I sputter for a moment while the others pretend to analyze various items on the shelves… this is awkward. “What are you talking about?” I laugh, “I’m not denying my heart for her…”
She gives me a side eye, “I’m not blind, young man. I’m very good at reading people, and even though you may not be denying your heart to her anymore, you have for a long time.”
“You only know this because Claire told you” I accuse, trying my hardest to get this weird feeling out of my stomach. There’s no way this woman can know that unless she was told.
Shaking her head she chuckles, “the only thing that precious girl told me is that she was falling head over heels for a boy she didn’t think loved her back. I guess now that’s changed but I can still read you like a damn book.” Her hands grab mine, “you look at her like she hung the moon, and she looks at you like you hung the stars. Don’t let whatever it is you’re afraid of stop you from following your heart.”
Her words stir something inside of me that I didn’t really know was there, I’m scared of loving Claire through and through. Not because she’s unlovable, but because I’m scared thatIam. Handing someone your heart and showing them the darkest parts of you isn’t easy. What if Claire doesn’t like what she sees after everything we’ve been through?
“She’s special,“ Lizzy continues. “Very special, and I know she’s going to change your entire world.”
She already has, and I think I need to stop being such a pussy and let her in.
“Go away.” I hear Claires voice from an isle over, it’s shaky and high-pitched. Something isn’t right.
I run over to her, only to find Nathan on the opposite end with his hands in the air, “I swear I wasn’t going to hurt her. I just want to talk.”
My fists clench at my sides, Blair and Davis flank me while August and Miller stand with Lizzy.
The poor old woman looks so confused right now, “what is going on over here?” She shrieks.
“I don’t want to talk to you” Claire chokes. Her whole body is shaking uncontrollably, “please leave.”
When Nathan goes to take a step towards her, I wrap a protective arm around her and force her behind me. I’m more than aware that she can hold her own, she’s already proven that, but I don’t trust Nathan more than I trust my own father. He’s bigger and stronger than her, he could do anything to hurt her and I’ll be damned if I let that happen on my watch.
“Shouldn’t you be in prison or some shit right now?” August growls from behind me.
The asshole in front of me shrinks into himself, having the decency to look ashamed for once. “I know, I did some fucked up shit. I’ll never forgive myself for it.”
Claire breaks past me and rushes towards him, when I go to stop her, Blair grabs me by the shoulder and holds me back, “don’t. She needs to do this on her own.”
I don’t know what I’ll do if he hurts her and I’m standing right here… I don’t think I’d be able to live with myself.
She slaps him across the face, breathing heavily as he grips his burning cheek.
“I guess I deserve that” he says.
Claire nods her head, “you fucking think?”
Proud.That’s the only word I can think of right now.
“I will never forgive you for what you did to me, I don’t care how much you apologize or how far away you are.”
Miller leans forward, “why is she kinda scary?”
I laugh harder than I have in a very long time at that, “because my pretty girl has grown, she’s not going to let people push her around anymore.”
Claire turns on her heel and walks away, head held hight but with tears in her eyes as she throws over her shoulder, “just because you apologizeddoes notmean you’re suddenly a better guy.”
She buries her face in my chest, holding me tightly while I grip the back of her head and glare at Nathan. He stands stunned for a moment before accepting that there’s nothing he can do, and walks away.
There’s a tense silence between the group of us before Lizzy breaks it, “you guys are good for her. Keep her close.”
forty-three
LUCAS
Although the day didn’t go how any of us expected, we somehow managed to be in good spirits. Claire brushed off the incident like it was nothing and went back to her beautiful, shiny self.
