My phone pinged and I glanced down to see a text from Sky.
Hey Claire-bear. How’d it go last night? Wink Wink. Isla is driving me home now. We had fun, but movie nights with you are my favorite.
I couldn’t cry and I couldn’t laugh, but a smile sat comfortably on my face. Maybe making a huge breakfast would put my head in the right place.
Over waffles and yogurt and apple cured sausages, I told Skylar about Malcolm, the weapons, and my stance on gun violence. She was sympathetic and a good listener. She also polished off a huge breakfast and I was content to watch her thrive.
She helped me with the dishes and threw the clothes from her backpack in the washer.
“I’m going to study for my math quiz, Claire. Just knock if you need me. I think you did the right thing. I’ll miss Malcolm a lot, but I don’t think you need to compromise your beliefs.
“Thanks, Sky. You’re wise for your age.” I dried the last dish from the rack and put it away.
“Love should always be about giving and not taking away. If you have to take away Malcolm’s guns, then maybe you’re not the right woman for him. And if you have to give up your values, then I guess he’s not the guy for you. There is someone out there for you and you’ll find him one day.”
Skylar went to study and I busied myself with case files. She was right and said those words only to comfort. But I couldn’t help but feel miserable. Malcolm was the only guy for me and my heart knew it well. I’d ache for him for the rest of my life and the pain had only just begun. The rough rider with the tender heart, was my soul’s mate and there would never be another one.
Chapter 9
Malcolm
My fuckin world was empty. Everywhere I looked, there was a void left there by Claire and Sky. I'd prided myself on not needing anyone of anything, but now I could barely fucking breath without her. It's been twenty-four hours without her, and I was already losing my mind. I wanted to hop on the back of my bike and bang down her door. Tell her that she's mine and Claire was being unreasonable. Still, I also knew where she was coming from. Hell, if I'd gone through what she'd gone through, I'd feel the exact same way, but the reality was the history that shaped her was different than the one that shaped me.
I felt my heart leap as my phone vibrated on my hand. I looked down and saw a text from Sky.
Sky: You're an idiot.
Me: Pardon.
Sky: How the hell are you going to let her walk out like that and not do anything.
Me: Respecting her.
Sky: Don't be a pussy. Call her.
I stared at her message, the phone feeling combustible in my hand. Sky was right, but this wasn't going to be settled with a phone call. I slid the keys off the table and headed out. I wasn't going to lose her. I wasn't going to have it all go down like this. She had to understand.
When I got to Claire's, I pulled out my phone and texted Sky.
ME: Tell her to come outside.
SKY: Ok!
"Where is your jacket, Miller?" Claire wrapped her sweater tight, her arms crossed at her chest as she glared at me. God, she was so beautiful. All I wanted to do was run to her.
"I'm not giving up on you," I said. I didn't go to her. I just stood there, the desperation to touch her taking over me, making it hard to breathe.
"Malcolm," Claire sighed, "this won't work. I can't do this. I can't allow guns, not in my home."
"I'm not giving up on you."
"Is that all you're going to say?"
"I'm going to give you some time because I know you need that right now, but you and me, Claire, we're the real deal. So I'm not giving up on you, but I'm going to give you some time. I love you. This isn't the end. It's just a pause."
Chapter 10
One months later…
Claire
Skylar was in hysterics about graduation. I’d never seen someone work so hard to complete something and then fall apart at the prospect of it being over. She was going to community college just two miles from the apartment, but you’d think she was moving overseas for how much of disruption the ordeal had caused her.
She came out in the blue dress we’d picked out together at the mall. Isla’s approval had been necessary so we’d dragged her along leaving Trudy to care for thirty-five teens alone for an afternoon.
“It’s beautiful. You look—Oh my God, I’m going to cry. You look perfect!” I ran to her and gave her a bear hug.
“I don’t know why I care so much, it’s going to be completely covered by the gown.”