Page 42 of A Thousand Broken Pieces

I halted, my mouth ghosting over hers. Savannah’s eyes closed, then opened, a huff of a laugh bursting between us. Travis and Dylan’s voices sailed around us, and I dropped my forehead to hers in defeat.

“Bad timing,” I said to Savannah, and she laughed again. Lifting my head, I drank in her dilated pupils and heated cheeks. I kissed her rosy cheek, holding it for as long as I could before our friends got too close. I knew Savannah would hate to be caught like this, too on display to curious eyes. Pulling away from where we lay, I held out my hand and Savannah slipped hers in mine. I was convinced that two hands had never fit together so perfectly.

I helped her stand from the snow and dusted the layer that had stuck to her clothes. She shivered, the dampness of the snow starting to freeze against her skin. Unable to resist, I cupped Savannah’s cheeks and kissed her forehead, whispering, “You’re the best thing to happen to me in the longest time, Peaches.”

“Cael,” she said, grasping on to my wrists. She could probably feel my pulse thundering under my skin. Rearing back, I went to move away, when she pulled on my wrists, stopping me mid-step. Biting her lip in nerves, she approached me slowly, then lifted to her tiptoes. I lowered down a fraction so she could place her hand on my cheek too. Then Savannah leaned in and placed a kiss on my stubbled skin.

My heart stopped.

Travis and Dylan came stampeding toward us, covered in snow from head to foot. Savannah turned to them, laughing as Jade and Lili came over too, more snow on them all than seemed to be on the ground.

But I couldn’t take my eyes off Savannah.

“It’s freezing!” Lili said, trembling with cold as they all came to a stop.

“Dinner by the fireplace back at the hotel?” Travis suggested to firm nods of agreement. I hung back a second as everyone began to walk back up the street. The stars were a glitter-covered blanket above, white snow vibrant against the dark night, and then there was Savannah, shining brighter than the stars and snow combined.

Feeling my absence, Savannah turned around and held out her hand. “Are you coming?”

Straightening my coat, I walked to Savannah and took hold of her offered hand. And I followed her up the street, and back to the hotel. With every step I walked beside her, I was quickly becoming aware that I’d follow this girl anywhere.

She was the miracle I never saw coming.

When we entered the hotel, Mia and Leo were in the reception. “Cael? Savannah?” Leo said, calling us from the group.

I glanced down at Savannah and saw nervousness wash over her face. Mia told the others where to get dinner, then came over to us. “We just want to have a chat with you both,” Leo said, gesturing for us to follow him into a private room just off the lobby.

We followed, and Savannah’s hand tightened in mine. She was nervous. There was a table in the room, four chairs around it. “Please, sit down,” Leo said, and Savannah and I sat on one side. Mia and Leo took the seats on the other.

My jaw clenched in agitation. It was obvious why they had singled me and Savannah out. But it wasn’t anger running through me. It was nerves. I was filled with a new emotion—fear. Fear that they were going to disapprove of us together.

I waited for Leo and Mia to speak. Savannah, clearly feeling my unease, squeezed my hand twice.

“We’ve asked you here,” Mia said, voice gentle, “as we’ve noticed some developments between you both.” I looked to Savannah. Her cheeks were flushed with embarrassment, but her head was held high, and it made me lose some of the discomfort I was feeling.

Leo leaned on the table. “This isn’t the first trip we’ve done, far from it. And it isn’t the first time we’ve had people fall for one another while away,” he said.

Panic, strong and true, flooded my body, and I found myself blurting, “I’m not staying away from her.” My heart beat fast as I readied for an argument.

Leo met my eyes. He didn’t look pissed at my interruption. I knew I probably sounded insolent, but Savannah had been the only good thing to happen to me so long. I wasn’t letting them split us up; Icouldn’t.Not when the anger had finally fallen away and I could breathe. Not when I found someone who made me feel understood.

“We’re not asking you to, Cael,” he said calmly. “But we need to speak to you about what we expect from you both.”

“Okay,” Savannah replied, placing her free hand over our joined hands. Extra support. “We understand.” She nodded at me, urging me to hear them out too.

I exhaled a deep breath, releasing the panic that was running through me. “We can’t stop people from developing feelings for one another,” Leo said. “You are seventeen and eighteen, not small children. But we are here to help you with your grief, and what we worry about is your own progress being hindered by relying too much on one another and not on your personal journeys.”

“We ask that you adhere to the lessons and teachings that we require of you—asindividuals,” Mia said. “And also,” she said and straightened, more authoritative in her seat, “weinsistthat you follow the rules and boundariesof the program. No sneaking off together. No sharing rooms. It’s therapy first, relationship second. Okay?”

My eyes dropped to the table. I didn’t like the sound of that, but I would never voice it aloud for fear they would interfere with me and Savannah.

“If you break these rules, we will be contacting your parents and it may compromise your place on this trip,” Leo added. My jaw clenched. I didn’t really care for the therapy. Right now, I just wanted Savannah. Therapy hadn’t helped me. She had in a matter of weeks.

“We won’t break the rules,” Savannah said. I said nothing.

That clearly gained Leo’s attention as he said, “Do you understand, Cael?”

“Savannah’s good for me,” I said, meeting his gaze. Leo listened intently, calmly. I wasn’t sure what he was thinking. But I wanted him tounderstand. I swallowed, looked at Savannah’s wide eyes, then said, “I … I’ve told her about Cill.” My voice was croaky with how much energy that took me to say out loud. “And me …” I trailed off. “I’mfeeling better. My anger isn’t as … controlling.”

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