Page 35

“I can’t do this, Savannah. I told you that already.”

“I know you did. I know.” Savannah nodded, already closing back in on herself. She should have started this conversation better, should have navigated it better. Sighing, she brushed her fingers through her hair. “I know you asked me not to talk about it. I didn’t mean to.”

“I brought it up,” Kyla answered. She flicked her gaze around the room, to each of her kids that were lounging and playing, along with the extra older one that Savannah was coming to know. Holli’s youngest had only one more year at the house before he’d be out and on his own, at least that’s what Kyla had told her. “We’re just trying to survive most days.”

“This will help with that. Look, I can’t do much for you. I don’t have a house big enough, I don’t make enough money to support you, but I can do this.”

“I know you think you can.” Kyla combed her fingers through the baby’s hair. “But I don’t think it’s worth it.”

“It can be. It can give you the cushion you need. Junior’s going off to college in a couple years. He’s going to need the money.”

“Savannah.” Kyla’s voice was a warning more than anything.

Putting her hands up, Savannah nodded. “Fine. I’ll drop it. But it would help if you’d come down and talk with Athena if you want. If you don’t, then you don’t. I’ll leave you out of it as much as I can.”

“I wish you would stop.”

“I am stopping.”

“No, stop the lawsuit.”

The punch to Savannah’s gut was harder than she’d ever thought possible. Didn’t Kyla see that she was doing this for them? That it was one of the few ways that she could manage to make some good out of this god-awful situation? Shaking her head, Savannah tensed. “I don’t know if I can do that.”

“Then you need to figure out if you’re suing for me or for yourself.”

Cold washed through Savannah, making her hands clammy with sweat. She clenched her jaw and took a deep breath, plastering on the smile that everyone expected her to have. “I should get going.”

“Savannah,” Kyla objected.

“I’ll give you a call about dinner next week.” Savannah pushed herself back from the table and started toward the door. “Thanks again for watching Brin last week.”

“Savannah!”

“See you, kids! Love you!” Savannah escaped the house as quickly as she could. She slid into her car and started the engine, pulling out from the curb as fast as possible.

She had to get out of there. Tears streamed down her cheeks and fell onto her jeans. She drove, still crying, all the way to Fallon’s apartment. When she parked outside, she couldn’t even remember why she was there or how she’d managed to find it without her GPS.

What was she doing here?

Savannah brushed her hands over her cheeks, staying still in her seat. She couldn’t bring herself to move, whether up to Fallon’s apartment or home to her empty apartment. Struggling was all she could think about. The struggle to move forward without Conrad, the heartache and pain that came with every time she thought about him.

When would it end?

The knock on her door startled her. She jerked with a start and looked up to find Fallon staring at her through the window. Savannah rolled it down and shook her head. “I didn’t mean—I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t be here.”

“What’s wrong?” Fallon asked, the firmness in her voice not worrying but actually comforting, like Fallon was going to take control of the situation and make everything better.

Savannah shook her head again, pressing her lips together hard. “It’s not something I can really talk about with you.”

Cocking her head to the side, Fallon narrowed her gaze. “Come on.”

The driver’s door opened, and Fallon was reaching in and pushing the button to turn off the engine. Savannah was halfway dragged out of the car, her hand firmly in Fallon’s as she was led to the elevator and up to Fallon’s front door.

As soon as they were inside, Fallon dropped her keys and purse onto the small table next to the door and took Savannah by the hand, leading her to the couch.

“Is Brinley okay?” she asked before she even managed to sit down.

Savannah faltered, frowning. She hadn’t even thought that Fallon might think something was wrong with Brinley. It was kind and caring in a way she hadn’t expected from her one-night stand, or was it no strings attached, or friends with benefits? She couldn’t tell. Her head spun if she thought about it for too long.