Not once.
19
Chasing Forever
Mallory’s Reaction
Savannahbarelymadeitthree steps into the house before Mallory was on her.
Her best friend was perched on the couch, a glass of wine in hand despite the late hour, her eyes sharp and way too knowing. The moment Savannah stepped through the door, Mallory arched an eyebrow, her lips parting in anticipation.
“Oh my God.” Mallory sat up straighter, setting her wine down with a thunk. “You did it, didn’t you?”
Savannah let out a breathless laugh, kicking off her sandals before collapsing onto the couch beside her. “No.”
Mallory blinked, her brows furrowing. “No?”
Savannah let her head fall back against the cushions, her limbs still tingling, her mind still replaying every second of the night—the way Chase had looked at her, touched her, kissed her. But she didn’t regret stopping. She didn’t regret the way it had ended. Not one bit.
“No,” she repeated, turning her head to face Mallory.
Mallory looked appalled. “I don’t understand. The sexual tension between you two is enough to fuel a small country. Are you seriously telling me you didn’t—?”
Savannah groaned, pressing her hands over her face. “Trust me. I wanted to. He wanted to. But Chase…” She exhaled sharply, her stomach flipping just at the memory of his words. “He wants to do it right.”
Mallory’s jaw dropped. “He stopped? Voluntarily?”
Savannah nodded.
Mallory’s head fell back against the couch, her eyes squeezed shut. “I hate you.”
Savannah burst out laughing, but Mallory wasn’t finished.
“I mean, I love you, I do,” she continued, waving a hand dramatically. “But God, Sav. Where the hell do I find a man who stops himself because he respects me too much to rush it? Like, do I need to go put in a request with the universe? Light some candles? Do a damn séance?”
Savannah smirked, nudging her with her foot. “Get in line.”
Mallory groaned, grabbing a throw pillow and smacking Savannah with it. “No, seriously. You have to tell me everything. And I mean everything.”
Savannah grinned, biting her lip as warmth spread through her chest. “Where do I even start?”
“Start with the second you saw him. And don’t leave out a damn thing.”
Savannah tucked her legs under her, fingers trailing over the seam of the couch as she started talking.
“So when I get to the marina, he hands me this coffee like he just knows exactly how I take it, and then he tells me to get in his truck. No explanation, nothing. Just ‘you’re late, Monroe." She smiles. Then he says "I’ve been waiting for you since the day you left, Savannah. Another ten minutes wouldn’t have made a difference."
Mallorythrows her hands up.“What the actual fuck? He just—what? That’s some Nicholas Sparks-level shit right there. Are you kidding me?
Savannah snorted. “So we drive, and instead of taking me to the usual spots, he pulls up at this little hidden inlet—one of those places that only locals know about. There’s no one around. Just the water, the sand, and us.”
Mallory’s eyes widened, leaning forward like she was absorbing every word. “Romantic as hell. And?”
Savannah smiled, remembering how the morning air had felt cool against her skin, how Chase had moved with ease, spreading out the blanket, pulling out a cooler.
“He had breakfast packed.”
Mallory gasped. “Tell me he made it himself.”
