left to pick up the pieces. Though other parts of my body don’t get the message. My cock’s rock hard, and I grip it, stroking, thinking about her perfect tits and curvy body. I think about placing her perky pink nipple in my mouth and her sucking my dick until I can’t take it anymore. With her name on my lips, I nearly lose my balance when the orgasm rips through me so quickly I don’t even expect it. I release a deep groan, trying to steady myself as I explode in my palm.

  “Fuck,” I mutter, trying to gain control. I stand under the stream of water as I try to catch my breath and clear my damn head. Once I’m calm, I step out of the shower and get dressed. I glance at the time on my phone and see a text message from Savannah.

  My heart drops because I know how she is or, rather, how she was, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she texted me to let me down. With a racing heart, I unlock my phone, open the message she sent right before I stepped in the shower, and grin like an idiot.

  “She said yes!” I yell out to no one. I’m so happy, I feel like I’ve won the goddamn lottery. I wonder if stopping and getting her flowers before is too over the top. I’m not trying to scare her away, for fuck’s sake. Because it’s just lunch, I decide against it. Knowing I need to calm down and mentally prepare to be around her, I take a shot of whiskey and think back to what Hunter said. The feelings I had for Savannah never faded, and when we broke up, she left a permanent hole in my heart. That space has always been reserved for her, even if she never intends on filling it again. I have to remind myself not to go into this with any expectations, but the fact she said yes and how she acted last night give me hope that these old feelings aren’t one-sided.

  After ten minutes of contemplating exactly what I’m going to say to her today, I decide to leave and head back to the hotel. It’s a good twenty-five minutes away with traffic, and I have enough time to really think everything over by the time I hand my keys to the valet. I can’t stop grinning as I step onto the elevator and take it up to her room. Savannah was right; it’s slow as hell. Eventually, it stops at her floor, and I take a deep breath and walk to her door then knock.

  I wait a few seconds before knocking again. I stand and wait for a few minutes then call her. Maybe she fell asleep? I hang up and redial her number, but this time, I’m sent straight to voicemail.

  It’s confirmation she’s not coming.

  Savannah must’ve gotten cold feet and ditched me.

  The realization punches me in the gut, and I think back to anything that would’ve caused her to cancel. The rejection I felt when she broke up with me comes rushing back again, and it stings. I’ve been ignored by her before but this—it’s like she poured salt in a reopened wound. Instead of camping outside her door, I pull my phone out of my pocket and walk to the elevator as I text her.

  Hayden: I’m here. Waited almost ten minutes at your door. Considering you’ve rejected my call, I assume you don’t want to do lunch. It took years for me to get over you and work through the heartache that practically destroyed me. You didn’t have to agree to meet up with me if you didn’t intend to. You could’ve told me no. I’ve endured worse pain than that before from you.

  I read over the message one time before I hit send, lock my phone, and step onto the elevator. I’m so fucking aggravated that I can’t think straight. I’m shocked honestly because of how she acted this morning toward me. Maybe the realization that she admitted to lying to me hit her, and it was too much? Fuck, I don’t know. I could come up a million scenarios.

  Once in the lobby, I run my fingers through my hair and contemplate what to do next. I could sit at the bar and wait to run into her and confront her face to face or just walk away for good. I want to tell her exactly how I feel, but I know the best thing for me to do is leave, as hard as it is. I have too many unspoken words. Letting out a huff, I pull the valet number from my pocket and wait for them to pull my truck around.

  Just as the valet opens the door for me, and I get inside, I get a call and blood rushes to my head as I rush to pull it from my pocket. Hoping it’s Savannah, I’m disappointed when I see Veronica’s name flash across the screen. Instead of avoiding her, I answer as I pull out of the parking lot onto the highway.

  “Hey baby,” she purrs as soon as she hears my voice.

  I try to force a smile, so I don’t sound as aggravated as I am. It’s not fair to her. “Hey. I’m really sorry about last night and all of that. I was going to call you.”

  She chuckles. “It’s okay. I forgive you. I just wish you would’ve been the one to take me home last night. So what are you doing right now?”

  I focus on the road, trying to figure out why Savannah would do this to me. “Driving home.”

  “I’m heading back to my place now. Had to run some errands real quick. Why don’t you come over?” Veronica asks in her seductive tone that I know all too well.

  I contemplate her invitation for a moment and find myself taking the exit toward her place. After last night and everything that’s happened, I feel as if I owe her as much. After a few seconds, I think back to what Hunter said today, and it helps me to make up my mind.

  “I’m on my way there,” I tell her, matter-of-factly.

  “Good, baby. I’ll be waiting for you.”

  Chapter Seven

  Savannah

  Veronica pushes past me and helps herself inside my room. I’m too hungover for this right now.

  “You need to leave,” I demand. My adrenaline spikes, and I want grab her by the hair and pull her out the fucking door, but when she turns around, tears are streaming down her cheeks. I don’t know what to think and I’m confused, but she has no business being here.

