Page 96 of Need You To Choose Me

I knew how he was feeling. After all, I used to be him when I was his age. So desperate for somebody of my own, somebody who’d love me. At least he had a father who adored him and was there for him.

“Levi!”

My head snaps up at the sound of the harsh tone. Levi’s hands loosen, and he pulls back to look at his brother, who’s storming across the street and based on the expression on his face, he’s livid.

I push to my feet, my heart thundering wildly inside my chest, the sudden movement making me sway slightly. My hand grabs for something to steady myself, only to land on Levi’s shoulder.

“Let’s go,” Daniel says to his brother, his jaw set in a hard line.

“No, I’m talking to Sav!” Levi protests. “You should be in your room anyway. You were grounded.”

Grounded?

Blinking a few times, I see Daniel’s angry gaze land on me, and for the first time, I notice his disarrayed looks. There is a dark bruise under his eye, and his lip has been busted.

Holy shit.

“What happened to you?”

Instinctively, I lift my hand, but he slaps it away. “Don’t touch me.”

I curl my fingers into a fist, feeling the sting in my palm. “I’m sorry.”

“If you were actually sorry, you’d stay the fuck away,” Daniel yells.

Levi turns to his brother. “Why are you so mean to her? She didn’t do anything to you.”

I bite the inside of my cheek. My stomach rolls with unease at the anger shining from Daniel, but then my gaze falls on Levi—sweet, kind-hearted Levi. I didn’t want to be the reason for two brothers fighting. They both had the right to process everything that had happened in their own way, and I didn’t blame Daniel one bit for reacting the way he did.

I gently squeeze Levi’s shoulder. “Levi, it’s fine. You?—”

“You’re not our mother!” Daniel’s loud shout intensifies the ringing in my ears.

He grabs Levi’s hand and tugs him away, making me lose my balance. I try to reach for something else to hold onto, as black spots appear in front of my eyes.

Shit.I blink furiously, but even that doesn’t help clear my vision, which makes the anxiety rise inside my chest.What the hell is going on with me?

“Just because Dad fucked you doesn’t make you anything to us, so don’t you dare act like you are our mother. Because you’re not. If I were yo?—”

His mouth keeps moving, but I can’t hear a word of what he says. A droplet of sweat falls in my eye. I blink it away, but my vision still stays blurry, my lungs tightening. I open my mouth to suck in the much-needed air, but it only makes things worse.

A hand touches my arm.

I blink, Levi’s worried face coming into view.

My tongue darts out, sliding over my dry lips. I open my mouth to reassure him, but no words come out.

My throat bobs as I swallow, looking up to find Daniel watching me.

And is there a trace of uncertainty on his face?

I must look really bad if that’s the case.

I’m fine.I take a step forward, that frown between his brows deepening. That boy, so much like his father.I’m going to be just fi?—

The words don’t get a chance to form before the ground tilts on its axis, my hands flying to my belly as the world goes completely black.

CHAPTER TWENTY

---