Page 108 of This Life and All the Rest
I take a step backward, tripping over my foot and falling backward into Franco’s arms. I search Claire’s face frantically, looking for malice or lies, but all I find is sorrow and shame.
“I’m not the reason you were sent away early,” she says again. “I’ve done a lot of petty shit I’m not proud of, but that’s not one of them.”
I can’t speak as I run what she’s said through my mind.
Macon ratted us out? Macon hid from me as I frantically called for him downstairs? He wasbeat to shit and bloody?
“Chérie,”Franco says, rubbing his hand up and down my arm.
He speaks, but I don’t hear him. I turn toward the front door and walk.
“Lennon, wait,” Claire calls, but I ignore her.
I walk to the front door and push out into the sun. I take three steps toward my car when a hand wraps around my wrist, halting me and spinning me around, then pulling me into a hug.
“Talk to me,chérie.Tell me what I can do.”
I start to cry into his shirt. He takes my chin between his thumb and forefinger and tilts my head up, so he’s looking into my eyes.
“Tell me what I can do, Capri. Let me help.”
Franco rubs his thumb over my jaw, and I close my eyes, trying to calm my breathing. Then I’m suddenly yanked forward and Franco is ripped from my arms.
My eyes snap open just in time to see Macon throw Franco to the ground. Franco grunts in pain, and I throw my hands to my face.
Not again.
Visions of Macon attacking Eric, attacking his father, flood my head, and my heart starts to race with fear.
“Stop it, Macon,” I shout.
Franco tries to get back up, but Macon shoves him back down, harder this time, and Franco shouts something in Italian.
“Stay down,” Macon warns, his voice shaking. “Stay down, or I swear to god, I’ll snap.”
“Macon, don’t,” I say again, expecting Macon to launch himself onto Franco and start throwing punches, but instead he whirls on me.
“Are you fucking kidding me with this?” Macon yells, flinging his finger backward at Franco. “After everything, after last night, you’re going to pull this?”
I jerk my head back in shock before my anger spikes.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about!”
“Is this your fucking Frenchman? Did he just come to America for you? You’re just going to go back to your fucking Frenchman?”
“He’s notmyFrenchman, Macon,” I yell. “I was coming back to you!”
Macon barks out a humorless laugh and tugs on his hair.
“Fuck, it’s like fucking Masters all over again,” he shouts at the sky, before flinging a finger at me. “You’re never going to choose me, are you? It doesn’t matter what I do or what I change, I’llneverbe good enough for you.”
I choke on my anger, my vision blurring with tears.
“Ididchoose you! I chose you. I made youeverything, and it blew up in my fucking face!”
I swipe at my tears, my hands trembling, the words bursting from me on a sob.
“I just found out that you’re the reason I was sent to England early.”