  “Savannah, we need to talk,” she tells me matter-of-factly.

  “I have nothing to say to you.” I cross my arms over my chest.

  Glancing down, I look in her hand and see she’s holding a thin piece of paper or something. She notices me looking at it and wipes the tears streaming down her face before I realize what it is.

  An ultrasound.

  She sucks in a deep breath and hands it to me. Looking down at the printout, I see her full name on the top and notice it’s dated from two weeks ago. It even has the weeks and number of days pregnant. I look it over from top to bottom, trying to figure out if it’s a fake, but there’s not a doubtful bone in my body as I hold it. This is one-hundred percent real. Veronica is pregnant.

  “I know we haven’t had the best friendship, Savannah. I know I was a total bitch to you growing up, most of the time for no reason. But right now, I have no one else to turn to but you because you’re the pro
blem.”

  My eyes narrow. Nothing like a back-handed admission to her being a douche.

  “Hayden’s the father, but I haven’t told him yet. We’ve hooked up a few times the past couple of months, but we never made things exclusive. Last night I was going to give him the big news after our date, but he was too busy tending to you. And now today—” More tears begin to fall, harder this time. “He doesn’t want anything to do with me, and I know it’s because he thinks you’ll take him back because he never quite got over you.”

  She’s always known how to twist the knife, and now is no different. I feel as if I’m falling into the abyss with no bottom in sight. Then realization hits me: Hayden and Veronica are having a baby together. My hand begins to shake, and I drop the photo and watch it float to the ground. I pick it up, and it feels like poison in my hand. Emotions bubble inside me, and I don’t know how to feel about any of this.

  But the kiss last night…

  I’m brought back to reality when she clears her throat.

  “Do you understand now? Don’t be a homewrecker, Savannah. You’re a lot of things, but you’re not that. My baby needs a father, and now I feel like Hayden’s second-guessing everything, and I’m scared. I’m so fucking scared.”

  She sits on the small couch that Hayden slept on last night, and I can tell she’s not bullshitting me. Veronica was a hateful, vile human being toward me, but as she sits here, she looks so broken and vulnerable that I can’t help but feel sorry for her. Guilt washes over me, and I try to replay each moment I had with Hayden last night. He was cautious with me, but was he too cautious? Because he was seeing Veronica? It’s not within his character to chase after one woman while being with another, but then again, I don’t really know Hayden anymore. Not like I used to. Plus, the ultrasound doesn’t lie. It’s clear as day that she’s pregnant.

  “Okay,” I say, coming to terms that they’re going to be in each other’s life forever no matter what. It all makes sense why she was so protective of him last night, and I feel like a total bitch.

  I walk over to her and hand over the photo.

  “You’ll stay away from him?” she asks, meeting my eyes. A glimmer of hope flickers in them, and she’s right. I can’t be the woman who destroys a possible happy family. In a sick, fucked-up way, I feel as if I deserve this for what I did to him.

  Now we’re even, I suppose.

  I search her face and nod. Veronica stands and wraps her arms around my neck. “Thank you, Savannah. Thank you for understanding. I’m going to tell him the exciting news as soon as I leave here.”

  No words form. She thanks me again and walks to the door and turns and looks at me without saying another word.

  When Veronica leaves, I feel as if I can’t breathe because the weight of everything is sitting on my chest. I’m actually living in one of my nightmares. Sadness and loss courses through me, and for the first time since I broke up with Hayden, I’m feeling as if he’s really slipped through my fingers for good. My heart breaks into pieces as I hurry and grab my phone and head to Donny’s room.

  Tears stream down my face as I take the elevator a few floors up. As soon as I make it to his room and knock, I try to suck in a deep breath and stop crying, though it feels damn near impossible. He opens the door and gives me one look before pulling me inside.

  “What the hell?” He searches my face. “Are you okay? What’s wrong?”

  He leads me over to the bed and tries to smooth out the rustled blanket and sheets. I sit and look up at the ceiling and try to find my words.

  “I need to get the fuck out of here, Donny.”

  He sits next to me. “Honey, tell me what’s going on.”

  “Veronica just came to my room.”

  His face contorts, and he narrows his eyes. He’s always hated her as much as I do.

  “And she had an ultrasound with her and told me Hayden is the dad. I have to stay away from him, Donny. I can’t be the reason he ruins what he has going on with her.” I place my face in my hands, and he rubs my back. “I knew lying to him would eventually catch up to me, but this is so fucking cruel.”

  He pulls me into his arms, and I cry on his shoulder. “The truth always comes out, Sav. Are you sure she wasn’t just fucking with you? It’s Veronica. She’s a bitch.”

  I push away from him. “I saw the ultrasound. I saw her name on the corner. I saw the date. It was real, Donny. As real as me sitting here in front of you right now. But she hasn’t told him yet, and she’s afraid me being here is going to mess with what they have.”

