“Oh my God. Savannah?” I say the first thing that pops into my head.
Her reaction is the same as mine when she looks into my eyes and realizes it’s me.
“Hi, Hayden.”
I haven’t heard her say my name in so long, yet it sounds just as sweet as it always did coming from her lips. Blinking, I swallow and try to pull myself together. For years, I’d dreamed about seeing her again, and now that she’s standing in front of me, it doesn’t seem real.
My voice lowers. “I had no idea you’d be here.”
She lets out a small laugh as if she had the same thought. “It’s really good to see you. How have you been?” she asks so casually, it’s as if our past never happened.
“I’ve been good,” I say. I don’t want to have stupid small talk with her, but I know we can’t openly talk here. “You? I bet you’ve been pretty busy.”
“Oh yeah.” She nods. “Always something going on in my world. Not that I’d have it any other way,” she adds with a nervous laugh.
People are crowding around us, so I gesture for her to follow me off to the side with our plates in hand. I wish I could stand here and chat with her all night, though a part of me hates that I want that considering how heartbroken she left me. We’ve lost so much time, so many years, and I find myself wanting to know about New York, about how she’s been since we broke up.
She pushes hair from her face and tucks it behind her ear. I immediately notice there’s no ring on her left hand, which makes me smile inwardly, but I know that doesn’t mean there’s no one in her life.
Right as I open my mouth to say something, an arm loops around mine. I glance over at Veronica, and I know this doesn’t look good given their history. Savannah eyes her, then looks at me, and I remember how horrible she was to Savannah when we were teenagers.
“Babe, where’d you go?” she asks, then looks at Savannah. “Oh Savannah. Hi. I didn’t realize you’d be here, considering your profession all the way in the Big Apple!”
The passive aggressiveness isn’t lost on either of us. Savannah looks like she wants to slap the fake grin right off Veronica’s face.
“It wasn’t easy with my rehearsal schedule, but I love Lena, and I wanted to support my friend on her special day,” Savannah softly explains.
Veronica scoffs, and I realize how much of a mistake it was to bring her was as soon as Donny walks up. Hell I haven’t seen him in years and should’ve expected he’d be here with Savannah since they’re best friends and even moved to New York together.
“Oh. My. God. Veronica? Veronica Miller? Is that you?” he asks, but he very well knows it’s her. The sass isn’t lost on any of us. She looks almost exactly the same as she did back then. “That is unless you’re married now. How have you been, girl?” Donny looks her up and down, and I can tell he’s judging every inch of her.
“Not married, yet. Been holding out for the right one.” She glances at me with a smile. “But I’m doing very well, Donny. How about you?”
I swallow hard, holding a silent conversation with Savannah, wishing it was just the two of us.
“I’ve just been living my best life in NYC with my bestie. Sav and I are ruling the town with our talents, breaking hearts, and making waves. I’m sure you wouldn’t know anything about that, though, since you stayed in this little town.” The smile on his face doesn’t falter.
Burn.
“Are you going to eat all that?” Veronica swiftly changes the topic and looks at Savannah’s plate filled high with shrimp and other mini appetizers. Heat hits Savannah’s cheeks, and she swallows hard.
Donny takes the plate from Savannah. “Actually, these are for me. Would you like one?” He snags a shrimp from the plate and rips off the tail, chewing with his mouth open, being as obnoxious as possible on purpose. He’s always had Savannah’s back, and I can tell that much hasn’t changed.
Veronica’s annoyed, but she laughs before turning toward me and lowering her voice. “Ready to go, babe? We should find where we’re sitting for dinner.” She eyes the plate in my hand but pulls me closer as if she’s claiming her territory.
I glance at Savannah and can tell she’s not impressed by the way her mouth is in a firm line. There are so many things I want to say to her, but I know it’s not the time or place.
“It was nice seeing you again, Savannah,” I get out just before Veronica pulls me away, and when I look over my shoulder, I notice Savannah’s still looking at me. But instead of seeing lust or our old chemistry in her gaze, it’s full of bitterness and anger. I decide right then that I’ll do anything to get her alone because we have a lot to talk about.