Page 26 of Need You To Choose Me

Savannah’s throat bobs as she swallows, but she doesn’t try to protest.

Good.

I was getting my answers, and I was getting them now.

“But Dad…” He tries to protest, but I leave him no room for argument.

“Levi. Home. And make sure to check the road before crossing it this time around.”

“Fine.” He stomps his foot and glares at me before turning his attention to Savannah. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Miss Parker. You promise?”

The corner of her mouth tilts upward. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Levi.”

With a wave goodbye, he runs back home. I keep an eye on him, only returning my attention to Savannah when I know he’s safely inside our house.

Crossing my arms over my chest, I slowly turn toward the woman next to me. The little color that was left on her face disappears, and her throat visibly bobs as she swallows.

“Mr. Walker, I?—”

“Blake.” I take a step closer, and she has to tilt her head back to keep eye contact. “I think after everything that has happened between us, Blondie, the least you can do is call me by my name.”

Her tongue darts out, sliding over her lower lip. “I don’t see how that makes any difference.”

“I think it makes all the difference.” Another step closer. Her intoxicating scent reaches my nostrils. It’s sweet and flowery with just a little bit of bite to it. It’s perfect for the woman in front of me. My finger slips under her chin, and I tilt it up, tracing the outline of her mouth with my thumb. “Tell me, Savannah, is the baby you’re carrying mine?”

Different emotions flicker across her face. Fear, anxiety, and finally resignation as she gives me the faintest of nods. “Yes, the baby is yours.”

The weight that’s been sitting on my shoulders since the moment I saw her this morning finally lifts, and it feels like I can breathe again.

Mine.

The baby is mine.

I knew it.

The moment I saw her, I knew it. I’m not sure how or why, but I knew that baby was mine. Still, hearing her say those words out loud…

“I never wanted to hide it from you,” she hurries to add. “I tried to call the hotel after I found out, but they wouldn’t tell me anything. I even went back to that bar in hopes of running into you, but you never showed up. If I had any info to go off of… If I just knew your name, I would have found you and told you what happened.”

I slide my thumb over her lips. Savannah sucks in a sharp breath, those doe-eyes fixing on me.

“I know. I believe you.”

I watch as a shudder goes through her. Her shoulders sag, and for a second, she closes her eyes, letting out a long breath.

Why the hell did we think not sharing names was a good idea? It seemed reasonable at the time to give the night a little bit of mystery and excitement, and I needed that. But what a fucking disaster it turned out to be in the end. Five months. I’ve lost five months with this woman.

“Why run away from school?”

Her eyes snap open, fire blazing in those blue irises. “I wasn’t running away today. There really was an emergency that I had to deal with. And I’ll admit, maybe a teeny-tiny part of me was relieved I didn’t have to face you just yet, but Iwouldhave told you. That being said, I want you to know I don’t expect anything from you. I don’t want your money or anything like that.”

“You… what?” I blink, my whole body going still. She couldn’t be serious, could she?

“I would have told you. It was never my intention to keep the baby a secret from you, but since it was my decision to continue with the pregnancy, I’m ready to take one hundred percent of the responsibility. I don’t want your money, and if you don’t want to, you don’t have to be in the baby’s life. I mean it; you don’t have to worry about it.”

“I don’t have to worry about it?” I feel like a parrot, repeating everything she says, but my brain is still trying to process the implications of what she’s saying.

She thinks I will just walk away? After she told me that this baby is mine? She just expects me to turn around and leave them to fend for themselves?

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