Chapter Twenty-Two

Back at home, everyone had gathered in the living room. They have been talking about everything for hours since Savannah made them margaritas. She got up about four times to continue making more. After Carson relaxed, everyone had a great time.

Savannah's only wish is that Maeve would stop being so obsessed with him. She sat on his lap during the car ride and made a big deal out of it. Savannah knew Carson had only suggested it on purpose, but she could not help but roll her eyes at Maeve's enthusiasm. She was not going to stop until she got him, which made everything worse.

Aside from that, she could not be bothered by her actions. Wyatt was here to spend the day with them for the first time since Club Rendezvous. She enjoyed getting to know him better and could not wait to visit the lake house this weekend. He was such a nice guy, she almost felt bad about sleeping with Carson. Almost.

Sitting in pairs, Savannah sat on the floor across from Wyatt at the coffee table. They were having a conversation that had nothing to do with her parents' deaths, unlike the previous time. It was so refreshing to talk to someone new and different. She had never truly given anyone else a chance, but Wyatt captured her attention in ways she could not explain.

"So, you understand the fundamentals of boat operation?" She asked, sipping on her margarita.

Wyatt did the same thing before responding. "Yeah, my dad taught me throughout my childhood," he explained. "It's really not that interesting."

Savannah laughed. "Is there anything that interests you?" She asked him with a playful tone. He was so calm about everything.

He smirked and brought his cup to his lips. "Yeah, you."

She was not expecting him to say that, and she felt a blush coming on. Despite his calm demeanor, Wyatt could be a huge flirt. She liked that about him because it contributed to his mystery. He was not just the rich kid everyone wanted to hang out with. He was an introvert who was a smooth talker.

Even as she blushed, she looked up to examine his features. She never had the opportunity to look at him in the same way she does at Carson. His black curls were tangled but framed his face perfectly. His eyes were dark but full of serenity. His skin was beautifully tanned, and the way his shirt hugged his body suggested he was ripped. If Violet got one thing right, it was Savannah's attraction to him. Wyatt was gorgeous.

Pushing a strand of hair behind her ear, her eyes fixed on her lap, her cheeks still warm. "Oh, stop. You flatter me."

Wyatt chuckled. "It's my job," he said. "Anyways, is there anything that interests you? Like any hobbies?"

Savannah raised her hand to her neck before catching his gaze again. "I've been so wrapped up in my head that it's been a while since I did anything I personally enjoy." She admitted. Her parents' deaths had a profound impact on her, which she has attempted to conceal.

"Well, there must be something," he smiled, eager to learn. "Don't hold out on me."

She admired his desire to learn more about her. Guys in the past rarely asked questions and went straight to their desired outcome. Wyatt was not like that, which reminded her that there are good men out there. Men who look beyond sex and at the person in front of them. He was such a refreshing change of pace that she wished she could see him every day.

After agreeing to his request, she sighed, slightly embarrassed. "Well, I used to write a lot of poetry before the accident." She offered a sheepish smile.

Wyatt was amazed. "You need to show me sometime," he insisted.

"Oh, God, no," she said. "I have no idea where the journal I kept them in is." She did, but she did not want to show it to him.

He did not believe her. "Come on, I'm sure they're lovely." He finished the last of his margarita. "Tell you what, show me one, and I will have a surprise waiting for you."

His negotiating tactics were difficult to ignore. If she did show him a piece of her work, she was confident that he would surprise her spectacularly. He seemed like the type to go above and beyond for his friends and family. Savannah admired this characteristic in others. It demonstrated their loyalty and how important connections were to them. She desperately needed a connection at this point in her life. Wyatt fulfilling that need was ideal in her eyes.

Savannah smiled and agreed, only to be interrupted by Carson clearing his throat. As she turned her head, she noticed the frown on his face. He had obviously been staring the entire time she was speaking with Wyatt. It was difficult to hear every word, but Carson had heard enough to know they were going to her room. He could not bear the thought of them sleeping together in there if that was the case. He would not allow it.

Carson sat up and briefly glanced at Wyatt before returning his attention to Savannah. "W-where you going?" He stuttered. With everyone around him, he did not want to appear jealous.

Savannah knew he was but did not say anything to confirm it. Instead, she assured him that nothing else was going on. "I'm just showing him some of my writings," she said excitedly. "Maybe it will inspire me."

Violet eyes brightened. "Oh, I adore our little poet," she cooed. "Wyatt, you inspire the fuck out of her, got it?"

He laughed. "I'll try my best."

Carson was still dissatisfied, but he could not cause a scene. He gave a tight-lipped smile, sitting back on the couch. "Hope everything goes well, baby," he said, looking away.

