Letting Go (A Mitchell Family Series)

by Unknown

  “Yeah right!”

  I smiled and leaned into the table. “Maybe I don’t care, because I am here with someone else.” I pulled her hand up and kissed it again.

  “Good answer cowboy.”

  We were interrupted by the waitress and soon ordered our food. Savanna ordered a burger and when it came it was bigger than her whole head. She gave me half, minus the bacon that she stole as I was taking a big bite.

  “What? It’s my favorite part.” She confessed.

  I shook my head and continued to eat my fried chicken meal. There was nothing like eatin’ homemade food. I could tell right away.

  Savanna squirmed when a couple of people, who looked her age, walked by and made comments. I gave her a quick wink to let her know that she wasn’t alone. Nobody was going to hurt her again on my watch.

  After we finished eating, we sat there and talked for a long time. The waitress got frustrated since we were keeping her from more tips, so I left her a little extra for her troubles.

  The truth was that I didn’t want to call it a night. Savanna had finals in the morning, but she didn’t seem to want to leave either.

  We got back to her dorm room and she invited me up. I was hesitant considering more people might see us and start running their mouths, but she assured me it wouldn’t be a problem. When we got to her room a girl was busy filling a duffle bag.

  “Who is this?” She asked as I walked into the room.

  “This is Colt Mitchell. He is Ty’s older cousin. He is here for the summer.” Savanna explained.

  “Well I was going to head to the frat house for the night, but maybe I could stay here and keep you company.” She offered, looking directly at me.

  Savanna got this mean look on her face. “He has a girlfriend.” She spat out.

  I smiled and couldn’t help from chuckling as her friend said her goodbyes and walked out of the room.

  When we were sitting there alone finally, I turned toward Savanna. “What was that about?”

  “Did you want her to stay?”

  “Of course not.”

  “Explaining everything was too much for tonight.” She said as she hugged me again. “Besides, I didn’t want the competition.”

  I kissed the top of her head. “There aint no competition Savanna. Not when it comes to you.”

  Chapter 13

  Savanna

  When I saw my roommate trying to hit on Colt, I felt jealous. I had no right to be. He didn’t belong to me, but I couldn’t help it. He was my savior and I didn’t want to share him with anyone else.

  After he said what he said to me, I felt better. That was Colt though. Always saying the right thing. Since we had the room to ourselves, I pressed my lips against his. The kiss started out slow, but progressed into something more intense. I grabbed the collar to Colt’s shirt and pulled him closer to me.

  His soft lips sucked on mine and I felt his tongue slide across them. Our mouths opened and I felt his tongue start mingling with mine. His kissing made me weak in the knees and I felt like losing all control over myself and giving in to his every desire.

  Colts hands reached under my shirt and I could feel them moving up and under my bra. He cupped the skin under my breasts and squeezed my nipples as he continued kissing me aggressively. His tongue became a tool and soon he was running it down my neck, ending in small kisses as it traveled around my ears.

  His hot breath gave me chills when he spoke near my ear. “Do you need me to leave so you can get some studying in?” He asked.

  I pulled away and looked at him. “What would you say if I asked you to help me study?”

  He sat down on my bed and shook his head. “I don’t know how good I would be.”

  I laughed and sat down beside him. “Actually all you have to do is quiz me. I have all the answers written down.”

  He grabbed the notes out of my hand and started looking at them. After a few long minutes he turned to me and smiled. “I reckon I can help with this.”

  Knowing how much Colt distracted me, I chose to sit on my roommate’s bed while he quizzed me. With every question I found myself staring at the perfect guy across from me.

  After at least an hour we were both yawning. Between the past couple of nights we hadn’t slept very much and I knew that I needed to get a good night’s rest if I wanted to do well on my final. Colt started to get up to leave. “I better be goin’.”

  “Do you want to stay? I mean, I can’t stay up much longer, but you don’t have to leave.” I asked.

  He stood in front of me and took both of my hands in his as he talked. “I don’t want to be a distraction Savanna. You need a good night’s sleep for tomorrow.”

  “Well doesn’t this friendship include cuddling?”

  He let go of one of my hands and played with his hat. “Cuddling?” He put his hands over my face. “Stop givin’ me those puppy dog eyes Savanna. I can’t ever say no to them.”

  “It’s fine if you want to go. I just wasn’t ready to be without you yet. What happens if you get a flat tire on the way home and that hostess stops to help you.” I joked, well kind of.

  “If you are that worried, I guess I can stay. I wouldn’t want you losing sleep over me.” He replied.

  I pulled off Colts shirt and took off my jean shorts before we climbed into my small bed together. He was so tall, I knew he couldn’t be that comfortable. He never complained though, instead he buried his head into my hair and wrapped his arms tightly around me.

  After a few moments I heard him starting to snore. It wasn’t an annoying snore, but something more subtle, almost like it was letting me know he was there. I wrapped my arms into his and closed my eyes knowing that I was in the safest place.

  His arms.

