Page 67 of Need You To Choose Me

I hurry after her.

Something about this whole situation felt off. Why did she leave like that? Things were fine only moments ago, and she just left without so much as a goodbye?

No, something wasn’t adding up, and I wanted to know what.

The elevatorpings, and I start to run, my hand jots forward just as the door is about to close.

A blonde head lifts up, tear-stained blue eyes meeting mine.

“Blondie…”

My chest squeezes tightly as I stare at her, my breathing ragged. The elevator door closes behind us, and we start to move.

“Wh-what are you doing here?” Savannah looks away, rubbing at her cheeks.

I gently wrap my fingers around her wrists and pull her hands down. “What’s wrong, baby?” I rasp out, the endearment falling off my tongue as natural as breathing.

“Nothing, I’m just tired.”

“Bullshit.”

She looks up, her eyes widening in surprise at my harsh words. But I won’t let her simply brush away the fact that something clearly upset her.

Upset her to the point she wascrying.

Fuck that.

“Tell me what’s wrong,” I say, this time more gently.

“It’s nothing; just leave it already. I’ll be fine.”

“You’re not fine. What happened out there? You just up and dashed off?—”

Just then, the door opens, and before I know it, she slips away.

Fucking hell.

I run my hand through my hair in frustration before starting after her. People give us curious looks, but I ignore them, catching up to Savannah just as she exits the hospital.

“Savannah, what the he?—”

She turns around to face me, fire blazing in her tear-stained gaze. Even before she opens her mouth, I know I’ve crossed a line. I can see the exact moment something in her snaps. It’s like the dam broke, and all the feelings she’s been pushing back are coming out to the surface, threatening to swallow us both in their intensity, and I could only hope I would be able to stand out the storm.

“You wanna know why I ran away?” she mutters, her lip wobbling slightly as a tear slides down her face, and she points at the door. “Because that in there? It’ll never be me. When I go into labor, I’ll be all alone. There will be no family to come and see how I’m doing, nobody to help me through those first days and weeks.” She hiccups softly. Her hand falls, fingers curling into a fist. “It’ll just be me and Munchkin, and I’m scared. I’m scared, and I’m sad, and I feel so freaking guilty for feeling jealous of my best friend. Who does that?”

“Blondie…” I tighten my grip on her, pulling her to me.

Shit, how long has she been keeping all of this to herself?

She shakes her head, her fist connecting to my chest.

“A friend who’s been through so much and deserves all of this and then some. I’m crying because I miss my Grams, and I know she would have loved to be here to see all of this, but she’s gone, and I have nobody.Nobody, Blake.”

“Hey, you’re not alone,” I whisper softly. Tugging her closer, I wrap my arm around her, slipping my finger under her chin, and force her to turn to me. “You’renotalone. I’ve gotcha, Blondie. We’re in this together. You and me.”

She blinks, more tears rolling down her cheeks.

“We can’t be in this together. Your kids hate me.”

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