Page 176 of Need You To Choose Me

I take a step forward, but she’s faster.

Savannah runs to me, and I can barely open my arms before her body slams into mine. Her fingers dig into my shirt as she buries her head into my chest and sobs.

“Shhh…I’ve gotcha, baby,” I whisper, my arms curling around her and squeezing her to me as best as I can with her bump in the way. But neither of us cares much as I hold her tightly and press my lips against the top of her head. Inhaling her sweet scent, I can feel my body relax.

She is here.

Safe.

“I’ve gotcha.”

Savannah’s body shakes uncontrollably as she cries. My throat feels tight. I hated feeling helpless, and that’s exactly what I was. I would do anything to take away her pain, but the onlything I could do was hold her. So that’s exactly what I do. My palm gently rubs up and down her back, as I whisper into her ear, not once letting go.

At one point, I hear a soft creak, and when I glance back, I find Daniel standing in the doorway. His serious gaze shifts from Savannah to me, a frown appearing between his brows. I shake my head silently, and he nods, slipping inside without a word.

“Why did she have to come back?” Savannah croaks out, her voice coming out muffled. “After all this time, why is she here now?”

My jaw clenches tightly, and it takes everything in me to keep my body relaxed. “I don’t know, baby. But she won’t come near you again.”

Savannah pulls back, sniffling softly. I lift my hand and cup her cheek. Her eyes are puffy from crying, her nose red, and her lashes glued together, and yet, she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid my eyes on. Fuck her mother for coming back and making her cry like this.

“You can’t stop her. She’s told me she isn’t going to leave until she gets whatever she’s here for.” Those wide blue eyes meet mine. “She knows about you. About the boys.”

“Good.”

“It’s not good!” she protests, her fingers digging into my shirt. “What if she comes again? Tries to talk to Levi, to Daniel?”

“I wanna see her try.” Savannah starts to shake her head, but I slide my hand to the back of her neck and hold her still, my forehead pressing against hers. “I mean it, Savannah. Let her try and see what happens when you touch the people I love.”

Savannah sinks her teeth into her lower lip to stop it from trembling.

I caress her cheek, wiping away the tears. “I won’t let her hurt you. If she wants to talk to you, she can try and get through to me.”

“I’m more worried about the boys.”

I just stare at her for a moment before shaking my head. “Of course you are.”

Leaning down, I press my mouth gently against hers. Savannah kisses me back without reservation, her lips sliding against mine when a shiver runs through her.

Breaking the kiss, I pull back. “You’re freezing. Let’s get you inside.”

My hand slides to the small of her back as I guide her into the house, and for once, she doesn’t try to protest as we climb up the steps and into my room, where I help her get out of her clothes and into one of my shirts before we slip into bed.

I curl around her, my palm resting over her belly, content just to hold her.

“She told me we’re the same,” Savannah says after a while. “What if she’s right? What if?—”

“The hell you are,” I say immediately, not even allowing her to finish that sentence.

“You can’t know that.”

“I can. Ido.” My fingers slide under her chin, and I turn her to face me. “You’re more of a mother than she could even dream of being, Blondie. And she knows it.”

Savannah blinks, a tear slipping down her cheek. “I’m not a mother. Not yet, anyway.”

“I think Levi and Daniel would beg to differ,” I counter gently. “I see the way you’re with them. I’ve watched them fall in love with you as much as I did over the last few months. You might not have given birth to them, but you’ve shown them more love and affection in the last few months than their mother ever did. Don’t let her, of all people, tell you otherwise.”

Savannah’s eyes mist, and she presses her lips together, trying to hold back her tears. I brush away her hair and leandown, my mouth skimming against hers in a soft kiss before I press my lips against the top of her head. “I love you, Savannah.”

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