“I’m going to get in, I promise. You can still dive off the cliff if you want,” she added.
Kyllian smiled. “Not until I see you in the water first,” he replied in a sing-song voice.
Savanah pursed her lips. If there were one thing for certain about being with him, it was that he always made things fun without making her feel like a total idiot in the process. His teasing was playful and in good taste, and he never left her out of anything he did.
“Okay,” Savanah said suddenly, walking directly into the water and leaning forward to slip her body in as she looked back at him. The water was refreshing and cool, but not overly cold, and it made Savanah feel relaxed instantly. She looked at him from the water and waved, “Your turn, Kyllian!”
“I’m going,” he said, jogging back up the trail and disappearing from Savanah’s sight. After a few moments, Kyllian emerged on the edge of the cliff and went bounding over the side, flipping mid-air before his agile body met with the water in a perfectly executed dive.
Savanah looked around her and waited for him to pop up from beneath the surface. “Kyllian?” she said, looking in the water around her. Suddenly, splashing water erupted from behind her and Kyllian’s laughter filled the air.
“Got you!” he said, swimming a few feet away as he stared at her. Savanah’s eyes widened as the water hit her flesh and she turned around to see him swimming away.
“Where are you going? That’s not fair!” she said, leaning back and kicking her feet in the water to send waves in his direction.
“Whoever said anything was fair in war? This is a water war!” he declared, putting both of his hands together and sending a wall of water toward Savanah as he splashed it her way. Savanah chuckled and dunked beneath the water, making a beeline as she swam back toward him. Kyllian ducked beneath the surface and met her face to face under the water, pulling her into him and pressing his lips to hers for a brief moment before erupting through the surface and paddling away from her.
Savanah had just enough time to realize what was happening before Kyllian got away from her and lifted her head from the water’s surface, casting her gaze all around, but nowhere in sight did she see Kyllian.
“I’m not falling for that again!” Savanah called out, just as Kyllian re-emerged and began to laugh again.
“This has been too much fun,” he said, crossing over to her. Savanah leaned away slightly as he got closer. “No worries, I’m not going to splash you again,” he murmured. Savanah smiled and pulled him into herself.
“Come on, let’s soak up some of this sun,” he said, walking out of the water to stand back on the shore’s edge. Savanah followed him and sat on a nearby small rock. As she looked at him, she decided now was the best time to come clean with what she had been hiding.
“Kyllian,” she started, waiting for him to look back at her before she continued, “I need to tell you something,” she said.
Kyllian perked a brow and looked down at her. “Anything you need, Savanah,” he said, kneeling down to give her more of his attention.
Savanah exhaled deeply, closing her eyes, as she placed on hand on her belly. “You know I was trafficked. You know I’ve been through a lot, and I’m glad I can trust you enough to be clean about that, but there’s more,” Savanah said.
Kyllian looked at her and put a hand on her knee. “Savanah, there is nothing you could tell me that would ever change how I feel about you. You know that,” he said.
“I’m pregnant, and it happened during…” Savanah trailed off her words, looking down in humiliation. “I will completely understand if you don’t want anything to do with me now,” she finished.
“No, I would not have come this far with you if I didn’t care for you Savanah. This wasn’t your fault, and it wasn’t the baby’s either. I will raise the baby with you, if you will let me. I’ll do anything in my power to give you and the child a home and the family you both deserve,” he said, pulling her closely as he held her in his arms. Savanah sighed as she leaned her head against his shoulder. Heaven was right there in Kyllian’s arms.
