Beta

Savannah hated keeping secrets from those closest to her. But that’s exactly what she was doing now. She hadn’t told anyone she had met up with Odella. Not Alex. Not Tyler. Not even Shea, who was heading back from her honeymoon.

She tried to not let her mind wander to Odella, but that was difficult. She and Tyler were headed to Jamie’s so Tyler could apologize for being an ass. But Savannah’s mind kept drifting to her conversation with Odella.

“Savannah!” she heard Tyler calling her name, and she jumped out of her thoughts. “Daydreaming much?” he chuckled.

“Sorry,” she mumbled an apology as she sat up straighter.

“When is Shea getting home?” he asked his question again.

“Flight gets in at two,” she said with a grin. She missed her sister. It didn’t matter that she had gone years living apart from her when Savannah had lived in Chicago. She was still her best friend and she couldn’t wait to hear all the honeymoon stories.

“So I shouldn’t expect you home tonight?” he asked half-jokingly.

“Probably not,” she answered honestly. “Maybe tomorrow...need to remind you what you got before you go off and show everyone your naked body and have girls throwing themselves at you,” she told him.

He turned his head towards her. “You okay with me doing this?” he asked sincerely.

“I trust Alex doing the pictures,” she began and his face fell. She read his expression quickly. “I trust you, too. But I’ll feel better by being there to ward off all those girls, though,” she added.

He had reached Jamie’s place and parked his car. He leaned over and kissed her temple. “I already know I’ve got the best,” he stated. “I’m not gonna do anything stupid...again,” he added.

She smiled at him. “Let’s just see if Jamie pummels you before your shoot,” she said, stepping out of the car.

Tyler walked up to push the intercom to get Jamie and Alex to let them in when Savannah swatted his hand aside. She pushed the button one time instead of allowing Tyler to hold it down. “Let me in so I can see that girlfriend of yours,” she said when Jamie called down.

He laughed before saying, “How can I deny you access after that?” A moment later, the door was unlocked and Savannah and Tyler went inside.

“Don’t be an asshole,” she warned Tyler when they were inside the elevator. He gave her a look of disbelief. “I mean it,” she stated, pointing her finger at his chest.

“Yes, ma’am!” Tyler jokingly saluted her.

She rolled her eyes as the elevator doors opened to Jamie’s floor. She walked inside the condo without even knocking. “I didn’t invite him inside,” Jamie muttered, staring at Tyler.

“Sorry, package deal,” Savannah shrugged. “Where’s Alex?” she asked, looking around for her best friend.

“Bedroom,” Jamie replied.

Savannah took a chance by leaving the two men alone as she went to find Alex. She found her exactly where Jamie had said, in his bedroom, rummaging through a drawer in his dresser that Savannah could see was now full of Alex’s clothes.

“Why don’t you just officially move in already?” Savannah asked.

Alex spun around. “Same reason you don’t with Segs,” she countered.

“Fair enough,” Savannah backed down. “By the way, there’s a fifty-fifty chance your boyfriend is kicking Tyler’s ass out there right now.”

Alex’s eyes widened. “I can’t believe you left them out there alone!” she said, bolting for the door. She hurried out to the main room to see the two standing toe to toe. “Jamie, please don’t bruise him before the photo shoot,” she requested.

Jamie’s eyes didn’t leave Tyler. “Isn’t that what the makeup people are there for?” he muttered.

Savannah jumped in, bringing everyone’s attention to her. “If anyone punches anyone else, I’m bringing your ass to the station,” she threatened. No one said anything. “That’s exactly what I thought. Look, Tyler was an asshole, we all know that,” she continued, garnering a look from Tyler. “But, he knows what he said was wrong. So please, let’s move on.”

Jamie was reluctant, but finally said, “Fine. But only if he promises not to make inappropriate remarks to my girlfriend during this photo shoot.”

Savannah turned to look at her boyfriend, shooting him a look. “Fine, I’ll try not to make any inappropriate remarks,” Tyler sighed.

Alex looked up at Jamie. “So can we forgive and move on?” she asked him hopefully.

Jamie turned his attention towards Tyler. “You’re lucky your girlfriend helps you out,” he told him.
Tyler put his arm around Savannah. “I know she’s the luckiest thing that’s ever happened to me.”

Savannah rolled her eyes. “Stop being mushy,” she told him. She then looked over at Alex. “Where’s Shea? She should be getting in soon. Where do you want to go for dinner?” The two girls started talking about their plans for the evening, while Tyler and Jamie watched from the outside. It wasn’t long before those two left to go play video games on Jamie’s couch.

