Page 56 of Click of Fate

Chapter 14

SUPERHERO POSE

LUKE

I can still hearClaire’s heels click out the front doors like a slow drumbeat of poor decisions I didn’t make but still feel responsible for.

She didn’t even look back. She never does. Not when she’s already convinced herself the room still wants her in it.

The problem is, she was right. For a moment. Too long of one.

I didn’t know Stella would be here today. Ruth usually brings Lilly. Had I known… I would’ve cleared the schedule, rescheduled Claire’s visit, locked the damn doors… something. But I didn’t.

And now the one woman I actually want to stick around is walking away like she knew this would happen. Like she expected it. Like I proved her right for keeping one foot out the door the entire time.

The way she looked at me was like I’d just handed her a reason to run—again.

I tried to explain. Tried to speak. But she cut me off with that calm, distant tone that says she’s already made up her mind to be fine about it.

Not actually fine.

Performing fine.

And there’s a difference.

I know that difference now. I’ve been watching it flicker across her face for weeks, especially when she’s trying not to show she cares.

And the worst part?

I get it.

Claire isn’t just back inmyspace. She’s inhers. The look in Stella’s eyes when I introduced them was pure steel. She didn’t flinch. Didn’t break. But I could feel the wall lock into place between us, like she was laying the bricks herself.

I rub the back of my neck, pacing behind the front desk as the last of the kids file into the climbing area. Lilly waves at me, eyes bright and full of six-year-old energy I don’t deserve today.

I wave back and force a smile.

It’s not her fault. None of this is.

Claire turned today’s visit into a full-on performance, smiling wider, leaning closer, turning every conversation into a callback to us. There is no us. Not anymore. Not in business. Not in life. But Claire doesn’t seem to get that.

Or maybe she does. And just doesn’t care.

Either way, she’s using every angle she’s got.

And one of those angles is Stella.

She saw the way I looked at her. Saw the shift. The momentary lapse in attention.

And like clockwork, she turned up the charm. The contact. The subtle digs. She went full production.

I should’ve shut it down sooner.

Now? Now, I’m stuck between the woman who walked out when I was ready to give her everything… and the woman who left me her number on a Post-it and still made me feel like the lucky one.

And yeah, maybe I’ve got no right to expect anything from Stella. We never defined this. We’re still dancing around whateverthiseven is.

But I know one thing, I’m not letting Claire be the reason it ends before it begins.

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