Page 70 of Need You To Choose Me

I hold on for a second longer, fighting the need to pull her out of that car and not let go until she believes me completely. Because while she might have started to open up to the idea of this thing between us working out, and me wanting her for her, she doesn’t fully trust me. Which was fine. I wasn’t afraid to work hard to show her that I mean business.

One day, she wouldn’t have a trace of doubt in her mind.

Today wasn’t that day.

So I close the door and take a step back. I watch her as she pulls out of the parking spot and drives away before I return to the hospital.

The moment I enter the room, Miguel’s gaze finds mine, his brows rising in a silent question. I shake my head. This wasn’t the time or place to talk about this. Not that I planned to tell him what happened with Savannah. Not after she asked me to keep it to myself.

But she’s gone, and I have nobody. Nobody, Blake.

Looking at the room filled with all these people, I had an inkling of how hard this must have been for her. Seeing her best friend surrounded by her family on one of the most important days of her life couldn’t have been easy. Especially knowing that she would never have that.

But I meant what I said; I would do anything she wanted me to. I wanted to be there for her and our baby. I could just hope that she would take me up on the offer.

“Levi, are you ready to go home?”

Levi turns his attention from the window and nods.

“You can stay.”

I shake my head. “You guys should spend some time with your family. Besides, Daniel’s home alone.”

Miguel nods in understanding. “Sure thing.” He shifts his attention to Levi and ruffles his hair. “I’ll see you soon, little guy?”

“I’m not so little.”

“You’re right. What was I thinking? Silly me.”

Miguel extends his fist, and Levi bumps their knuckles together. We say our goodbyes to the rest of the room, but they’re still charmed by the little boy sleeping in his mother’s arms, so they barely pay us any attention when we leave.

My mind goes back to Savannah and the olive branch she offered me as I pull out of the parking lot. I knew it couldn’t have been easy for her to ask me to come with her to her doctor’s appointment. It was obvious that she craved a family of her own, but she was so independent that she hardly let anybody in.

What happened to you, Blondie?

Who hurt you so badly that you won’t let anybody close? Was it her ex? For some reason, I couldn’t see it. There was something else. Something I didn’t know about.

One day.

One day, I was determined to know every single thing about Savannah Parker.

The moment I turned onto our street, my gaze went to Savannah’s house, and her silver Volvo parked in front of it.

She made it home safely.

Some of the worry eases off my chest as I park the car in front of our house, and we get out of the truck.

“Dad?” Levi calls out as I open the front door and let him go inside.

“Yeah, buddy?”

I eye him carefully. He’s been unusually quiet the whole drive home; his attention focused on the scenery passing us by when usually he would be chatting my ear off.

“Why do you call Miss Parker Blondie?”

Shit.

I didn’t realize he’d overheard our conversation; then again, kids have the tendency to catch and remember the parts we want them to hear the least.

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