Savannah was impressed with his self-control and planned to compliment him on it later. For the time being, she dragged Wyatt to her room, hoping he would read her work. The sensation was nerve-racking because she rarely shared her poems with anyone. If he did not like it or thought it was generic in some way, she would not be bothered. It will hurt, but she will respect his opinion regardless. What mattered most was that he wanted to see it.

As soon as they arrived in her room, she searched her bottom drawer for her journal. The purple notebook with her name on a thread in the center revealed itself. She gently picked up the book and held it close to her chest. Her gaze has not rested on this in weeks. Seeing it for the first time in so long brought back happy memories. She started writing when Carson first left just to let off some steam. However, it grew into something she was extremely passionate about.

Wyatt licked his lips, smiling. "Is this the journal?" He asked her ready to read.

She nodded but did not give it to him just yet. "Yes, but you should know that many of these are very personal." She exhaled. "And most of them are from when I was 16."

He laughed. "Okay, I'll keep that in mind." He assured her he wasn't here to judge. He only wanted to know a little more about her.

She turned to a more recent poem, satisfied, and handed it to him. They sat on her bed, anxiously waiting for him to finish. She can not believe she allowed someone other than Violet to read her work. She would occasionally allow her mother or father to read alongside her, but Violet was the primary reader. It was not that she did not think she was good, but it can be difficult to accept criticism. However, Wyatt was sweet and avoided being too harsh.

Wyatt was impressed with her ability after thoroughly reading each line. It was well-written, with beautiful metaphors and wordplay. He thought she was extremely talented for having started at the age of sixteen. This is something that should be shared with more than just him.

He read a few more before giving her the journal back. "Wow, that was quite impressive," he said enthusiastically. "You're very talented Savannah."

She blushed, avoiding his gaze. "You flatter me too much," she remarked nervously. "Did you truly enjoy them? I didn't want to sound too emotional, but I find I write best when I channel them."

"Your emotions are your strength." Wyatt smiled brightly. "Keep using that."

This time, she looked at him with light in her eyes. Everyone told her she was way too emotional for her own good. It was a disadvantage at times, but she could not change the way she was. Hearing Wyatt tell her to trust her feelings more often was calming. Her emotions had power, and she needed to use it more.

She sighed as she stood up to set her journal on her dresser. She figured she would keep it in plain sight to encourage herself to write. Wyatt had no idea how much his words meant to her, and she eagerly wanted to show him more of her talent. Maybe even involve him in the writing process. They still had so much to learn about each other. Sharing their hobbies was an excellent start.

However, it will have to happen at another time. She did not want to stay in her room for too long because she did not want Carson to be worried. It was the last thing she should have been thinking about, but she could not resist. As great as Wyatt was, she didn't want to make Carson jealous. At the very least, not more than he was.

"We should get going before Carson pops a vein," she joked. She could see his face now.

Wyatt stood up, almost afraid to ask because he did not want to cause any trouble. However, he needed to know. "Yeah, he's never liked me," he said. "But um...I recall him calling you 'baby' back there. Is there anything I should know?"

Savannah was afraid he would ask, but she could not lie to him. Could she? She was not dating either of them, but Wyatt may be interested in doing so in the future. Savannah would most likely have to make a difficult decision and as of now, there is no doubt that she would choose Carson. That was not to say Wyatt did not deserve a chance.

She was fiddling with her fingers, too nervous to say anything, even though the pet name did not mean what he assumed. "He used to tease me all the time when we were younger, calling me a crybaby." She shrugged. "He just cut it short because he is too lazy to say the whole thing."

That response would have been satisfactory, but Wyatt knew better. "Sure, but...well, forget it," he said casually.

Savannah wanted to get to the bottom of this though. "No, but what?" She inquired, her emotions rising.

"Nothing...I'm just wondering if I should try for something more or is this going to be strictly a friendship?" He hesitated to ask but said it anyway.

She understood why he was wary, but she did not know what to say. The truth is, her relationship with Carson is complicated. Carson was her best friend, and she had long harbored feelings for him. Giving that up for someone she barely knew seemed absurd, but she could not keep her gaze fixed on Carson if it would amount to nothing. She had someone willing to take the next step alongside her. Something beyond sex. Could she give that up?

"Wyatt, I'll be honest, it's complicated," she said, telling the truth. "But I like you. I like our conversations. I guess I'm just going with the flow."

He nodded, acknowledging her point of view. It is not like they made a promise to each other. They were still learning, which was okay. "So, you're saying there's still a chance for me?" He smirked.

Savannah laughed. "Yes, pretty boy. Now come on." She smiled, pushing him out the door. She admired his candor and the fact that he made an effort to flirt with her. In the end, honesty was the best policy, but the night left one camper dissatisfied.