Page 256 of On a Fault Line

PENNY

I pay my taxi driver money for the ride, and then hop out of the back seat at Claire’s new home. It’s such a new address that I had to rely on memory when the GPS failed to deliver us here.

Glancing around at the wooded area, it’s easy for me to see that Claire has peace and privacy here on their multi-acre lot. The landscaping alone must have cost a small fortune. It’s crazy how such a new home looks so good already.

Claire really has an eye for beauty like my momma does. She deserves happiness and will surely make this house a home. It’s just a shame that her family in Virginia is missing out on seeing her shine like this.

Their loss is our gain.

Breathing in the fresh smells of the vegetation around me, I glance up at Claire and Nic’s coveted forever home. While I’m not jealous of them, I definitely am sad that my opportunity for this level of companionship has been given and taken from me in the matter of one hundred days.

Collins may think he wants me back, but I’m not reentering a relationship just for the shoe to drop back onto me when times get tough. My heart has been broken enough in this lifetime.

And right now, it needs a chance to heal.

I make my way up to the front door, admiring the classy decorations Claire has out for fall. The entire aura around this house is that of a positive energy, and being here is exactly what I need in order to push Collins out of my mind—if just for a few hours. Then I can go back to Claire and Nic’s old apartment and cry myself to sleep at night like I have since I fell at his feet, begging him not to leave me.

Claire opens the door before I have a chance to knock and envelops me into a huge hug. It’s the kind of hug where the person doesn’t let go.

Wrapping my own arms around her, I relax into her hold.

And just breathe.

Inhale through my nose.

Exhale through my mouth.

And I do it deeply again, melting into Claire.

It feels good to be wanted, to be loved.

Claire Nettles lives and breathes acceptance and warmth. It’s no wonder my brother is so smitten with her. She brings excitement and vibrance into his life.

And I am so delusional to think that I did that for Collins.

If anything, I brought to him anxiety and clutter.

What started out as a spark soon fizzled from the weight of the outside world. If only I was strong enough to move past what that man did to me. Sadly, I fear I’ll forever be living in the past and comparing every new relationship to the man who was the epitome of a gentleman on the streets and dominant master in the sheets.

And on the countertop…

And in the front seat of the car…

And against the wall…

And on top of the bathroom vanity at my parents’ house…

And inside the suspended cage at Limit-X…

Collins Stone officially ruined me for every other man I may encounter after him. They will never measure up. And I doubt my body will ever respond to anyone who isn’t him. He owns me, and the only way to detox my body from him is to avoid being in his presence.

I need to quit Collins cold turkey. He’s a bad habit that I no longer need right now.

My mind flutters to the restaurant and the moment he followed me into the restroom. Clearly, I can’t trust myself around him when his presence alone dissolves my willpower to resist him. That man had to have left that place rather smug.

He knew he won.

Claire finally releases me from her hold. Her eyes scan over me. “Hi.”

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