Page 61 of Fight or Flight

“It was,” she sighs and then kisses me on my peck before sitting up. “Thank you for that, Aidan. The thought of all of those beautiful moments between us being just a hoax killed me each day, you know? I feel like I’ve been set free. Like I can start over now.”

A feeling of panic envelops me, and I sit up, too, when she stands up and starts to put on her clothes.

“But where does this leave us then? Because it sounds like you’re saying goodbye, Claire.”

She smiles without a word, gives me a hand to help me to my feet, and then passes me my pants. As she watches me dress, a weird expression crosses over her features, as she has already distanced herself from here, and I fucking hate it.

As soon as I’m fully dressed, she turns toward the footpath leading to where I left the car, and I follow her, dreading what will surely come next.

I turn on the ignition to heat the car but don’t move the gear just yet; instead, I turn my head to glance at Claire, finding her already looking my way.

“Claire...”

“I need time,” she says, extending her hand to massage the frown between my eyebrows. “This isn’t a goodbye, okay? More like a new beginning. But we need to take things slow this time. Build everything from the ground up. No secrets, no psychotic shit. Just me and you.”

“But what does that exactly entail?”

“I don’t know,” she laughs. “I’ve never done this before. But maybe you can start off by asking me out on a date or something? That seems like a good place to start, I would say.”

“Really?” My heart starts beating loudly as a wave of hope crashes over me, making me almost leap across the seat to kiss the hell out of her. But then I remind myself of everything she just said and refrain from doing that. Instead, I pump the air happily like a complete dork, making Claire giggle.

“Yes, really. Now take me home, please.”

“Your wish is my command,” I state, and drive us back.

As soon as I pull the car up in Brody’s driveway, the light in the living room turns on, and Jenny wobbles onto the porch, looking worried. Her hair is a mess, and the bathrobe she has on her can barely conceal her large stomach. I don’t know anything about pregnancies and babies and stuff, but to me, she looks ready to burst any time now.

“You’re gonna be fine?” I ask Claire before she can get out.

“I think so.” Then, she glances at Jenny with a small frown. The woman watches us with a pensive look and crosses her arms. “I’m tired of being her burden, you know? She’s my best friend, and I appreciate her help. But Jenny has a lot on her plate as it is. Maybe I should move out...”

The thought worries me after everything she told me. “Are you ready to do that?”

She mulls over it before lifting her shoulders. “Not really, no. But maybe it’s time.”

“If you’re not ready, just wait it out. I don’t know Jenny as well as you do, but I doubt she sees you as a burden. She clearly loves you.”

“Yeah...” She smiles softly. “Anyway, thank you for taking me to the pier. Goodnight, Aidan.”

“Goodnight, Claire. I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?” My voice doesn’t disguise how lovesick I am already, yet I don’t care.

“You better,” she winks and exits the car to meet with her pregnant friend.

They exchange a few words, and then Jenny nods her head with a smile before engulfing Claire in a side hug and turning them toward the door. Before they go inside, Jenny looks over her shoulder and gives me a small wave as she mouths, “Thank you.”

I wave back and then reverse the car as soon as the door closes behind them. As I drive home, I feel lighter than I’ve felt in years. Maybe ever, actually. I even turn on the radio and sing some sappy love ballad that’s playing. I’m already thinking of all the ways I could make Claire happy and all the places I can take her. My options are limited because of the short funds I possess currently, but somehow, I doubt Claire would care about going to a fancy restaurant.

My head fills with all this romantic bullshit I know Claire loved to watch in those Hallmark movies. I can’t wait to pull off something like that and watch her eyes gleam in happiness. Amazing what love can do to a man.

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