Page 38 of Need You To Choose Me

“What are you going to do?” Miguel asks softly.

“Let her come to me, I guess?” I could understand how all of this could be too much for a person. The last thing I wanted to do was make her feel more stressed out. Besides, I had shit of my own to deal with. “I don’t know. I have to figure out a way to tell the boys before they hear it from somebody else. And I’m going to fix that freaking house. She’s pregnant; she shouldn’t have to deal with all of this on her own. Shewon’thave to deal with all of this on her own. I take care of what’s mine.”

And she and that baby?

Want it or not, they were mine.

CHAPTER EIGHT

SAVANNAH

“We’re done for today, guys! Don’t forget to do your homework, and remember, football practice is kicking off this Friday, so if you want to participate, make sure to bring in this paper signed by your parents, okay?” I lift the paper in the air. “You can grab them at my table.”

A chorus of agreement spreads through the room as kids collect their things and grab their backpacks. Some of them stop by my table before we head for the exit where there is a line of cars already waiting.

Between parents wanting to get out of here as soon as possible, and kids pumped to be done with classes, the school pickup is always hectic. I chat with the parents, and even a few grandparents as kids slide into the cars before waving them off.

Closing the door, I turn around just in time for a black truck to pull in front of me. My stomach tightens with nerves while I wait for it to come to a stop. The window rolls down, and the older woman sitting behind the steering wheel smiles at me.

Letting out a long breath, I push back my disappointment that it’s not the certain tall former football player.

You told him to leave you alone,I remind myself.This is for the best.

“Hello, Miss Parker. You look pretty like a peach today, my dear!”

I chuckle nervously at the comment. “You’re too kind, Mrs. Maxwell.”

“Nonsense.” She shifts her attention to Levi. “I hope this little one didn’t give you any trouble.”

“Not at all. Levi is one of my best students.” I wink at him. “He’s pretty amazing.”

I wasn’t even exaggerating. Levi was such a nice kid, well-mannered, kind, and really smart. Everything a teacher could ever ask for in a student.

Levi’s grin widens, and he puffs out his chest. “Hear that, Mrs. M.? I’m amazing.”

The corners of her eyes crinkle as she chuckles. “Of course you are.”

I pull open the back door, and Levi climbs up. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Miss Parker?”

“Until tomorrow, Levi.”

“Have a good one!” Mrs. Maxwell says as she pulls from the curb.

It takes me an additional fifteen minutes before all the kids are collected, and I can finally return to my classroom. I tidy the space a little, making sure everything is in order for tomorrow before my gaze falls on my desk. There is a bunch of work that has yet to be done. I have papers to grade, class plans to write, and I need to figure out what to do about the practice, but my stomach rumbles loudly, reminding me I should probably grab something to eat.

No, not something.

Apples.

An apple pie or cobbler with cinnamon and vanilla ice cream.

Just the idea has my mouth watering, and my stomach grumbles once again, which is weird because I don’t usually even like cinnamon.

“Okay, okay, I hear you, Munchkin,” I chuckle softly and lay my hand on my bump, giving it a soft rub.

At twenty weeks, I’ve only recently started to show, and I got to the point where I couldn’t button my pants. It made this whole situation that more real.

I gather my things and go to my car. The drive to Reading Nook takes only a few minutes. The small bell rings when I push on the door, and the sweet scent of baked goods and coffee fills my lungs.

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