Chapter 18
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
BLAKE
“What do you think?” I tilt my head to the side as I look at Levi. “Do you like it?”
He grabs the loops of his jeans and pulls them up a little. “Yeah, I think they’re okay. The last ones were squeezing me.”
“Okay, then we’ll get this one. You have to try on a few shirts.”
Levi groans. “Do I really have to?”
“Yes. C’mon, it’s a few shirts. Mrs. Maxwell said you’ve outgrown most of your clothes, and we need to get you new ones because you’ll go to school in your boxers soon. You want that?”
“No,” he pouts. “But once I try all of those, I wanna go grab a milkshake.” He points his finger at me. “And fries.”
Chuckling, I shake my head. “Fine. But you have to try on all of those, and if those don’t fit, you’re trying the correct size. And no complaining.”
“Deal.” He extends his hand, his face serious as I take it in mine for a handshake.
True to his words, he doesn’t protest as he tries on every shirt from the rack I give him. After we settle on a few new ones, I collect everything we’ll buy while he puts his clothes back on.
“Is that it?” The young attendant smiles at me as she folds everything and puts it into a bag.
“That’s all. Thank you.” Handing her my card, I look over my shoulder to search for Levi, who disappeared only God knows where. “This freaking kid.”
“I think he went outside,” the attendant supplies.
“Why am I not surprised?” Shaking my head, I grab my card and bag. “Thanks.”
“I think it’s really brave that you took him shopping yourself. You’re such a good dad.”
Brave? It takes all that’s in me not to snort out loud. I all but lost my kid in a span of a few seconds. I was sure that would win me the award for Father of the Year. Not.
I force out a smile. “Have a nice day.”
Turning around, I scan the space, searching for Levi, but he’s nowhere in sight.
Seriously, when I find him, I’m going to strangle?—
“Miss Parker!”
My head snaps up at the sound of Levi’s voice. I turn to my left, just in time to spot a flash of gold as it disappears between the people.
Savannah turns around, her honey hair standing out in the crowd like a beacon. A smile spreads over her lips as she watches Levi running toward her. She bends down to listen to him while his mouth moves a mile a minute. Whatever he said has her laughing and fuck it if she doesn’t look like the most beautiful woman in the world.
I lift my hand and rub at my chest, feeling an ache building behind my sternum.
Savannah shakes her head and ruffles Levi’s hair as she straightens, her eyes scanning the space until they land on mine, and that smile grows softer, knocking all the air out of my lungs.
Fuck it.
It did something to me when she looked at me like that. And I liked it. I liked it a lot.
She lowers her gaze and says something to Levi. His hand slips into hers as they make their way toward me.
“I think you lost something, Mr. Walker,” she teases, the corner of her mouth twitching in amusement as she tries to keep a serious face. My gaze zeroes in on those lush lips, wishing I could lean in and kiss that smirk off of her face.
Levi giggles. “He didn’t lose me. I left.”
“Which is something we’ll talk about later. You can’t just disappear like that without saying a word.”
“I was just outside. And I wasn’t alone. I saw Miss Parker, and I wanted to say hi.” He tilts his head back. “What are you doing here, Miss Parker?”
“Shopping.”
“Duh, we’re at the mall. But you’re not carrying any bags.”
“That’s because I just got here, and I’m still looking.”
“What are you looking for? Maybe we can help you find it.”
I don’t bother pointing out that only a few minutes ago he was done with shopping and only wanted to get his milkshake and go home.
“Umm…” Savannah shifts her weight from one foot to the other and tucks a strand of her hair behind her ear. “I need to buy some things.” There is a short pause as her gaze darts to me for a second before it returns to Levi. “For the baby.”
She is baby shopping? On her own?
Before I get a chance to process her words, Levi’s whole face lights up in excitement. “I wanna come. Can I come? I wanna buy something for my baby brother. Please?” He turns to me and clasps his hands. “Can we come, Dad?”
I watch Savannah as she presses her lips in a tight line, fighting to keep her composure. Those bright blue eyes meet mine, and I can see all the different emotions and worries shining in their depths as if she still quite doesn’t believe that this is real.
“If Savannah doesn’t mind our company.”
