“Shut up!” she yelled, throwing her arms around his neck to cry into his shoulder. “You suck at rescuing people!”
“But I did rescue you!” he laughed, hugging her back. A siren in the background made her look up as blue and red lights flashed through the windows.
“Worry not,” Ainsley said, gun still pointed at the man. “We called the police.”
“Oh,” Claire said, feeling breathless. “Oh, good.”
Chapter 5
She went back with Chad that night. After all the police statements and the shock blankets and the phone calls to her boss, the only thing she wanted was that big poster bed in the guest room.
Chad didn’t even ask, he just helped her into the car and took her there. Ainsley drove in silence, glancing back at them every once in a while through the rearview mirror. Claire didn’t care, and—as Chad silently welcomed her into his arms—she got the feeling that he didn’t, either.
The house was quiet when they arrived, and though Claire realized that it was really no more so than normal, it still made her nervous. She didn’t want to be alone, and the warm arm around her shoulders was only too tempting.
She didn’t expect him to take her to the guest room, no advances made.
“Goodnight,” Chad said, closing the door himself for once. She stared after him, her arms around her stomach, and a small voice slithered through her mind. “Just like in college,” it hissed. “He says he wants you, but then he leaves you.”
“But,” Claire said aloud, her voice making her flinch in the silence. But Chad hadn’t left her, not like last time. She was the one who had always demanded space, and he was simply finally giving it to her. But she didn’t want it, not tonight.
She changed into her nightgown, and let her hair down from the usual bun. She ran her fingers through the brown curls, smoothing out the little knots that had formed during the day, and sighed. It was now or never.
The click of the door’s lock sounded like glass breaking in the darkness, and Claire closed her eyes from it. She strained her hearing, trying to judge if Chad had heard it and was getting up. But, as she stood there, crouched by the connecting door, she heard nothing. Holding her breath, she turned the knob, and opened the door.
Chad wasn’t standing in the doorway like she’d imagined he’d be. She breathed a sigh of relief and stood, trying to make out his room in the darkness. Taking small steps, she used her outstretched hands to avoid furniture that might otherwise trip her.
As she skirted around an end table, she bumped into something huge and flat with her back. Using her hands to feel it, she realized that it curved, and that just past the end it had a blanket sticking out. She’d found the end of his bed.
Bingo.
Keeping a hand on the edge of it, she followed the side up to the wall that it was pushed against. She could hear Chad breathing now, but it wasn’t the slow, deep rhythm of a sleeping person. He was awake.
“Chad?” she called out quietly.
Something moved under the covers, then, “Claire?”
Claire didn’t answer; she just swung her leg up onto the bed and crawled until she found his arm. Lying on her side, she cuddled up next to him, squeezing her head between his neck and shoulder.
“Claire, what’re you doing?” he tried again, half-turning to wrap an arm around her. “What’s wrong?”
“I just…” she said miserably. “I don’t want to be alone right now.”
“Oh, Claire,” he said, and there was affection so soaked into his words that Claire couldn’t hold back the tears burning her eyes. “Claire,” Chad said after a moment, no doubt feeling the wet spots gathering on his arm. “Are you crying?”
“God,” she breathed shakily. “Can’t you just, I don’t know—comfort me, or something?”
“Of course,” Chad agreed softly, squeezing her close.
They stayed like that for a while. The only sound in the room was the fan on his bedside table blowing, and the steady beat of their hearts.
“Being cornered by him today,” Claire said, her mouth dry. “It was terrifying.”
“Oh, Claire,” Chad held her closer. “I’m so—”
“But,” she said. “I-it put things into perspective, you know?” When Chad didn’t say anything, she licked her lips. “I’m saying,” she said. “I’m willing to try again. To be us.”
Chad sighed from beside her. “You’re just saying that because you had a near death experience.”
“Of course!” Clair said, sitting up. “And it made me admit some things to myself! Like, yes, I would really like to date Chad again! He was the best relationship I ever had, up until he lied about me to his friends. But hey, I get it, I’m not pretty or—”