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But that other part, the one that was afraid, the one that knew this was a bad idea, wouldn’t let her. Taking a stepforward, Fallon pushed Savannah back. She had no idea where they were going to end up, all she knew was that she wanted to move. She wanted to sink into Savannah, three knuckles deep, face buried between her legs, entire body poised for whatever Savannah wanted next.

“I want you in my life,” Savannah whispered when she pulled back.

Fallon’s brain took more than a few seconds to catch up. She moved away slightly, shaking her head. “I don’t know if I can do that.”

“I know.” Savannah looked around the parking garage. “So where do we go from here?”

“I want you to know that it’s not because I don’t want to.” Fallon stumbled over her words. She wasn’t even sure what she was saying, but she knew they were from the heart. “I want you.”

“You can have me, Fallon. There’s nothing stopping you but yourself.”

“I know that.” Fallon gripped the strap on her purse tightly. She had no idea what to say or where to go from here. “I know this is on me.”

“Forrest can’t touch you.” Savannah clenched her jaw. “I won’t let him.”

“I’m not worried about that.” Fallon took a deep breath, holding it for a count of three in her chest. “I’m worried about you and Brinley.”

“I’m taking care of that.”

“He’s an abusive asshole. You don’t know what he’s capable of.” Frustration rang through her tone, hitting every nerve that she had and lighting it on fire.

“I know exactly what he’s capable of. You don’t. I’ve been dealing with him for more than a decade. Trust me. I know what I’m up against.” Savannah lowered her voice. “You don’t get to tell me what he’s capable of. Ever.”

“But it won’t stop me from worrying about you and Brin.” Fallon softened her tone, needing Savannah to understand exactly how worried she was, how this was going to interfere with any part of their relationship going forward.

“Forrest isn’t your father.”

Fallon halted. She stiffened. “I know he’s not.”

“Do you?” Savannah pushed.

Backed into a corner, Fallon wanted to flee for her life. She wanted to run away and not look back, but the look Savannah gave her was so sincere. “I know he’s not,” she repeated.

“Then give me a chance to deal with him in my own way.”

“I don’t know if I can do that. A relationship is asking a lot of me, but to not call out abuse when I see it?”

“I’m not asking you to not call it out. I’m asking you to let me be in control of how I deal with it.” Savannah squared her shoulders. “That’s all I need.”

Fallon fought for words. “I can’t let you—either of you—be hurt. And if you’re not okay with that, then this won’t work out between us.”

“This ismyfight.”

“It’s not just your fight if I’m there with you.” Fallon stepped back and waited. “So where does that leave us, Savannah? Are we together or not?”

“I…don’t know.” Savannah frowned.

“Call me when you do.” Fallon didn’t touch her, even though she wanted to. She simply walked away. Her heels clicked on the concrete floor as she walked toward her car and slid behind the wheel. She was crumbling. There was no other word for it.

Somewhere along the way, she’d fallen in love. Not just in love, but head over heels in love, not just with Savannah but with Brinley. But to watch them suffer? To allow Forrest to continue to run them over? Fallon wasn’t sure she could manage that.And if Savannah didn’t take a hard line with Forrest, then Fallon couldn’t be in a relationship with her.

It would hurt too much.

And not just her.

twenty-six

“He’s been served.”