Forever and Always

Three

I was driving in my truck with Miley in the passenger seat. We were on the way to Olivia's house to go over some plans for the wedding. Olivia has been doing weddings for a long time so when Miley said she was getting married she immediately offered to help out.

As we pulled up I saw Connor's car in the driveway. I almost smiled at the fact that he still drives that old beat up pick up but I stopped myself and looked down.

"Connor's back in town?" Miley questioned in shock as she looked at me with wide eyes. I pursed my lips and nodded.

Without letting her say anything else I stepped out of my truck and took a deep breath. I think Miley realized I don't want to talk about him because she didn't ask again. We walked up to the house and when the door opened thankfully, it was Olivia and not Connor.

"Hey darling!" the older woman beamed and pulled us both into a hug. "How are y'all doing?"

"We're doing good." Miley smiled. Olivia opened the door wider and we walked in. I looked around and sighed feeling that same feeling in my stomach like when I saw Connor's car out front.

"So Savannah, how's little Hazel doing?" Olivia asked me. I smiled at the thought of my daughter.

"She's doing good. I think she's gonna start talking soon. She said mmm one time and I thought she was gonna say mama." I said.

"Oh that's wonderful." she smiled at me and I returned the gesture.

We sat at the kitchen table and began discussing the plans for Miley's wedding. I could tell how excited Miley was and it made me happy that she loved my brother that much.

"Ma! You in here!?" I froze at the sound of his voice.

"In the kitchen honey!" Olivia called back before sending me a sympathetic look. I heard the sound of his boots get closer but I didn't turn around. Miley did though and I saw her eyes widen.

"I got old Nessy into the stables. She's getting kind of restless." he told his mom before he looked up and saw Miley and I at the table.

"Oh sorry honey, I should have told you we were having people over." she said.

"I-It's okay." I finally got the nerve to turn around and when I did I noticed how is eyes were on me.

"So, do you still need a cake?" Olivia asked Miley and they went back into wedding planning while I slowly tore my gaze away from Connor.

"Um yeah. I was gonna talk to Michael about it."

"You're marrying Michael?" Connor blurted out and we all turned to him again. "I mean--"

"Yeah." Miley nodded.

"Oh, I didn't know that." He moved towards the fridge and I don't know why I chose to speak but I immediately regretted it.

"Of course you didn't." I spoke and you could hear the distaste in my voice. My eyes widened and I looked at Miley who was trying to hide her amused look but failing.

"Um, yeah. I didn't." Connor muttered.

"Can we leave?" I whispered to Miley. "I think I've gotta check and see why the hell I've got these balls all of a sudden." she snorted at my comment and looked back up at Olivia.

"Well, if you're free, maybe we could meet up with Michael and discuss the final things." Olivia said.

I felt my phone ring in my pocket and I pulled it out to see that it was Michael. I answered it and put it on speaker phone.

"Hey what's--"

"Savvy, I seriously need your help." he cut me off and I heard Hazel crying in the background. "She won't stop crying no matter what I do. I burped her, changed her, even took on a walk around the property but she won't calm down. I think she wants her mama."

I heard a plate clatter to the floor and my eyes widened when I realized that Connor was still in the room. I took Michael off of speaker phone and walked down the hall.

"Did you try putting on bubble guppies?" I asked. "She always calms down after that."

"Yes. It's not working. Your child is broken." I couldn't help but laugh at the panic in his voice.

"Okay, put me on speaker phone." I told him.

"Okay, I did it." Michael said and I could still hear Hazel crying.

"Hazel baby, it's mama." I said quietly so that the others in the kitchen wouldn't hear me. Most importantly Connor. "Mama's gonna be home real soon. I promise." even though she didn't know what it meant, I think the sound of my voice calmed her because her crying quieted down and I heard her softly cooing.

"Thank god." I heard Michael fall onto what I assume is the couch. "Life saver. That's what you are, I was about ready to blow my brains out."

"Stop it." I laughed. "Just watch her for about another hour. Miley and I are almost done and I'll be home as quick as I can.

"All right. I love you."

"Love you too." I told him before hanging up the phone. I sighed and rubbed my temple. When I walked back into the kitchen I saw that Miley and Olivia were both gone. I furrowed my brows and looked out front. My car was still here so Miley couldn't have left.

"So, you've got a kid now?" I heard a voice from behind me and I clenched my jaw.

"Doesn't matter." I shrugged him off and just hoped he would leave me alone.

"Come on Sav, will you at least look at me?" he asked desperately. I turned around and our eyes met. "Just talk to me please."

"What do you want me to say?" I asked. "Why are you even back?"

"I got let off for the summer." He spoke in that accent that made me swoon. I nodded my head and grabbed my bag.

"Yeah well, the army needs you." I hissed before walking off. God I'm still mad at him after all of these years.

"Savannah!" he called coming after me. I hurried out the door and started making my way to my car when he grabbed my arm. "Please don't be like that."

"Like what Connor?"

"Don't leave like this. Come on, I'm back." he told me and tried to touch my cheek but I pushed it away.

"Leave?" I laughed dryly. "You mean like you did?" he looked at me with a hurt expression but I only rolled my eyes and moved towards my truck. "Miley get your ass out here or I'm leaving you!"

Within seconds Miley came running out the front door and climbed into the truck with me. Before I could close my door Connor grabbed it and pulled it open.

"Seriously Savannah. I want to fix this and--"

"There is no fixing this." I pushed him back and closed the door before driving off with angry tears in my eyes.

Yep. It still hurts.

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