Levi turns his pleading gaze to her. “Please, Miss Parker, can we come with you?”
“Umm… Oka?—”
“Yes!” Levi fist bumps excitedly before she can even finish.
“Let’s go.” Levi grabs her hand and starts pulling her away. “I saw this one store…”
Savannah glances over her shoulder, her gaze meeting mine as Levi drags her in the opposite direction. Shaking my head, I hurry up to catch up to them.
“You should slow down, Levi. You don’t want to fall, do you?”
“I’m not going to fall,” he protests as he suddenly comes to a stop in front of a store. “Here. We can buy him Lego bricks?—”
He’s about to enter, but I place my hand on his shoulder. “Slow down, buddy, okay?”
“Fine.”
I crouch down, so we’re at the same level. “You remember what I said about the baby?”
He huffs out a long breath. “But I have a feeling, Dad! It’s going to be a boy.”
“Well, let’s just play it on the safe side and get something for the baby regardless of whether it’s a boy or a girl. Besides, the baby can’t play with Lego bricks until they’re a bit older, so why don’t you pick out a toy they can play with when they get here?”
“Okay, I guess. What can we get him?” He purses his lips, his brows pulling together as he thinks.
Savannah’s gaze darts to me, her teeth sinking into her lower lip as she tries to hold back her smile, and I can feel the corner of my mouth lift.
“I know!” Levi yells suddenly and bolts away.
“No running around, Levi,” I call after him, pushing to my feet.
“Okay!”
Shaking my head, I turn toward Savannah to find that her face has turned serious. I move closer, my finger slipping under her chin and gently turn her to me.
“You okay there, Blondie?”
“Yeah. He’s just being so sweet, and I…” She lets out a self-deprecating chuckle as she lowers her gaze. “It’s silly, but I’m just emotional. These hormones are getting to me.”
I slide my finger over her chin. “Or maybe you’re just one big softy,” I rasp out, my voice coming out tight.
I still couldn’t get out of my head what she said the other day.
Family.
That’s what she wants for her baby— our baby.While all the other women would have dozens of demands, this was the only thing she asked for.
A family.
Such a simple request from such a complicated woman.
A woman who I barely knew bits and pieces of. I wanted to know more. I wanted to know everything there was to know about her, but I was afraid if I pushed too hard too fast, she’d close off, and I didn’t want that. I didn’t want to scare her away.
I slide my thumb over the underside of her lip.
What is your story, Savannah Parker?
Her lips part, cheeks turning rosy under my watchful gaze. “Maybe.”
“There is no maybe about it. You’re a softy.” I tilt my head to the side. “What did you want to buy?”
“I was planning to window shop, really. Trying to see what I’ll need for when the baby comes. I’ve been pushing it off so far, but now that we’re already halfway there…” She shrugs, her free hand going to her bump. “It feels more real, I guess. Or maybe I’m in the early stages of nesting.”
“Nesting?” My throat grows tight as I watch her rub at the swell that’s grown bigger in the last few weeks. Her stomach popped, and now there was no longer mistaking her for anything but pregnant.
With my baby.
A possessiveness unlike anything I’ve felt in a long time rises inside of me. There is this need to wrap her into my arms and make sure that she’s happy and safe. To see her smile like this.
“You know when women prepare for the arrival of the baby? Buying clothes, putting together the nursery, cleaning, things like that…”
I could see it. Watching Savannah go through all the tiny clothes that barely cover my palm. Fighting with her over who’ll put up the furniture because there is no way she’d just let me do it. Savannah, sitting in a chair, a small bundle in her arms.
I could see it so clearly in my head.
Her. Me. Us.
She looks up, those crystal blue eyes fixing on mine. She must see something on my face because her lips part, “Blake…”
I lean down, my hand going to the back of her neck.
I needed to kiss her.
I didn’t care who saw us or what they said.
I would go crazy if I didn’t kiss her.
It’s been the only thing on my mind since that day in the hospital.
My fingers tighten on her neck.
The blue of Savannah’s irises goes darker as I pull her closer, with only inches separating us…
“Dad! Miss Parker!”
