“I’ve never seen you go after anybody like this. Even when Tori dumped you, it didn’t seem like you tried to do anything to win her back.”
“That’s not true,” Levi insisted. “I couldn’t very well argue with someone who wanted to move away from here for her dental-school education.”
“Yeah, it’s probably better that you two are apart.” Jasper accelerated and merged into the left lane to pass an RV ambling down the highway.
Levi tunneled his hand through his hair. “I hate that it took me a while to realize it.”
“Getting back on topic,” Jasper said, “what are you going to say when we find Savannah?”
Levi stared out the window. He had no idea, even though he’d been thinking of little else. He wanted to tell her that he was sorry for believing Candace and not trusting her. He wanted to let her know that he still loved her and needed her back in his life, despite everything that had happened. Finally, he decided that the best approach would be complete authenticity. He’d tell her his feelings and apologize for any hurtful things he’d said or done. He just hoped it would be enough.
Chapter Eleven
The hotel’s automatic doors slid open. Exhaust from the tour bus idling outside as it unloaded passengers drifted in with the cool air. Tourists wandered between the front desk and the elevators, debating their dinner options and peppering the staff with questions about wake-up calls and sightseeing tours. Savannah squinted against the sunlight reflecting off a car in the parking lot as she attempted to steer her luggage cart through the throng of people. Then, standing in her path, was a very familiar face.
Levi. She gasped softly. “What are you doing here?”
His soft blue cotton T-shirt stretched taut across his broad chest, and he wore the same jeans he’d had on at the parade. A mix of surprise and confusion filled his eyes. “Nyla works at the front desk here in the evenings. I stopped by to say hello, but then I saw you.”
Why hadn’t she picked the hotel across the street instead? What were the chances she’d find an available room where Levi and Jasper’s younger sister had a job?
Levi swallowed hard. “When I showed up to the train station in Opportunity and you’d already left, Jasper offered to drive me here and help find you.”
He’d tracked her down? Savannah fidgeted with the envelope holding her key as she gazed into Levi’s eyes. “But you sided with Candace. You believed her and not me.”
She hated that her voice trembled and hurt laced her words. The tension in the air was palpable, like an electric charge filling the space between them.
Levi’s jaw tightened, and his forehead creased with frustration. “I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions. It was wrong of me to do that without listening to your side of the story. That’s why I’m here—to apologize for my mistake. I am truly sorry, Savannah.”
“That still doesn’t explain why you would believe anything that Candace has to say. She has a long history of stirring up trouble.”
“There was an element of truth to what she said, right? You’ve been less than honest about a major event that happened to you in the past. An event that could have had a negative impact on me hiring you as a babysitter.”
“I lost my job because of a horrible accident. A teenager made a reckless decision that had brutal consequences. I had nothing to do with her death.”
“Why didn’t you just tell people from the beginning that something terrible had happened?”
“Because I was afraid. I was afraid that no one would believe me. I was afraid I wouldn’t get the job because people would automatically assume the worst. And that’s exactly what happened, isn’t it?”
“It’s understandable why people would be cautious after something like this happened, though. You can’t blame them for being wary.”
“I’m a teacher, Levi. How could you think that I would put a child in danger? Have I done anything to make you doubt me?”
“No, but—”
“Have I given you valuable advice about caring for Wren?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Were you ever worried about leaving her with me?”
“No, never.”
“But still, you believed Candace without talking to me first.”
“I wish you wouldn’t put it like that. I was scared and had to consider Wren’s safety.”
Oh, how she wanted to believe him, but it was hard to forget the doubt that had been cast on her character. “I understand your concern for Wren, but I need to know that you trust me, that you believe in me. Because without that trust, we can’t have a relationship.”
Levi stepped closer, and the air between them shifted with a sense of longing. “Savannah,” he said softly.
She angled the cart away from him and held up her hand. “No, stay where you are.” She didn’t want to get too close because she wasn’t sure if she could trust herself not to let her guard down.
The hurt that flickered in his expression tugged at her heartstrings. “I should have trusted you more. I really care about you, and I want us to try again. For real this time. Will you please forgive me?”
Savannah bit her lip as emotion flooded through her body like waves crashing against the shoreline. She wanted desperately to reach out and take his hands in hers and tell him everything was okay, but fear still lingered like an invisible wall between them. Taking a deep breath, she looked back into his eyes and nodded slowly.
“Yes, I forgive you, but we’re not meant to be. Take good care, Levi.”
Mercifully, the elevator arrived. An older gentleman stepped off and held the doors open for her. Another couple eased into the back corner, allowing plenty of space. She wheeled her cart inside, intentionally avoiding eye contact with Levi. As the doors closed and she cruised up to her room on the sixth floor, hot tears pressed against the backs of her eyes. She felt betrayed, angry and confused, but now she could add one more sad emotion to the pile—regret. She’d gone and done the one thing she’d hoped to avoid—shattered Levi’s fragile heart.
Levi awoke to the sound of his phone ringing and someone knocking on his front door. He wiped fatigue from his gritty eyes and fumbled on his nightstand for the phone.
“No way,” he groaned. “It’s ten o’clock already?”
Drat. He’d overslept. Dad’s name and number lit up the screen.
Pushing up on one elbow, Levi swiped his finger across the glass and took the call. “Hello?”
