Page 80 of Claimed

“I need more time.”

“What the fuck for? Cut the bullshit, Raven. Let’s go.”

“No. I’m going inside and I’m not coming back out. Go home, Gage.”

I let myself back inside quickly before I give in to him. Pressing my back against the door, I close my eyes and try to block out his helpless expression. I tell myself this is for the best, but I don’t quite believe it.What if this time apart does the opposite of what I hope to achieve? What if he decides he doesn’t want me anymore?

“Are you okay, sweetheart?”

I purse my lips and turn to Chrissy’s mom.

“No, Mrs. C. I’m not.”

***

“Raven, Gage is here,” Mrs. C calls up the stairs.

I put my Kindle down and get ready to descend the stairs for our daily ritual. I’ve been here a week and he’s shown up every night. Mrs. C doesn’t get nervous and scared anymore because the man has already charmed her. Not Mr. C, though. He won’t let Gage any farther than the doorstep.

Every evening, we walk around the block in silence. At the end, he asks if I’m leaving with him. I highly doubt my answer will be any different tonight. Not that it’s been easy. It kills me to walk away from him every night when all I want to do is jump his bones. My only reprieve has been the three days of bleeding I had from taking the morning-after pill. It’s stopped now so Lord knows what I’ll do when I see him.

Chris stops me in the hallway. We haven’t spoken much since I’ve been here, and I know my very presence is difficult for him.

“You’re going back to him, aren’t you?” he asks.

“We’re not broken up. I just needed to be away from him for a while.”

“A while? Next time, I may not be close by.” He cups my cheek, stroking it with his thumb as he stares at me wistfully. “Didn’t I make you happy?”

“Chris…it wasn’t you. You were wonderful.”

“Then why? Why did you choose him?”

“I just…maybe if I’d met you first, things would have been different.”

He drops his hand to his side then shoves both in his pockets. “I guess I never stood a chance then, huh?”

“Chris –”

“Go. He’s waiting for you.”

I stare at his back as he retreats, head hanging down, and it breaks my heart to see him like this.I should leave. I can’t keep hurting him like this. First thing in the morning, I’m finding a hotel.

As usual, Gage is waiting for me at the door. I take his extended hand and we begin our trek around the block. Thinking about Chris, Gage, and everything else has me in knots. This is not how I envisioned my life. I’ve been thrown so many lemons I could make a shit load of lemonade.

“You okay?”

“Fine,” I answer. “Just thinking.”

“About?”

“Life. Where I am…where I wanna be.”

“Where do you want to be?”

He stops walking and pulls me to him, staring down at me patiently. Our eyes meet, and I know beyond a doubt he’s what I want. Wherever he is, that’s home. If I’m going to be making lemonade then he’s definitely the sugar. He wraps his arms around me and I inhale his scent.

“I really don’t know…but I do know I want you there with me.”