Cursing silently, I close my eyes and press my forehead against Savannah’s. The sound of pounding feet coming closer matches the pounding of blood echoing in my eardrums. Savannah chuckles, her body leaning into mine.
“Later,” I breathe out, a silent promise.
Blinking my eyes open, I grip her neck in warning. Her eyes flare, and I can see heat flash in her irises as I pull back, just as Levi comes to a stop and lifts a toy in the air. “Look! I got this for my baby brother.” I open my mouth, but he’s faster. “Or sister.” He turns to Savannah, and I can see a little bit of uncertainty flash on his face. “Do you like it, Miss Parker?”
Savannah takes the stuffed elephant from Levi. I’m pretty sure I can see her lip wobble before she presses them together and inhales deeply.
I wrap my arm around her middle, pulling her to me. “Softy,” I whisper into her ear, as I lean down and press my mouth against the top of her head, rubbing her arm.
She nudges me with her elbow, her attention on my son. “It’s beautiful, Levi. I love it, and I’m sure the baby will love it, too.”
Levi’s smile grows bigger. “You think?”
“Yes.” She ruffles his hair. “Thank you.”
I watch as my son tilts his head. The movement is almost imperceptible, but I’ve been observing him intently for the last few months, trying to figure out how much of this whole thing with the divorce and move screwed him up, so I don’t miss it. Levi was craving a woman’s attention. Not just that, he craved a mother’s attention. Something Reina so rarely gave him, but not Savannah. She loved and cared for her students like they were her own.
Was it because she didn’t have the same when she was younger?
I guess it would make sense.
Pushing down the knot in my throat, I slide my hand on Levi’s back. “C’mon, you two, let’s go and see what else they have.”
Levi doesn’t need to be told twice; he grabs Savannah’s hand and pulls her toward the shelves. “C’mon, Miss Parker, you have to see this!”
Savannah laughs but doesn’t protest or try to shake him off. Instead, she lets Levi drag her through the store and listens intently as he points out all the things he thinks the baby might need, which are mainly toys.
“You know, Levi, the baby needs other things.” I fight my laughter as he tilts his head to the side, a frown appearing between his brows.
“What other things?”
“Lots of things,” Savannah explains as she points at the selection. “A crib, stroller, one of these bouncy seats.”
She looks them over, her attention fixing on one that’s a light gray color.
I move closer, testing how compactly built it is. “This looks nice.”
“It does,” Savannah comments absentmindedly as she turns over the price tag. “ A hundred and fifty dollars ?” Her jaw all but hits the floor. “Are they nuts? For a bouncy seat?”
“It’s not that bad?—”
Her head whips in my direction as she shoots me a death glare. “Not bad? This is stealing! No way. There are way more important things I need to get. Like clothes and diapers and a stroller.” She shakes her head. “Freaking bouncy seat. C’mon, Levi, let’s go look at the strollers.”
Taking his hand in hers, the two of them scurry off, but I make a note of the bouncy seat she was looking at before following after them.
If she wanted the damn bouncy seat, I could get her one. It wasn’t about the money.
But I bite my tongue and watch her take in the store and all the things. I knew exactly when she found something she liked because her whole face would light up, only for some of the light to disappear when she saw the price tag. And yet, not once did she ask for anything.
Stubborn woman.
“ Oh my gosh. ” She lifts up a little blanket in the air and looks at it. “Look at how cute this is. It matches the elephant.”
It really did. The blanket was white, with little gray elephants on it that indeed matched the one Levi found earlier.
But it wasn’t the blanket that held my attention. It was her. The tears shone in her eyes. The bright smile. The pure happiness at such a simple thing.
“I think I’ll get it. We can bring the baby home from the hospital in it. Maybe find a cute matching outfit.”
We .
That one word echoes in my head as she and Levi continue chatting.
She said we. Not I.
It was the first time she did it on her own and warmth filled my stomach. She was starting to open up to me. To this idea of us. Of our family.
“What do you think, Blake?”
“I think it’s perfect.”
She’s perfect.
“Then it’s settled. I’ll be getting this. Do you think we have time to check out cribs? I really need one of those.”
As if I could ever tell her no.
“Lead the way.”