Star Crossed Hurricane (11 page)
Read Star Crossed Hurricane Online
Authors: Wendy Knight
“Grab some clothes, Savvy. We’re taking you to the hospital.” When Savannah opened her mouth to argue, because she wanted her bed and food and darkness where no one could see her cry, Coach Andrus raised her hand, giving Savannah her fiercest look. “No argument. Go.”
Laura and Kelly practically carried her down the hall to their room. They threw clothes at her while Dara watched with interest. “We all know what happened. Between you and Sawyer.”
Savannah looked up, fury fighting with exhaustion for space in her brain. But Laura beat her to it. “Does she look like someone who spent a romantic evening in the woods, you idiot?”
Dara opened her mouth, then closed it. Laura raised her hand and Kelly met her halfway.
“Now you, come,” Kelly said, pushing Savannah out the door.
“I’m calling your parents.” Laura already had the phone to her ear. Savannah looked from one to the other, and her broken heart healed, just a little.
****
S
AWYER STARED
at the door she’d disappeared out of. He’d hurt before, but nothing like this. The finality in her voice, the hope turned to so much pain in those dark brown eyes. It really was over. He’d lost anything he’d ever had with her.
“You won’t even be able to be friends after this,” Liam said, somewhat unhelpfully.
Sawyer sank on the bed and buried his head in his hands. His heart hurt too much to speak, and he’d probably choke on that sentence, anyway.
He’d lost her.
He’d had her, and he let her go.
That hurt worse than never having her at all.
Beckett sat up. “You’re the worst friend in the world, Sawyer,” he muttered, rubbing his jaw.
Sawyer sat up, glaring at him. “I’m the worst friend? You just insulted Savannah like fifteen times.”
Beckett frowned. “What’s that got to do with you?”
“Nothing! But it makes you an ass, don’t you think? So maybe when they’re handing out the worst friend awards, you think about how you just treated her. Your
friend.
”
Beckett blinked stupidly, so Sawyer went back to holding his head in his hands, trying to memorize every single detail of their horrific night together. So he would never forget. So he would always have it, when he couldn’t have her.
Her touch. Her smile. The silken black waves and the soft skin. She’d been so brave. So tough. He’d run from the crypt like a screaming little girl, and she’d gone on to explore more of the cave. She’d been the one to figure out how to get the door open. She’d been the one to find the door in the first place. He wouldn’t have survived that night if not for her.
And now he wasn’t sure he wanted to survive without her.
“Dude, look. I wasn’t–I wasn’t in my right mind.”
“Ya think?” Sawyer snarled.
“I’m just–I’m just crazy about her, you know? And we were all so worried…”
Sawyer didn’t look up. “Great, Beck. That was swell of you.”
Beckett sat on the bed next to him. “I’m sorry. I really am.” He forced a laugh. “It took her knocking my head off to come to my senses.”
“Go to hell, Beckett.”
Beckett sighed, falling back on the bed. “What do you want me to say, Sawyer? This is our thing. I get mad and lose my mind, and you keep your cool and we work things out. It’s just what we do.”
Sawyer jerked up, on his feet, yelling. “What we
do
just cost me the only girl I have ever been in love with. For you. I gave her up for you! And you’re a crappy friend!”
Beckett’s jaw dropped as he sat up. “You’re in love with her?”
“Hell yes I’m in love with her. She–she has my soul wrapped around her little finger. I–I don’t even want to
breathe
if she’s not in the room. How’s that for love?” He laughed harshly. “I didn’t even know I was missing anything until I met her and realized she was my whole damn world. And I couldn’t have her. Know why? Because of you. I stayed away from her for you, and I felt like my heart and soul were burning and I did it for you. And you don’t even deserve her!”
There was a sharp gasp. Coach Andrus, his coach, Harrison, Laura and Kelly all stood in the hall, staring in.
Savannah stood in the doorway.
Her eyes were huge, her face unreadable. “Sawyer?” she whispered.
He closed his eyes. He couldn’t refuse her again. He couldn’t tell her no, couldn’t see that pain in her eyes again. He couldn’t hurt her.
But he had to.
He opened his eyes, found her, and could read in her eyes that she already knew his answer. She was here, for him. Giving him one last chance, and now she knew the truth — that he’d loved her from day one, and he’d been fighting to keep his heart away from her, even when she’d offered hers over and over.
“Sawyer,” Beckett said quietly. Sawyer didn’t look at him, hated him, loved him, all rolled into something that felt like it might be killing him from the inside. “She’s the only girl either of us have ever loved.” Beckett gave one short, sad laugh.
Sawyer made up his mind.
Savannah.
Beck was still talking. “Go get her, Sawyer. I’ll be okay.”
Sawyer was already on his way across the room. He caught her, swept her up against him. “I love you. I’m so sorry.” His hands cradled her face, brushing away the tears soaking her cheeks. “I’m sorry, Buttercup. I thought–I thought I was doing the right thing. But–but–but it wasn’t the right thing. It was hurting you, and that’s the last thing on earth I ever wanted to do. Please forgive me.”
