Page 173 of Need You To Choose Me

My muscles tense, my body locking up as the memories of the past slam into me.

One word.

How can one word hold so much power over me after all this time?

“Don’t call me that,” I bite out, my fingers curling into a fist, nails digging into my skin as I push back the memories that wanted to come out.

“Fine.” The muscle in her jaw twitches. “But we have to talk.”

Talk?

“It’s been fifteen years,Mom. There is nothing to talk about.”

I walk past her, needing to get away from her, but she follows after me. “I heard about your grandmother.”

“Is that why you came back?” I turn around to face her. “Because let me tell you, you’re only, oh, I don’t know, eight months too late. Then again, I can’t say I’m surprised.”

In the light of day, I can see Clara Parker better than I could last night. These days her light hair is more gray than blonde. The alcohol and cigarettes have taken their toll. Her skin looks washed out, frown wrinkles are more prominent, making her seem much older than her fifty years.

“I recently found out.”

I snort out loud. “And that makes it better how exactly?”

Mom glances at me. “You always were difficult, even as a child.”

Red, hot anger boils in the pit of my stomach at her words. “Me? I’m the difficult one here? If I remember correctly, you were the one who left without a backward glance and hasn’t cared to get in contact in the last fifteen years, so I’m sorry that I didn’t welcome you with open arms. I’ll try to remember that forwhen you decide to pop back into my life in another decade or so.” I shake my head and turn around. “I’m done here.”

“You think you’re so much better than me?” Mom calls after me. “But let’s be real, you and I? We’re the same, Savvy.”

I spin on my heels and point my finger at her. “I’m nothing like you!”

“No?” Mom’s smirk becomes bigger as her gaze falls to my stomach. “Because I’d beg to differ.”

Instinctively, I let my hand drop and cover my bump. I didn’t want her anywhere near my child. She destroyed my life. I wouldn’t let her do the same to my baby.

Why? Just why did she have to come back? Why now?

“Hey, who’s that with Savannah Parker?”

“Who… Oh, that’s her mother. She basically dropped her daughter with her grandmother and left the town years ago. I didn’t realize she came back.”

The soft whispering makes my head snap up. Mrs. Timothy was standing in front of her shop with another lady, both of them glancing in our direction. They duck their heads when they see me watching them, but I can see their mouths move as they continue whispering.

And they weren’t the only ones.

There were people walking on the street, all of their curious gazes fixed on us, making the bile rise up my throat. My cheeks are burning and sweat coats my skin.

Mom steps in front of me, a smile plastered on her face. “People talk Savannah, and I’ve heard some very interesting stories since I’ve been back. About you.” That smirk grows bigger. “About your baby daddy.” She moves closer. “How you’ve been playing house.” Another step. Her head tilts to the side as her eyes meet mine, her pupils are dilated, swallowing the blue irises. “Do you seriously think it’ll last? That he could love you? That he will stay?” She shakes her head. “You know how menare, Savvy. You’ve seen it firsthand. They leave. And your baby daddy is no different. You just wait and see.”

She lifts her arm, the back of her hand skimming over my cheek, but I push it back.

“You don’t know anything about me or Blake. But regardless, I’m nothing,nothing, like you. I’d never do to my kid what you’ve done to me.”

I hurry past her.

I need to get out of here.

“Savannah!” she yells after me, but I ignore her as I continue walking down the street. I curse myself for not taking the car. “I’m not leaving.”

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