Page 75 of Need You To Choose Me

I swear I could still feel his lips pressed against mine. Feel those calloused fingers on my cheeks as he cupped my face, making me feel safe and not so alone.

And now he was here.

Checking in on me.

“Savannah, look at me.”

“I’m fine.” I shake my head. “I’m not going to break?—”

“I know that.” Blake’s finger slips under my chin, and he tilts my head back, my eyes meeting his. “But it would be okay even if you broke down because I’d be there to catch you. I told you; I have your back.”

A knot forms in my throat, making it hard to breathe.

“Wanna know the truth?” Blake rubs his finger over my lower lip, so I just nod wordlessly. “I’m here because I wanted to see you. That’s the truth.”

I suck in a shaky breath, not knowing what to say to this. Tohim. I wished this was different. I wished he was an asshole so I could be done with this and go back to my life—just Munchkin and me—but Blake wasn’t like that at all, and I didn’t know what it meant. Where did that leave us? All I knew was that he was making me feel things I had no business feeling and making me wish for things that would never belong to me.

It scared me shitless.

Hescared me shitless.

Those intense eyes bore into mine, and I swear he can see into my very soul. His gaze falls to my lips, his thumb sweeping over it before his palm slips to the back of my neck.

For a second, I wonder if he’ll kiss me again. I suck in a breath, my lips parting as he leans down, and his lips brush against my forehead.

My heart flips inside my chest as his fingers dig into my skin, holding on for a long moment before he pulls back.

He lets his hand fall and takes a step back, giving me one final glance. “Goodnight, Savannah.”

I lift my hand, rubbing at my lower lip as I watch his retreating back and wonder what the hell am I going to do about all of this.

“Slow down!” I call out, but it’s useless. The kids are running excitedly toward the football field. Practice has been the only thing they’ve talked about the whole day, and there was no stopping them.

My chest is rising and falling rapidly as I try to keep up with them when I hear my name being called. I glance toward the kids who were already on the field before turning around only to spot Mrs. Tyson and Mrs. Miller walking my way hand in hand.

“Savannah, how are you doing, my dear?”

“Good.” I glance between the two women. “What brings you ladies around?”

“The new coach’s been the talk of the town, so we came to check him out.” Mrs. Miller winks at me as they walk past me.

The new…

I follow after them, only to come to a sudden stop once we reach the field. “What in the ever lo?—”

I bite my tongue just in time and simply stare at the almost full bleachers.

Something that hasneverhappened before. Especially not for practice. And it wasn’t even moms this time around, there were a few dads, too. To think all we needed was an ex-NFL player taking the coaching position, and suddenly everybody would be interested in peewee football. Go figure.

A few dads are gathered by the sidelines, talking to Blake. Although he’s surrounded by people, he stands out, almost a head taller than most of them, a dark purple ball cap sits on his head and throws shadows over his face.

He tilts his head to the side, nodding slowly at whatever they’re talking about, but I swear I can feel his gaze on me, his eyes running over my body. I bite the inside of my cheek as a shudder runs down my spine.

Get a grip, Sav.

I shouldn’t let him affect me, but it’s like I couldn’t help myself. He’s been on my mind since he left me standing on my porch the other night.

“You know, if you need an assistant or something, I’d be more than happy to help,” I hear one of the dads eagerly say as I move closer to the group, and it takes everything in me not to snort out loud.

---