Chapter Three — The Little Confession

The sunup after, Evelyn felt lighter on her foot than she had in years. She hummed as she moved around the kitchen, fingers drumming on the riposte while she waited for the kettleful to moil. Walter peeked over the sharpness of his newspaper, eyes warm and sleepy, and Evelyn just smiled, the memory of the night before still humming under her skin.

Later that afternoon, she was out tending her flowers when savanna stepped into the G, arm full of fresh laundry. She looked so pretty in a slender white tee shirt and soft shorts, hair's-breadth up in a messy bun that showed off the bend of her neck. Evelyn watched her for a moment, heart thumping a piffling harder when Savannah caught her eye and waved.

"Hey, Evelyn,"Savannah called, setting the laundry hoop on the porch rail."Beautiful day, huh ?"

Evelyn smiled back, but something playful sparked behind her centre. She wiped her hands on her gardening apron, then leaned closer to the low hedging."savanna,"she said, articulation sweet and tranquillity,"I hope you two slept well after… hold up night."

Savannah tilted her head, confused."Last night ?"

Evelyn's grin widened just enough to establish savannah's nerve flush before she even understood."Well, sweetheart… our windowpane line up just so. I was up late… and I could see you two."She touched her bureau, giggling like a little girl with a delicious closed book."All of you."

Savannah's eyes went encompassing, her boldness going pink."Oh my god, Evelyn — we didn't realize — we never close the curtain all the way — oh, I'm so embarrassed, I'm so sorry—"

Evelyn waved a mitt, cutting off the apologia."No, honey. Don't you dare be sorry. If anything… you did me and Walter a favor."She leaned in, eyes sparkling."It's been a long time since we… you know. But watching you two — vernal, so hungry for each other — I felt like a missy again."She gave a small, woozy laugh."He was so hard I thought he'd break me in two. We haven't been like that in years."

savanna's mouthpiece fell open, her hired man covering her mouth."Oh my god…"

Evelyn touched her radiocarpal joint lightly."Don't you be embarrassed. read it from me — you two are beautiful together. Do it every chance you get. Make a show of it if you want. You're young — you should savor every single bit of each other."She paused, breath contracting just a little at the memory board, her eyes glazing like she could still see Savannah's palms on the window."Mmm… yes, enjoy it."

Savannah's cheeks burned so brilliant it made her giggle helplessly."I… I don't even sleep with what to say."

"Say thank you."Evelyn winked."And maybe close the curtains tighter if you really don't want an audience."

savanna laughed and covered her nerve with her handwriting."I'm telling Jax — he's going to die."

Evelyn leaned back, brushing the petals of her roses."You tell him from me : don't you two change a thing."

They stood there a moment, giggling like lady friend, the summer sun hot on their shoulders — both of them a little pinko, both of them secretly glowing.

savannah couldn't stop replaying it as she carried the washables basketball hoop inside — Evelyn's flirty smile, that spark in her soft old voice when she'd whispered"You did me a favor."It made her chest tactile property warm and tingly, like she'd just gotten away with something delicious.

She found Jax in the kitchen, shirt off, leaning against the counter while he scrolled his phone. She set the hoop down, still giggling under her breath.

"What's so funny ?"he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Savannah crossed the room, pressing her palms to his bare chest, heart widely and playful."So… you know how we don't really fill up the curtain ?"

Jax frowned."Yeah… ?"

She bit her lip."Evelyn saw us last night."

His eyes went big."postponement. Saw us ?"

Savannah nodded, fighting a laugh."All of it. She said she was up late — she could see everything."

Jax's pinna flushed pink but his grin gave him away."You're kidding."

"Nope."She leaned in finisher, whispering it like a naughty mystery."She told me she and Walter… they watched, baby. And then they did it. She said it's been yr since they did it like that."

Jax laughed — a low, stunned sound that made Savannah experience a flutter deep in her belly."Damn… so we gave the old man some intake ?"

"Mhm,"she hummed, pressing a kiss to his jaw."She said we should enjoy it every hazard we get. She liked it. She looked so Henry Sweet telling me — but she got all warm just remembering it."

Jax shook his brain, the tips of his finger's breadth brushing Savannah's rose hip."So our old neighbor are getting off to you deflect over the windowpane now, huh ?"

Savannah River's cheeks burned, but the way he said it made her thighs press together."plosive consonant. You're making it sound worse than it is."

"Hey."He caught her chin in his hand, smirking."If we're gon na founder a show… we might as well make it worth it."

savanna swatted his chest, half laughing, half flustered."Jax !"

He just chuckled, dipping his head teacher to kiss her neck opening — slow, deep, like he was already picturing the next meter he'd military press her up against that window. And Savannah, for half a breather, pictured Evelyn's soft eyes peeking through the hedgerow again… and felt herself get a petty wet just thinking about it .