The One She Left Behind

Matt draped his arm around his wife. “We can’t forget the time we sent Rachel into the field house on the guise that the coach needed to see her about the cheerleading squad—”

“Shut up, Matthew,” Rachel snapped. “That wasn’t the least bit funny, walking in on all those half-naked guys in the locker room. I’m still angry.”

“Angry because she didn’t have a camera,” Savannah chimed in, causing a loud outburst of laughter.

The stories kept flowing while Sam stayed stuck on the memories involving his and Savannah’s former time together. He’d never had a relationship that intense before, or since. But when she left, he’d begun to realize that he’d never been more to Savannah than a temporary diversion and a teacher when it came to sex. She’d only intended to hang around town long enough for the ink to dry on her high school diploma. If he’d only been able to see back then what he knew now, he would’ve saved himself a lot of sleepless nights and second-guessing.

When the conversation and laughter quieted, Savannah sighed. “I just wish Jess could’ve been here.”

Rachel folded her hands atop the table. “I tried to convince her to come but she made up some excuse about Danny’s baseball game and that Dalton was too busy to pick him up.”

Chase looked as if he’d eaten something sour. “He’s probably too busy screwing around with some gullible woman.”

Savannah leaned forward. “You mean he’s cheating on her?”

For Jess’s sake, Sam felt the need to set the record straight in spite of his suspicions. “No one’s confirmed anything yet, and I hope like hell Jess’s boy doesn’t get wind of the rumors. He’s got enough troubles having Dalton as his dad.”

Rachel scooted closer to the table. “Speaking of that very thing…” She took Matt’s hand into hers and added, “We have some news.”

Matt looked to Sam as if he might bolt. “Yeah, we do.”

Sam stared down Chase, letting him know he was about to be twenty dollars richer, before he stated, “You’re going to be parents.”

Rachel’s mouth opened for a minute before she snapped it shut and swatted her husband’s arm. “I thought we were going to wait to tell everyone together, Matthew.”

Matt raised his hands above his head, like he was set to surrender. “I swear I didn’t say a thing, Rachel.”

“He didn’t have to,” Sam said. “I went through all the symptoms with Darlene. No drinking, sick in the morning, yawning every five minutes.”

Savannah stood, rounded the table and hugged Rachel. “I’m so thrilled for the two of you.”

In the meantime, Chase pulled out his wallet and handed over a twenty to Sam. “You win.”

Matt didn’t look too pleased. “You two were betting on my wife?”

Sam leaned back and grinned. “Yep. Chase didn’t think you had it in you after thirteen years of marriage.”

Chase chuckled. “Hell, I didn’t think anyone had sex after thirteen years of marriage.”

Once again, the group joined together in laughter, including Savannah. Sam had forgotten how much he liked her laugh. He’d always been able to make her laugh, even during some fairly rocky times. He’d also been good at making her cry, like he had that day in the diner. Right or wrong, at the time he’d figured she’d deserved it. He’d wanted her to feel as bad as he had, punish her for leaving him behind. But the past was long since dead and buried and didn’t deserve a resurrection. Once he left this hellhole, and Savannah, he swore not to give it—or her—a second thought.

After the food arrived, Sam tried to focus on the conversation but found himself watching Savannah eat her measly salad. He’d taught her to kiss, and she’d taken to his instructions pretty damn well. She’d been a willing student, even if she had made him work for the ultimate reward for almost two years. And if he didn’t keep his mind on the present and his eyes to himself, he could forget using a poker face to hide his fascination with her mouth, especially if she caught him with his guard down.

But as the talk once more turned to old times, Savannah seemed more relaxed around Sam, so much so she started to lean toward him whenever he tried to speak above the din. And when no one was paying him any mind, he’d inch his chair away from her. If he moved clear across the room, that wouldn’t be far enough away. He’d still know she was there, and he’d still be tempted to return to the past even if he’d sworn not to go there.

During a lull in the conversation, Chase slid out of his seat and stood. “Anyone up for a game of pool?”

Sam pushed away from the table so fast he almost knocked over the stool. “I’m in.”

“Count me in, too,” Matt said. “As long as you concentrate on the game, Reed, and not the kind that involves finding a willing woman while pretending to play pool.”

“Well, now that you mention it.” Chase leaned down and draped his arm over Savannah’s shoulder. “You wouldn’t happen to be willing, would you, sweetheart?”

She removed his arm, much to Sam’s satisfaction, even if he shouldn’t care what the hell she did and who she did it with. “Not on your life, Chase,” she said. “That would be like kissing my brother.”

Chase grinned. “Just let me know if you change your mind.”

Matt came to his feet and said, “While we’re gone, you two girls can talk about us all you want.”

Sam had no doubt he’d be the prime topic of discussion, especially if Savannah had a mind to rake him over the coals with Rachel for his less-than-friendly attitude.

Once they reached the tables, Sam grabbed a cue from the wall holder and turned to discover that the couple currently playing pool didn’t appear to be in a hurry to complete their game. When they kept kissing and touching each other, he almost suggested they give up and take it into the parking lot.

Matt came to his side and said, “You and Savannah looked kind of cozy back there at the table.”

He shouldn’t be surprised by the comment. To any casual observer, they might have looked “cozy.”

“Your imagination’s out of control, Boyd.”

Chase joined them to add his two cents. “I don’t know, Mac. Are you sure you’re not hankerin’ to take a little trip back in time with Savannah?”

Sam battled the images the comment created and the urge to curse his friends. “You two don’t know what in the hell you’re talking about.”

Fortunately, the couple had finally cut out, providing a diversion. “Looks like it’s our turn,” he said.

While Matt gathered the pool balls, Chase leaned back against the table and regarded Sam. “Twenty bucks says you and Savannah will end up in bed together before the week’s over.”

Sam didn’t like the bet or the bedroom images running through his mind. “Go to hell, Reed.”

Matt offered his hand to Chase. “I say three days.”

“You’re on,” Chase said as they sealed the wager with a shake.

When they both looked at Sam expectantly, he picked up a cue and took his first shot, missing the pocket by a mile. “No good ever comes from repeating history,” he muttered as he straightened. “You can both make a hundred bets and neither of you are going to win.” If he considered what they were suggesting, he’d also be in line to lose.