Chapter 14,
Curtis felt the warmth of Claire’s tears fall onto his arm as she hugged him around the waist. The tension he had been carrying for days finally started to ease.
Ever since they parted ways at the hospital, Claire hadn’t come to see him, nor had she replied to a single message. That had never happened before, not in the past and definitely not now.
Thus, he came by today to hash things out and see where they stood.
The moment he walked in, he noticed all of Ashton’s stuff was gone.
He barely had time to feel relieved when someone showed up with his suit and assumed he was Claire’s husband.
All of it pointed to one thing–Claire and Ashton were officially done.
As for the broken wedding photo, Curtis figured Ashton probably smashed it in a fit of anger before storming out. But honestly, none of that mattered anymore.
Claire’s reaction told him everything he needed to know–how deeply she still loved him.
They would just take new, better wedding photos.
Feeling a rush of excitement, Curtis turned around and wrapped his arms around the woman before him.
“You finally realize you’re wrong? That’s what you get for being so stubborn before. You love me—you know you do—but you still said all that stuff to push me
away.
“I’ve been miserable for days! If you don’t make it up to me, I won’t forgive you so easily, you know?”
He gave a little huff and lifted his chin in mock arrogance, though his eyes were full of barely contained joy.
However, Claire, who had just realized the man before her wasn’t Ashton, froze in shock. She shoved Curtis away with all her strength.
“Who told you to wear that suit?” she shouted sharply.
Curtis stumbled back, tripping over a chair and crashing hard onto the floor. The pain surged through him instantly, and his eyes welled up with tears.
“What the hell, Clairy? Isn’t this the suit you picked out for our wedding? I was just trying it on early–what’s the big deal?”
As he spoke, the tears started falling freely.
She clenched her jaw, trying to hold back the storm building inside her. Her voice came out low and shaking with anger. “Take off the tux. Now. It wasn’t meant for
you.”
Still hurting from the fall and confused by her sudden shift in attitude, Curtis snapped back without thinking.
“If it’s not for me, then who else could it be for? Don’t tell me it’s for Ashton! Clairy, we already got our marriage certificate. He can’t marry you anymore!”
Those words hit Claire right in the heart.
Her face turned red with fury. “Curtis, I told you from the beginning–I only got that certificate to help you. That’s it. I’ve never had any other feelings for you.
“My boyfriend is Ashton, and the only person I’ll ever marry is him!”
Curtis dug his nails into his palms, forcing out a stiff, almost desperate smile.
“I don’t believe you, Clairy. Don’t you remember? At the reunion, you said I was the only one you ever loved. You promised you’d always protect me.
“And that night…. You didn’t push me away when I kissed you. You even stayed with me the whole night, taking care of me…”
With every word he spoke, Claire’s expression grew darker and more conflicted. She hadn’t realized just how much she had wronged Ashton.
At first, she really had just wanted to help Curtis. But somewhere along the line, she had gotten caught up in the feeling of being needed, especially by the same guy who once rejected and played with her.
There was something about being the one he now clung to that gave her a strange sense of validation.
Thus, she let things slide; she let him register for a marriage certificate with her, took wedding photos, and even let him move into her home…
Curtis, hurting from the fall, slowly got back on his feet and dragged himself over to her.
“Stop lying to yourself,” he said. “Look at me. How could you not love me?”
He leaned down, trying to kiss her. Suddenly, someone banged on the door, interrupting the moment.
Chapter 15
