Page 170 of Need You To Choose Me

Before I get to stop him, Levi runs after her. Cursing silently, I turn toward Daniel, who’s already at the front porch, and toss him the key. “We’ll be back in a few minutes.”

“Sounds good.”

Spinning on my heels, I rush after the two daredevils.

“Do you wanna sleep in my bed tonight?” Levi asks as they climb the steps to Savannah’s porch. “That would be so much fun.”

“I don’t think we’d both fit in your bed.”

The automatic light I installed not too long ago turns on, and Savannah looks up from her bag, key in hand, only to come to a sudden stop. Even from a distance, I can see her body go completely still, her shoulders squaring.

The hair at my nape rises as Savannah steps in front of Levi, shielding him.

Something was wrong.

Very, very wrong.

I hurry my pace, my footsteps eating the distance between us.

Her voice is cold and completely devoid of emotions as she grits, “What are you doing here?”

“Sav?” Levi asks, a trace of fear lacing his voice as he clings to her.

Savannah’s hand lands on his side in reassurance. “It’s fine. Why don’t you go home?”

Before Levi can answer her, the swing creaks, and a low voice asks, “Not gonna say hello to your mother, Savvy?”

Savannah’s mother?

I climb on the porch, my gaze going over Savannah’s shoulder to the woman standing in front of her and taking her in.

The resemblance between the two is staggering. Savannah looked like a carbon copy of her mother, only there wasgentleness and compassion in her that the older woman didn’t share.

Her gaze meets mine, the shadows making her eyes seem darker and her smirk turns knowing.

My jaw clenches as I remember what Savannah told me about her childhood and this woman who made it hell for the little girl she brought into this world. I step closer, my hand landing on Savannah’s back.

“I can see the gossip is true, after all.”

Savannah flinches visibly at the words, and her mother’s eyes crinkle in amusement.

“My baby girl is pregnant. I’m going to be a grandmother, how?—”

She tries to move closer as if she’s going to hug her. I’m about to step in between them when Savannah pulls back. “You’ll be nothing.” She tilts her chin up. “I think you should leave.”

Her mother’s smile falls. “We have to talk.”

“No, Clara. We don’t.” She points to the street. “It’s time for you to go.”

“You can’t?—”

“She said you should leave.” I step in front of Savannah, my tone leaving no room for argument.

If she wasn’t going to leave, I had no problem removing her.

Clara presses her lips together and tries to look around me. “This isn’t done.”

With one final glare, she spins on her heels and disappears down the street.

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