Then, without a single ounce of hesitation, he turned to Savannah.
Tilted her chin up. And kissed her. Slow. Deep. Right there in front of everyone.
Jenna went stiff.
Chase pulled back, his lips barely grazing Savannah’s as he smirked.
Then he turned to Jenna.
"Palmetto Drive is nowhere near my house. I just told you that so you’d leave me alone."
Silence.
Then—
Nate let out a loud, sharp laugh, his head dropping back.
Mallory covered her mouth, but her entire body shook with laughter.
Savannah? She just smirked against Chase’s lips, loving every second of it.
Jenna flushed red, her jaw tightening.
"Unbelievable," she muttered, flipping her hair over her shoulder before storming off.
Chase exhaled, leaning back against the booth, taking another sip of his beer.
Mallory shook her head, still laughing. “Damn, that was satisfying.”
Nate wiped a hand over his face. “Man, I gotta start keeping a list of your legendary moments.”
Chase just grinned, stretching his arm back behind Savannah.
“Go ahead.”
And Savannah?
She just leaned into him, smiling into her drink.
Because Jenna was gone.
And Chase?
Chase was exactly where he wanted to be.
32
Chasing Clarity
Thenightairhungheavy, thick with the scent of salt and the distant hum of cicadas as Chase turned off Causeway Drive. The roar of his tires against the pavement should have been steadying, grounding, but tonight, it wasn’t. His mind was too restless, too cluttered with thoughts that refused to settle. The drive home should have been simple—a straight shot down familiar roads, gravel crunching under his tires as he pulled into his driveway.
But tonight wasn’t like other nights.
His grip on the wheel tightened as his mind drifted back to dinner. It had started off perfect—laughter, good food, easy conversation. Savannah had fit so effortlessly beside him, her thigh brushing his under the table, her eyes lighting up every time she laughed. He had been drowning in her, and he didn’t want to come up for air.
And then?
Jenna happened.
