Page 76 of His Fake Fiancé

“Sorry,” he said, giving her a half shrug, although the last thing he felt was casual. “Simon just showed up, and we got to talking—”

She shook her head. “No, it’s fine. It was my fault. I mean, I probably should have gotten dressed…” The color in her cheeks and the top of her chest matched her t-shirt. She crossed her arms, but the move seemed more unsure than defensive.

The air around them thickened, making everything uncomfortable. His skin tingled with awkwardness, and he suddenly didn’t know what to do with his hands. He stuffed them in his pockets, but then he felt dumb, so he pulled them out and crossed his arms.

Claire was chewing on the corner of her lip, her gaze darting around the room, refusing to meet his. He rubbed the back of his neck, the skin there feeling tight, hot and prickly.

“So,” he said, holding onto the vowel sound for a few seconds. “I was just packing up Olivia’s things.” His voice cracked, and he cleared his throat.

She nodded, finally looking at him. The hope and adoration in her gaze cracked his heart clean down the middle.

No, no, no, no, no. This couldn’t be happening right now. Panic clawed at his throat, making it hurt to swallow, to breathe. He was so broken and sore inside, he couldn’t process anything other than blind panic. Claire shouldn’t be looking at him like that.

She took a step toward him. “Jake—”

He shook his head and took a step back. The way her gaze dropped, the way her chin dropped, the way her shoulders dropped, felt like a knife being jabbed between his ribs, the pain bright and sharp.

“I’m s-s-sorry, Cl-Claire…” He shook his head, unsure of what he was saying, what he was thinking, what he was feeling. Today had been overwhelming and he didn’t know how to process it all. “We got c-c-caught up in the m-moment, in the sa-sa-sadness. We w-w-ere r-r-running on emotions…”

“It’s fine,” she said, lifting her head and crossing her arms. This time it was all protection, with just a touch of defiance. The acid in his stomach curdled, threatening to crawl up his throat. “I’m gonna go.” Her voice was thick, the wobbly words betraying her cold as ice exterior.

He swallowed down the need to ask her to stay, to talk to him, help him figure shit out. It wasn’t fair to her, he’d never been fair to her, had always taken her for granted. That stopped now, no matter how much it hurt. He needed to be a better man, a better person. Maybe then he’d be worthy of her, of what she was offering.

“Okay.” He nodded, his own voice sounding rough. “L-let me t-t-take…” He took a deep breath and cleared his throat. Thought about what he wanted to say. “Let me take you home. Or wherever you want to go.” He said the words slowly, but at least it stopped the stupid stutter.

She shook her head. “It’s fine,” she said, steel in her voice now. “I don’t need you, Jake. For anything.”

The words tore through him, cutting and slicing from the inside out. Leaving nothing behind but bits and pieces. So many bits and pieces he wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to put them all back together.

She walked to the door, her steps sure and even. He couldn’t take his eyes off of her, even as his soul felt like it was being crushed. She was so fucking beautiful, and he didn’t deserve her. Letting her go was the only thing he could do.

She pulled open the front door and paused. His heart gave a painful thud against his ribs. She glanced over her shoulder at him, and the sadness in her eyes nearly buckled his knees. She slid the engagement ring off her finger and placed it on the table by the door.

“Goodbye, Jake.” Two, simple, quiet words, and yet they sliced through his soul. She slipped out the door and closed it softly behind her.

He sank onto the sofa, so tired he couldn’t stand any longer. Everything hurt and he didn’t know what to do, how to fix it. Once again, he’d fucked everything up.

Chapter 22

Claire was proud of herself for not bursting into tears the moment Jake rejected her. She’d managed to make it across the Callahan’s property, down their driveway, and about fifty yards down the road before the waterworks started.

She sobbed until her chest hurt and her nose was stuffed and her eyes were sore. But she didn’t stop walking. Because if she stopped, she’d fall to the ground, curl up in the fetal position, and cry until her eyeballs fell out.

The wind was cold, and it stung her cheeks. She really wished she hadn’t been so impulsive, and had grabbed her coat before she’d run out of the guest house. But she hadn’t wanted to spend another second there with Jake, the broken pieces of her hopes and dreams crumbled in his fist.

She’d known better than to sleep with him, to make herself vulnerable to him like that. He didn’t feel the same way she did, and never had. She’d just fooled herself into thinking they’d built something special, shared something special, over the last month.

He’d been so upset at the judge’s verdict that Gina get custody of Olivia, she’d wanted to let him know he wasn’t alone, that she was here for him. She’d wanted to comfort him, had needed comfort herself, and then one thing had led to another…

And now here she was, devastated and freezing, walking along the highway, trying not to give in to the weight of the crushing disappointment clinging to her shoulders, clinging to her soul.

The walk back to the Stone Creek when by in a blur of watery vision and broken dreams. Everyone’s trucks were lined up in front of the house, because of course they were. On the day she’d hoped to have some space, everyone was going to be all up in her business. She sighed and climbed the porch.

Just as she was about to open the front door, it swung inward. Jax stood there, his arms crossed over his chest, like he’d been waiting for her.

Not in the mood for whatever this was, she went to step around him. He placed a hand on her shoulder and pulled her around to face him. “I saw you wandering along the highway like a lost puppy.”

She blew out a breath. “And you didn’t stop?” She’d hoped the breath would have tempered the anger and annoyance, but she was mistaken.