Page 71 of Need You To Choose Me

“Umm…” I rubbed the back of my neck, trying to come up with some kind of explanation because I couldn’t exactly tell him that the reason I started to use that nickname in the first place was because I didn’t know her real name the first time we met.

“Is it because she has blonde hair?”

Sure, we can go with that.

“Yeah, that’s right.”

I expect him to change the subject, but his gaze is still fixed on me, and the contemplative expression on his face tells me there is something more going on here that’s troubling him. “Why did Miss Parker leave so soon today?”

“She was busy, so she had to go,” I pause for a moment. “Why do you ask?”

“She looked sad.” Levi shrugs. “And then I saw you hugging her through the window.”

Shit, shit, shit.

How was I supposed to explain that one?

“I—”

“Are you shitting me? You brought Levi with you to meet your side piece?”

I turn around to find a fuming Daniel standing on top of the stairs and glaring at me. His fingers are curled around the railing, his knuckles white from how hard he’s been squeezing it.

“Daniel…” I growl in warning. I’ve about had it with him and that attitude.

“What,Dad?” he all but spits out. “She has no business messing with our lives. Just because you knocked her up doesn’t mean shit. She should go to hell and leave us alone.” Daniel turns to Levi. “Stay away from that woman. She doesn’t give a shit about you; she’s just using you to get to Dad.”

“She is not using me!” Levi stomps his foot. His face is beet red as he yells at his brother. “You’re a liar, Danny. Miss Parker likes me. You’re just jealous that everybody here hates you.”

“Yeah, right.” Daniel snorts. “I don’t care what a town of single-minded people thinks. Your dear Miss Parker is more interested in getting into Dad’s pants.”

Levi glares at Daniel. “You’re just being a meany!”

“Did you tell him the ecstatic news?” Daniel turns his attention to me.

I place my hand on Levi’s shoulder. “That’s enough, Daniel. You’ll watch your mouth, or you’re grounded.”

Daniel starts laughing. “Grounded? For what exactly? Saying the truth? Did you or did you not screw Levi’s teacher, and now she’s pregnant with your child?”

I suck in a long breath as I try to keep my anger at bay, my voice deadly calm, “Get your ass to the living room.”

He opens his mouth, but I point toward the door. “Living room. Now.”

Daniel presses his lips into a tight line but does as I say. He descends the stairs slowly and walks past us as he goes to the living room, Levi and me at his heels.

“Sit down.”

Levi is the first one to listen, his fingers clasping and unclasping in his lap as Daniel takes his sweet time doing as I asked. Once he finally takes his seat, he bumps into Levi.

“I met Savannah last spring,” I say before they can get into it again.

Daniel rolls his eyes. “I’m really not in the mood to listen to your sexual escapades.”

I give him a warning look, my voice deadly calm. “You’ll listen to whatever I tell you to listen. I’ve had it with you, Daniel. This kind of behavior is not permitted. I’ve let it slide, but you’ve gone too far now. You will not talk about Savannah, or any other person for that matter, in the way you’ve been doing the last few days. And, trust me, you don’t want to cross this line because once you do, there will be no going back.”

Daniel grits his teeth. “Of course, you have to go and defend her.”

“I’m not defending her. There is nothing to defend. She didn’t do anything wrong.Wedidn’t do anything wrong. We met the day I went to sign the papers for this house, afteryour mom and I split up andafterthe divorce was finalized. We met and liked each other.” Daniel opens his mouth, but I glare at him, daring him to interrupt me. “I didn’t know she lived here, and I didn’t know she was going to be Levi’s teacher. Neither of us planned things to play out the way they did.”

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