Page 29 of Darlin'

"Yeah, good luck to her," I mumble as Marlow gives me a quick hug before I meander toward an agitated Jesse.

Now we're both pissed. Lovely. Another silent night. It might as well be Christmas.

"Night, Sav! Night JP!" Marlow hollers. "Drive safe."

"Let's go." I storm past Jesse in a huff, grabbing his sleeve and dragging him out of the bar. "Come on. Hurry up."

"Hey,Iwas ready to leave," Jesse notes. "You're the one taking her sweet ass time."

"Stop talking," I say, picking up my pace. "Shouldn't be an issue seeing as you've practically been mute these past two days."

"Wow..." Jesse scratches his head, shooting me an amused glance. "Who pissed in your cornflakes?"

"Your ex-girlfriend is a real bitch," I grumble. "Did you know that?"

"A bitch?" He genuinely looks taken aback as he grins. “Wow… What did she say to elicit a such a strong reaction from Miss Golly Gee?"

I study Jesse's features, the outer layer brimming with masked humor. But if I look real close, then I can kind of see it. I can see the forlorn glint of loss in his eyes. It'shiding there, behind twigs and branches. But it's there, like a trap hole. And if he's not careful, he might fall in and not be able to get back out.

"Nothing," I mumble, grabbing the helmet off the handlebars. "Let's go. I'm hungry."

"Okay..." Jesse rubs his chin in thought. "What do you want to eat tonight?"

I snort. "Leftovers would be just fine."

CHAPTER 9

Olive Branch

"For the last time, momma,"I whine into my phone, scooping up handfuls of bubbles and blowing them back into the warm tub, "I amnotcoming home yet, okay? Beau and I...we're just hanging out and getting reacquainted, okay? It takes more than three days to catch up on three years of lost time."

"Savannah!" Momma barks. "We only have a few weeks left until the pageant starts! Do you understand that? All the other girls are currently training and rehearsing, and you've over therehanging out? You can hang out with your brother all you wantafteryou win Miss USA."

"It's just a stupid crown, momma," I grumble. "Who cares?"

"Who cares? Who cares?!" she screeches. "We have worked for this your whole life, Savannah! Twenty-one years! Are you aware of how much money your daddy and I spent over those twenty-one years? Huh? This is it,Savannah. You only get one shot. An opportunity like this only comes around once in a lifetime.”

“Where are you getting your motivation speech material?” I mutter under my breath. “Eminem?”

"M&Ms?!” Her voice reaches all the dogs up in heaven. “I swear to the Lord Almighty, Savannah, if you're eating processed sugar this close to the pageant, I might die of a stroke."

"Eminem," I enunciate more carefully. "He's a rapper, momma." I pause, giggling to myself. "Of the human variety, might I add, not the candy bar type."

"What are you even talking about right now?—"

"Savannah!" Jesse pounds on the bathroom door, startling me. "I need to piss!"

"Who isthat?" Momma asks. "Is there amanwith you?"

Shoot!

"I'm in the tub!" I call out. "I'll be out soon!"

"No! Get outright now!" Jesse yells. "Or else I'm coming in!"

"There's a man in the tub with you?!" Momma shrieks. "I swear to?—"

"It's just..." I stare at the vibrating door as Jesse bangs on it. Double shoot. "It's Beau. He needs to use the bathroom."

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