Chapter 172
I hate that he can see it, I hate that anyone can see it br the tears come anyway and before I can stop them my vision blurs and my chest tightens painfully as the sob rips out of me before I can swallow it back.
I press my hands over my face and suddenly I’m crying uncontrollably. The kind of crying that shakes your shoulders and makes your chest hurt.
Because hearing a familiar voice that isn’t Zane’s Someone who isn’t involved in all this mess finally breaks whatever was barely holding me together. And now tht it is broken I can’t stop crying.
I frwaking hate crying in front of them.
In front of Zane and Claire but right now I can’t seem to pull myself together. My hands are still covering my face when Zane’s voice echoes through the room again.
“Aaron p>
The tone alone is enough to make the room quiet. I lower my hands slightly, my vision still blurry from tears.
Aaron looks up from where he’s standing a few feet away.
“Yes p>
Zane doesn’t look at Claire when he speaks…his eyes are still on me.
“Take Miss Claire out of the house p>
Claire lets out a laugh from behind the table.
“Oh no hell no p>
I glance toward her. Her face is still red from crying and from the scratches on her skin, but the defiance in her eyes is back.
“I’m not going anywhere p>
Aaron turns his head slowly toward her and Claire straightens where she stands.
“I’m not leaving until Zane and I finish this conversation, that’s what I came here for nd I’m not leaving until that is done p>
Zane doesn’t respond, he doesn’t even look at her.
Claire steps forward slightly.
“You can’t just throw me out like that p>
Her voice rises.
“We’re not done talking p>
Zane’s jaw tightens.
“Yes we are p>
Claire’s eyes flash.
“No we’re not p>
She gestures toward me with an angry flick of her hand.
“You you can’t just choose her over me, you can’t! What what does she have that I don’t p>
My stomach twists again but Zane cuts her off before she can continue.
“Aaron p>
That’s all he says but Aaron already knows what it means he moves toward her without another word.
Claire’s expression changes immediately.
“Oh don’t even think about it p>
Aaron doesn’t stop walking.
“Claire,” he says calmly, “let’s go p>
“Don’t fucking touch me p>
He stops in front of her anyway and Claire takes a step back.
“I mean it p>
Aaron doesn’t argue, he just reaches out with one hand.
That’s all it takes him, his fingers close around her arm firmly.
Claire gasps in shock.
“Hey p>
Before she can pull away, Aaron lifts her slightly off balance and turns toward the door, so effortlessly like she weighs nothing.
Claire starts thrashing instantly.
“Let go of me p>
Her free hand pushes at his shoulder, as she tries to twist out of his grip.
“Aaron, don’t you fucking dare p>
He doesn’t even look bothered, he just keeps walking.
“Put me the fuck down p>
Claire kicks backward, her heel slamming against the floor but Aaron barely reacts.
“Zane!” she shouts suddenly, her voice is desperate now.
“Tell him to let me go p>
Zane doesn’t move or speak and Claire’s eyes go wide.
“Zane p>
Aaron reaches the front door, he pulls it open with his free hand while still holding her with the other arm, Claire struggles harder now.
“Don’t do this p>
Her voice is almost shrill.
“I said I’m not fuckin leaving p>
Aaron steps outside with her anyway. She tries twisting again, trying to yank her arm free.
“You can’t just throw me out like I’m trash p>
Aaron sets her down on the front porch but keeps hold of her arm so she can’t push past him.
Claire turns immediately, trying to shove past hm back into the house bt Aaron blocks her easily.
“Move!” she snaps.
He doesn’t budge.
Behind them, Zane finally moves. He walks past me without saying anything, his footsteps are steady as he heads toward the door.
Claire sees him coming and her expression shifts instantly into something like relief
“Zane p>
She tries to step toward him but Aaron tightens his hold again.
“Let me go, you fool” she snaps at him.
Zane stops just inside the doorway and for a moment he just looks at her, hs face completely blank.
Claire’s voice softens slightly.
“You can’t just throw me out after everything p>
Zane doesn’t respond.
“I came here because we needed to talk p>
Still nothing and hr voice grows more desperate.
“You owe me that much p>
Still nothing.
Claire takes another step toward the door.
“Aaron, let go of me p>
Aaron glances briefly at Zane but Zane doesn’t look away from Claire.
Then he says quietly,
“Let her go p>
Aaron releases her arm and Claire immediately steps forward but before she can cross the doorway… Zane reaches out, not to pull her inside but to push the door, the heavy wood swinging shut between them.
Claire’s eyes widn as the door slams closed right in her face, the sound echoing through the house.
For a second there’s silence, then her voice comes from the other side.
“Zane p>
Her fist hits the door hard.
“You can’t do this to me p>
Another bang on the door.
“Open the freaking door for fucks sakr p>
Zane doesn’t mov though, he just stands there, staring at the wood like he can still see her through it.
Claire’s voice continues outside, sounding furious and desperate.
“Zane, open this damn door p>
But he doesn’t reach for the handle neither does he say a word. He just leaves her standing outside.
Outside, Claire hits the door again.
“You can’t just throw me out like that p>
Her voice carring through the wood.
“Zane, I swear to God open this damn door p>
I’m standing a few feet away in the dining area, my arms wrapped tightly around myself. My eyes are still swollen from crying and my chest still hurts from how hard I criedd.