  The next morning, I let my alarm go off for ten minutes before I shut it off. I refused to get out of bed and Colt’s strong hold. I tried to climb out without waking him, but it was impossible.

  When I got myself ready for class, Colt was standing up putting on his shoes. “You going to call me later?” He asked.

  “I thought you would stay and sleep.” I assumed.

  He shook his head before giving me a hug. “I gotta go let Sam out. She has been in the house since last night. She is a good girl, but I know she has to go.”

  “Okay. Well I guess I will call you later.” I reached up and pecked him on his lips.

  Colt pulled me back for another kiss. This one was more passionate, and it made the heat rush between my legs. From the first touch of his tongue I thought I was going to squeal. Colt broke our kiss and looked into my eyes. “I really hope you do.” After one more soft kiss he followed me outside and we parted ways.

  From the moment I lost sight of him, I felt like something was missing. When I got to my class, it was even worse. I made it through my exam with little distraction, by forcing myself to give it my all. Finally, when my tests were all complete, I rushed out of the building and started searching for his number in my phone. I didn’t have to search far, because he had already sent me a message.

  Colt

  Just to be kind, I sent Savanna a quick text as I left her dorm. She needed to be focused and not worried that I had used her for sex or anything else.

  Missin' your pretty face –C

  The text had been time stamped for ten minutes after he left my dorm. I smiled and realized he sent it before my first final started.

  I laughed out loud while I messaged him back.

  All done. When can I c u? – S

  Do you have any finals tomorrow? –C

  Two more and then I am done for the summer – S

  Supposed to have dinner with family tonight. Do you want me to come later? – C

  No just call me. We can hang out tomorrow. – S

  Call me if you need anything. – C

  TY- S

  I felt really bad for not being able to hang out with Savanna, but I hadn’t spent any time with my aunt and uncle. Since I had snuck Savanna into the carriag
e house over the weekend, I had avoided them like the plague.

  My aunt had called me this afternoon and told me that they were having her famous chili and that I better be there. I hesitated for only a minute before agreeing to dinner. I was staying on their farm and they would soon figure out my secret if I kept dodging from seeing them.

  I played with Sam at the swimming hole for over an hour and the whole time all I could think about was my time there with Savanna. Her muddy face and hair came flashing in my mind. Savanna needed to study for her last two finals, so I knew she would be busy for the entire evening. I walked into my family’s farmhouse ready to chow down on some spicy good food.

  As soon as I reached the living room, I noticed the difference. Growing up, my aunt had been a fanatic about having pictures that documented everything Ty had ever done in his life. Some pictures were there, but all of the ones of he and Savanna were gone. I’m not talkin’ like small pictures, it was more like the eight by tens were missing from the wall, and you could see the spot that had been removed, because nothing replaced them.

  My mouth dropped.

  My aunt came into the room and cleared her throat when she realized what I had noticed. “I couldn’t stand looking at her every day. It is bad enough I can’t get her away from that damn hospital. It’s a little too late to show him how much she cares, if you ask me.”

  I had never wanted to hurt my aunt, but at that very moment, was the first time in my life where I could have hurt a woman. How could she be so bitter? They both loved Ty. It didn’t have to be this way.

  “I don’t really get it. I saw her at the hospital the other day. She seems to really love him.” I said defensively.

  “Colt, I really don’t want to talk about that girl in my house anymore. Get on in that kitchen and wash your hands for supper boy.”

  Just like that, she ended the conversation. Once my uncle came in, we talked about the upcoming summer and what my job duties would entail. They didn’t talk much about Ty, and I was actually okay with that, although my mind was elsewhere the entire time.

  I was pretty thankful when supper ended abruptly with some game show that both of them watched every weeknight. I said my goodbyes and Sam and I left the farmhouse. I checked on the horses before heading into the carriage house. It seemed lonely without Savanna there, but the last thing I wanted to do was seem clingy, so I refused to call her.

  After flipping through the television channels and playing fetch with Sam, I ran out of things to occupy myself. I couldn’t explain the sense of loneliness that had overcome me. Even when my ex lived with me, I never felt like I had missed her when she wasn’t around. Savanna was haunting my thoughts and I didn’t know whether it excited me or scared the pants off of me.

  Our friendship was more than we were both admitting and jumping in as fast as we both had, had thrown us into a place neither of us knew what to do with.

  When I finally couldn’t take it anymore, I went into the bedroom and called my dog up on the bed. She seemed like the only constant in my life. I was lonely, hell at home I could have called several young ladies to keep me company, not that I ever did. I was the kind of guy that preferred to be alone. Nobody had ever been that interesting to me. I never had a relationship where a woman was my friend.

  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 dri
ver’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.”

  “Savanna, I came to the hospital in hopes of just seein’ you. Why would I not want to hang out later?” He asked.

  “Chalk it up to a stupid moment for me. So, shall I follow you?” I asked trying to change the subject of being a worrywart.

  “Sounds good. See you soon.” He said as he climbed out of the car.