Page 28 of Falls From Grace
“No grown-ass straight woman wears that much flannel,” Coral said flatly. “Nor should they.”
“That’s just a cliche.” Savannah rolled her eyes, disappointed. “God, Coral. This is bad. She is married. To my new - and extremely lovely - songwriting partner.” She sank back on the couch, feeling excruciated.
“Well, yeah, I happen to think it’s perfect,” Coral told her. Savannah blinked. “You could do with a good safe crush,” Coral continued, leaning in toward the screen like she was about to deliver a home truth. “Ever since you left Cole, you’ve been acting like you’re not the red-blooded woman we all know you are. Getting hot and bothered over someone would be good for you, and since nothing can happen here, you can just relax and enjoy it.”
“Enjoy it?” Savannah looked up, frowning. It was true that she’d barely thought about sex - or even romance - since the moment she kicked her ex-husband out. The very idea of going back through all that all over again had sounded far too overwhelming; it was better just to shut all those feelings down altogether. And it had worked, it really had. Until now.
“Of course! Me? Well, I might find myself a little tempted.” Coral raised her eyebrows, her expression sultry. “But you never would. You’re so… moral,” she teased. “And god, if Noah isn’t the hottest man I’ve seen in miles… you know for sure they’ve got to be rock solid. Ugh, the two of them.” She rolled her eyes heavenward at the immense good looks of the couple. The hesitation clearly remained evident in Savannah’s face, since Coral huffed in response. “Just enjoy it! Check out her ass when she’s not looking. Have a little harmless flirt. Take things into your own hands if it gets too hot for you to handle.” She wriggled her perfectly sculpted brows suggestively.
“Stop it.” Savannah shook her head, going slightly pink despite herself. “Besides. It’s worse than that. I like her. I can talk to her. She makes me feel… safe,” she confessed.
“Okay, well that can’t continue.” This time Coral was the one to frown. “I like a bit of harmless fun for you, but I don’t like the idea of you getting hurt.”
“Me neither,” said Savannah softly. “But we just straight up proposed friendship to each other this afternoon. And now she’s-”
“Your governess,” Coral teased.
“-taking care of my child every day. I’m going to see her all the damn time and I already just like her so much.”
“And she’s hot as fuck.”
“And she’s hot as fuck,” Savannah whispered, dropping her head into her hand.
“What does Ros have to say about it?”
Savannah looked up.
“Oh, I haven’t spoken with her about it,” she said lightly.
Coral gave her a look.
“Of course you haven’t.”
“What does that mean?”
“You call me when you want permission to misbehave,” Coral told her, “and Rosalie when you need rescuing from whatever situation you’ve gotten yourself into.”
Savannah’s jaw dropped.
“That is not true!”
“Hm, well, call her then,” she said, like it was a dare.
“I will,” Savannah retaliated.
Coral just grinned.
“Sure you will,” she said, and Savannah shot her a dirty look. Coral smirked. “Look, hon,” she advised, “just do what you do best.”
“Suffer in silence?”
“Write it out. Feel your feelings… all those angsty, longing, horny feelings and write some fucking great songs. Make another billion jillion dollars and let that make you feel better.”
“I can’t tell if that’s the best or the worst advice you’ve ever given me.”
“You’re welcome, honey. You know I’ve got your back.”
The conversation with Coral seemed to have broken something open inside her. Instead of keeping a lid on her feelings, Savannah found they were bubbling out everywhere. It really would have been better for everyone if she’d simply kept her mouth shut and her eyes down.