Neither girl noticed when the guys left to go get some food. Instead, they were excited about Shea coming back in town. And as soon as they got the official text from Shea that she had touched down in Dallas, they were moving to get out the door and meet her at her home.

Savannah and Alex nearly suffocated Shea when they hugged her the moment she let them into the place she shared with her now wife. “Where’s the wifey?” they asked, not seeing Audrey.

Shea laughed. “Glad to know who’s the favorite,” she joked. “But she went to Lena’s,” she spoke of one of Audrey’s friends. “She needed to tell her all about the honeymoon just like I need to tell you guys!”

Savannah grinned. “I can’t wait! Let’s go get a drink and talk,” she suggested, and the other girls nodded in agreement.

Savannah and Alex listened intently as Shea gave them stories from her honeymoon, some place Audrey and her didn’t want to return from. It wasn’t until Savannah’s phone started ringing that they were interrupted. Savannah glanced at the number, recognizing it immediately as Odella’s. She forced herself to ignore it. When she glanced back up, Alex and Shea were staring at her.
“What?” she asked obliviously.

“Who was that?” Shea asked, nodding towards Savannah’s phone that now laid face down on the table.

“No one,” Savannah shrugged it off.“Van. Do not lie to me,” Shea told her. “Who was it?” Savannah didn’t respond immediately, but she knew Shea wouldn’t let it go. “Van. Do you want me to call Tyler and tell him you’re getting mysterious phone calls?” she threatened.

“Jeez, you act like it’s some guy I’m cheating on him with,” Savannah rolled her eyes.

“Van, what are you keeping from us?” Alex chimed in.

“Fine. It’s Odella,” she told them the truth. They were her best friends, and they’d find out eventually. They might as well find out from her.

Alex’s eyes widened. “Odella?” she questioned loudly, causing a few gawking eyes to be directed at their table. Savannah tried to shush her friend, but Alex continued. “Van! She’s still contacting you? Does Tyler know?”

“Still?” Shea interjected. “What do you mean still?” Her eyes bore into her sister’s. “How long has this been going on and why am I just now hearing about this?”

“Long enough,” Savannah muttered, not revealing just how long it had actually been. Shea was already pissed, and if she knew the truth, it would only make things worse. “And there were more important things going on. Like your wedding,” she reminded her.

Shea turned her head towards Alex. “What do you know?”

“Just that Odella has been calling her. Including at your wedding,” Alex informed her. Shea’s eyes widened and she started to say something, but Alex cut her off. “But, the way you looked at that phone, Van, I’d say you were hoping she’d be calling.”

“I met up with her,” she admitted, waiting for the wrath of her best friends.

“And did she give you any info?” Alex asked, not exactly the response Savannah expected to get from her, but she appreciated it more than being yelled at.

Savannah shrugged. “Nothing to break the case. She claims she hasn’t seen Bartholomew in weeks since he got thrown in jail, but I don’t believe her. I think she’s the middle person between him and Sebastian.” She tapped her fingers on the bar table. She just needed to prove that connection and then figure out where they were hiding Bartholomew.

“Van, don’t go at this alone,” Shea warned her.

Savannah shot her a look that Shea had seen a hundred times before. One that told her to back off. “I can handle myself.”

“And when you end up in the hospital again?” Shea questioned.

“I won’t end up in the hospital again,” she promised, though she knew she couldn’t actually guarantee that. She hadn’t expected to be in the hospital the first time she went after Bartholomew and Junior. “And don’t you dare tell Tyler about this,” she added, pointing a finger at the other two.

Shea frowned at her sister. “You know it’s bad when you’re trying to keep this from your boyfriend,” she pointed out.

“He’d just overreact and you know it,” Savannah retorted. “I’m not going to do anything without backup. Dominic wouldn’t let me anyways. And Tyler needs to worry about his photo shoot coming up, not my case,” she explained her reasoning.

Shea sighed. “I’m not happy about this, Van.”

Savannah looked at her sister. “I know, but you need to trust me. I know what I’m doing.”

Her phone buzzed, and she half expected it to be Odella. When she looked at the phone, though, she saw it was a text from Tyler. Let me know if you’re coming home tonight. I’ll keep the bed warm for you ;)

Savannah smiled as she texted back. Sorry, hotshot probably not tonight. But I’ll wake you up in the morning

She glanced back up to see Alex and Shea staring at her. “What?” she asked.

“You’re so smitten with Tyler,” Shea replied.

“I’m not the newlywed,” she retorted. “Now tell us your favorite part of the honeymoon!” she insisted, getting the attention off of herself and back onto her sister.

Notes

The photoshoot is coming upppp :)