She sobbed, just once, and buried her face in his chest. He pulled her into him, surrounded her, trying to tell her with his embrace, his racing heart and shaking hands, everything he couldn’t tell her in words.
And she knew. Because Savannah owned his heart, and she knew.
“Now that that’s over, hospital. Both of you. Now,” Coach Harrison said, crossing his arms over his chest.
Savannah laughed, a watery, exhausted, terrified laugh, and backed away. He pulled her into him again, wrapped his arms around her. “I’m not letting you go this time.”
“Holy creak,” Laura said. “You’re both going to the hospital. BOTH. Come on, already.”
****
S
AVANNAH LAID
her head against Sawyer’s shoulder. He wrapped her good hand in his, tracing up and down her fingers while they rode silently to the hospital. It took hours, because of the road damage, the houses and fences torn from their posts, cars turned on their side. The news said it was the worst storm they’d had in 103 years.
And she’d survived it.
It felt like a dream, a nightmare, a fantasy. But this, this was real. It felt more real than anything she’d ever done.
He raised her hand to his lips, kissing her fingers gently. “Holding hands is my promise that you don’t have to face the world alone,” he murmured.
She smiled up at him. “You’ve been holding my hand for months.”
He nodded, very serious. “Exactly.”
EPILOGUE
T
HERE WAS SOMEONE RIGHT BEHIND HER.
Savannah could hear the breathing, the pound of feet nearly on her heels. And she was tired. So tired. Her legs shook and her breath came in short, painful gasps.
“Run, Savannah!
Run!”
They needed her. They screamed her name because they needed her to not give up. Digging deep, she found one last, brief burst of energy. She lengthened her stride, rounding the corner, her arms burning, pumping, weak.
“You got this, Savvy! Run!”
“All the way home, baby! Come on!”
Sawyer waited at the finish line. Laura and Kelly, the second and third legs in their four by four relay, were on the sidelines, still trying to recover — hands on knees, bent over, struggling for air after running for all they were worth.
Savannah couldn’t let them down.
If she won this race, they could take regional.
She shoved the pain and exhaustion down deep and reached instead for strength and courage. Lengthening her stride, she found her second wind.
“Come on, Buttercup!” Sawyer bellowed.
She blew across the finish line, stumbled over exhausted feet, and landed in Sawyer’s arms. “You won, baby. You won.” He kissed her forehead, laughing proudly, holding her upright.
“Good race,” he said to the other girls she’d beaten.
Coach Andrus hugged her, careful of her still-healing arm. Laura, Kelly, and Dara tackled her, screaming and not careful at all about her still-healing arm. Her team swarmed the field, already celebrating. Savannah hobbled across the track to her water bottle, watching the excitement from the sidelines. Under the bandage, her head ached. On the plus side, it held kept the hair out of her eyes.
“Good run, Savvy.”
Beckett stood just off the bleachers, watching her.
“Thanks, Beck.”
“Look, about what happened in Oregon.”
She shook her head, backing up. “Don’t, Beck. Don’t go there.”
But he grabbed her hand with both of his. “I just want to apologize. I’m sorry, Savvy. I really am. Not just for my behavior then, but for all the time. I shouldn’t have tried to keep you apart.”
She sighed. She knew this conversation needed to happen, but right now? She was trying to celebrate. And breathe. But apparently, that didn’t matter. “Beck, he loves you. He misses you. You made him choose between me and you, and do you know who lost? Not you.” She motioned toward Sawyer, talking to his coach on the field. “He did. Sawyer lost.”
Beckett shook his head. “He didn’t lose me, Savvy. Neither did you. I’m—” He gave her a crooked grin, “—reevaluating my life choices. I’ll always love both of you, so it’s safer if I keep my distance. All I ask is please, Savvy. Don’t hate me.”
And what, exactly, was she supposed to say to that? “I won’t, Beckett. I hope you find peace. I really do.”
“For the record, he would have chosen you anyway. Even if I hadn’t told him to.” Beckett leaned over and kissed her cheek gently. “Good run today.”
“Thanks.” She started to turn away, but he caught her arm. By now, Sawyer was watching them, dark eyes narrowed as he glared at Beckett.
“Just one more thing, Savvy. He messes up, I’ll be here. I’m not giving up on you. Or on us.”
“I’m not going to mess up, Beckett.” Sawyer’s arms slid around Savannah’s waist, pulling her gently back against his chest. “I know what life is like without her, and I don’t want it. I’m not going to let her go.”
About the Author
Wendy Knight is the award-winning, bestselling author of the young adult series Fate on Fire and Riders of Paradesos. She was born and raised in Utah by a wonderful family who spoiled her rotten because she was the baby. Now she spends her time driving her husband crazy with her many eccentricities (no water after five, terror when faced with a live phone call, no touching the knives…you get the idea). She also enjoys chasing her three adorable kids, playing tennis, watching football, reading, and hiking. Camping is also big—her family is slowly working toward a goal of seeing all the National Parks in the U.S.
You can usually find her with at least one Pepsi nearby, wearing ridiculously high heels for whatever the occasion. And if everything works out just right, she will also be writing.
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