Page 111 of Need You To Choose Me

Shit.

She’s been so quiet that I totally forgot that Mrs. Maxwell was still here, and now she caught me staring at her employer’s ass.

Great. Just great.

“Oh, you have it wro?—”

“Nonsense. I’ve been with these boys for years, all the way back when Daniel was in diapers.” Mrs. Maxwell starts piling dishes into a stack. “I’ve seen Blake when he was happy, and I’ve been with him when everything fell apart. And things have been falling apart for him for a while.”

She glances at me over the rim of her glasses. I press my lips together. I wanted to ask her what she meant, but at the same time, I didn’t think it was my place to probe into Blake’s private life. If he wanted to tell me about his ex, he could do it himself. Did I even want to know about the woman he spent the better part of his life with? A woman he had two children with? Just thinking about it made the bile rise up my throat.

“You’re good for him.” Mrs. Maxwell smiles softly. “Forthem.”

“I don’t know about that. All I’ve been doing is causing trouble for Blake with his kids.”

“Do you mean Daniel?” She waves me off. “The issues Blake and Daniel have had started way before they moved here. Were you the catalyst? Sure. Your whole situation is quite unusual, and I can see how upsetting it might be for Daniel and Levi, but you aren’t the root of the problem between the two of them. They go deeper than you can imagine.” Mrs. Maxwell lets out a sigh and picks up the plates, continuing as she makes her way to the sink. “In his core, Daniel is a good kid. He’s just been dealingwith a lot in the last few years. However, that doesn’t excuse what he said. I raised that boy better, and he’ll get a piece of my mind later, but… Don’t give up on him. Don’t give up onthem. I don’t remember the last time I’ve seen Blake so happy. And Levi? That boy’s been apprehensive about others ever since his mom walked away, but not with you. They need you, Savannah.” She looks over her shoulder and gives me a pointed look. “And I think the feeling is mutual.”

My throat bobs as I swallow, her words ringing in my head.

She was wrong though.

Wasn’t she?

Nobody ever needed me, and I didn’t think the Walker boys were any different.

Mrs. Maxwell’s gaze shifts over my shoulder, and I can see a scowl appear on her face as she crosses her arms over her chest. “Look who finally decided to wake up.”

I turn around and find no one other than Daniel standing behind me.

Shit. How much did he hear?

“Do you have to yell at me so early?” Daniel grumbles, glancing at me.

The bruises on his face were even more vibrant than yesterday, different shades of purples and blues coloring his skin and making his gray irises stand out even more.

“I should go.” I turn toward Mrs. Maxwell. “Thank you so much for breakfast.”

Before either of them can say anything, I get to my feet and slip past Daniel and toward the door.

Staying there was a bad idea.

Mrs. Maxwell didn’t know what she was talking about because Daniel most certainly didnotwant me here.

I spot my bag on the little table by the door. I grab it quickly and get out, my hand diving inside as I try to find the key to my place.

“Miss Parker… Savannah, wait!”

I stop in my tracks at the sound of Daniel’s voice behind me. Slowly, I turn around and find Blake’s son standing in the doorway, his chest rising and falling like he was running after me.

“I’m sorry.”

I blink, unsure if I heard him correctly. “Daniel, you don’t have to…”

“No, I do.” He shakes his head. “I really am sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled at you, and I shouldn’t have said those things. Maybe if I didn’t…”

Daniel’s throat bobs as he swallows, and although he’s trying to keep a straight face, I can see the whole thing upset him. My fingers itch to touch him and give him some reassurance, but I don’t think it’s what he wants, so I keep them in place.

“Daniel, what happened wasn’t your faul?—”

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