  He tucks loose strands behind my ear. “We’re only here for a couple more days. Maybe you should go visit your parents for a little while? Take a drive. Clear your head. Schedule a massage, pedi and mani, and then the next thing you know, we’ll be on our flight home, and you can forget about this damn town.”

  Donny shoots me a smile, and I hear the water in the bathroom turn on.

  My eyes widen. “You’re not alone?”

  With a laugh, he shrugs. “What can I say?”

  I slap his arm. “Who’s in there?” I whisper. “The bartender?”

  “Guilty!” He snickers.

  “Oh my God. I should’ve known.” I chuckle lightly. “I wish I had your love life. A new hottie every weekend.”

  “Girl, it’s exhausting.” He flashes an amused smile as I stand, and he stands too. “Are you going to be okay?”

  Donny gives me a look of concern, and my head begins to pound harder. As if he reads my mind, he hands me the complimentary bottle of water and some travel Tylenol. “You need this more than me right now.”

  I swallow the pills down. “I told him I’d go to lunch. He’ll be at my room in thirty minutes. I’ve got to get the hell out of here ASAP.”

  He nods. “Take the rental car. I’ll be occupied for the better half of the morning.”

  I shake my head at him as he hands me the keys. “Thank you,” I tell him, giving him a big hug.

  “I’m always here for you, Sav.”

  “I know. That’s why I love you.” I grin.

  The water in the shower turns off. “I’m calling valet to pull the car around for you. Call me later, okay?”

  I nod and walk out the door. I go to the elevator and take it down to the lobby, and by the time I make it to the bottom floor and walk outside, the car is waiting for me. I climb inside and drive around for a while before I go to my parents’ house. As soon as I park, I flip the mirror down and see how swollen my eyes are. My mother is going to ask what’s wrong, and I don’t want to open that can of worms. Finding the courage, I grab my phone and go to the door and knock.

  Within the minute, my mother is opening the door and pulling me into her arms. “What’s wrong?”

  I roll my eyes and laugh. “Nothing, Mom. I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “Okay, okay. Your dad isn’t home from work yet but should be in a few hours. I was just making a late lunch. Are you hungry?”

  I grin, feeling the hangover settle in. “Starving.”

  The smell of chicken fills the house, and on the counter, she’s arranged a beautiful salad with baby tomatoes and cucumbers. She pulls the head of lettuce from the fridge and makes me a bowl before she flips the chicken over.

  “I wasn’t sure you’d come home. I know how busy you are trying to catch up with everyone while you’re here,” she says over her shoulder.

  Tears start to well again.

  “What is it?” she softly asks.

  “Veronica Miller,” I tell her, pouting.

  “Savannah. Don’t you dare let that bully work you up again,” she demands, her tone completely changing, and I feel like I’m sixteen all over again, sitting at the table crying over something stupid.

  “Her and Hayden…” I can’t even finish the words. Mom pulls the chicken from the pan and sets it on a plate, then walks over to me.

  “Oh, sweetie. You didn’t expect him to wait for you all this time, did you?”

  I s
uck in a deep breath. “No. I didn’t.”

  Our parents are best friends, and I made a strict rule for her not to talk about Hayden to me while I was in New York because it hurt too much, though I can’t deny I was curious. I think Mom knows I never really got over him, and my parents were more shocked than anyone when they found out we broke up. But they didn’t get involved because it was easier that way.

  “It’s going to be okay, honey. You’ll be in New York soon. Rehearsals and auditions will fill your time, and everything will be back to normal.” She smiles, then goes back to the chicken, pulls a knife from the drawer, and chops it into chunks before throwing it on both of our salads. After handing me a fork and passing the ranch, she sits across from me.

  She’s right, like always.

  “I thought Donny would be with you. I miss him.”

  I take a bite and the chicken practically melts in my mouth. I chuckle. “He’s currently preoccupied.” I make sure to keep it general, not daring to tell my mother he’s holed up with some guy in his hotel room.

  “How’d the wedding go?” she asks.

  “Lena was a beautiful bride. It was absolutely perfect. She got her fairy-tale wedding, and I’m so happy I was there.” I shuffle my food around, my hunger disappearing. “I don’t think I’m ever going to get married, Mom. I think I’m meant to be single for the rest of my life.”

  My phone vibrates, grabbing my attention. I look down and see it’s Hayden calling. My heart drops, and it goes to voicemail, but then he immediately calls back, and I reject it. Flipping my phone over, I ignore it and am grateful my mom doesn’t say anything.

  It vibrates again, and I know he either left a voicemail or sent me a text, which I plan to ignore. It’s better this way.

  She smiles. “What did I used to tell you when you were younger?”

  I think back to all the life lessons my parents gave me. “Life’s not fair?”

  A laugh escapes her. “Well that’s true. But no, not that one. The one about love.”