She shook her head rapidly.“I’m just telling you how it is for me.”
He loved that about her – she wasn’t the kind to play games, to string him along, or to make him guess.
“Thank you.Then I guess all I can say is that I’d love to see you if you find you have any time to spare.”
A rush of warmth filled his chest when she smiled and said, “I’d like that, too.”
~ ~ ~
By the time she got home to the apartment, Savannah felt as though she was walking on air.She parked out front and ran up the steps.As she opened the front door, her mind was already focused on what she should wear later.She didn’t have all that long.
She and Jake had sat out on the deck until it was dark.It had been a beautiful sunset – if she were honest, it was probably her favorite sunset ever, and she had hundreds, maybe thousands, of them saved in her photos on her phone.But no matter the colors of the sky or the lake that reflected it, this was the only sunset she’d ever gotten to watch with Jake.
“Hey!”
She gasped and dropped her keys when Tiffany greeted her.
“Jeez!”Tiffany reached up to touch the towel wrapped around her head.“I’m not that scary, am I?If this frightens you, then I should probably give you advance warning before I slap on a face mask, huh?”
Savannah laughed as she picked up her keys.“It wasn’t the sight of you.I was just lost in my head, I guess, and I didn’t realize you were home.”She made a face.“With most people, I’d know before I came in.”
Tiff gave her a puzzled look.
“Because their car would be parked outside,” she explained.
“Oh, right.Well, maybe I prefer to move around more stealthily.”
“Or maybe you should just let me teach you to drive.I keep offering because I mean it, you know.”
“I know you do, babe – but honestly, Savannah, we’d both hate it if I wrapped your car around a tree or something.Or if I didn’t figure out how to stop it and drowned myself – and your car – in the lake.Some things are just not meant to be.Fish aren’t meant to fly, birds aren’t meant to swim, and Tiffs aren’t meant to drive.”
Savannah had to laugh.“I think you’re wrong about that.There are flying fish, there are birds – like penguins – that spend a lot of time in the water, and I’m sure there are plenty of Tiffs who drive.But even so, I don’t care about them – I care about you.And I really think you should give it a try.If nothing else, winter’s coming.Why on earth would you want to keep walking around town when it gets cold?”
Tiffany blew out a sigh.“You’re the best.And I appreciate it – I do.But think about it, even if you teach me, it’s not like I have a car to drive around in, is it?”
“We could get you one.”
“I can’t afford it.”
“We could get you a cheap one, and I’ll do it up for you.Or we could at least put you on my insurance so you can use my car.”
Tiffany tilted her head to the side.“You, sweet Savannah, are an absolute angel.But no way would I take advantage of you like that.”Her smile faded.“And I won’t let anyone else take advantage of you either.”
Savannah laughed.“You make me sound like an innocent country bumpkin who needs protecting.”
“I don’t mean anything bad by it.I mean you’re too good for this world – and most of the assholes in it.”
“I know.But this is Summer Lake, remember?We’re not in the city now.”
Tiffany barked out a laugh.“Don’t I know it.”She rubbed the towel over her hair before yanking it away.“Ta-daaa!What do you think?”
“Oh, wow!”
“I know, right?Isn’t it awesome?”
“It’s beautiful!”
Tiffany’s hair was now an eye-popping electric blue color – with neon pink tips.
