I Made Us Matching Avatars, But He Protected Another Girl Chapter 07

I Made Us Matching Avatars, But He Protected Another Girl Chapter 07

Ryan and I spent the whole day skiing, and the entire time, I could feel a gaze burning into my back.

I knew exactly whose it was.

For Nate to say even that much already counted as an enormous concession, by his standards.

But from the moment those words left my mouth, breakup, I’d never once looked back.

Loving a man like him had worn me down to nothing.

After our last run, I pulled off my helmet and raked a hand through my windblown hair.

Ryan had snapped a dozen photos of me throughout the day, and scrolling through them, most turned out

surprisingly good.

“Ryan, you’re actually really talented at this!”

He looked absurdly pleased with himself. “I took actual lessons just for this. Can you imagine the meltdown

if I’d made you look bad? You’d have cried just like you did when we were kids.”

“Ryan! You’re asking for it!”

We spent a while shoving and teasing each other, and whatever distance seven years apart had built

between us melted away completely.

Nate’s fists curled at his sides, something violent churning behind his eyes.

When it was time to head home, he stepped forward again and pulled open the passenger door.

“Let me drive you home, Claire.”

I blinked, caught off guard.

This was the first time in our whole relationship he’d ever opened a car door for me, and it happened to be

the exact seat he’d never once let me sit in before.

That seat had always belonged to Lily, done up in soft pinks, dripping with her whole girlish aesthetic.

I’d asked to sit there once, and he’d shut the idea down flat.

His excuse was that Lily hated germs and didn’t want anyone else in her spot.

After that, I’d known better than to ask again.

I met his hopeful look, walked straight past him, and climbed into the seat of the car Ryan had

custom-ordered just for me.

“That’s your car, Nate. Not mine.”

“And as for that seat of yours, turns out I’ve got a thing about germs too. I don’t like sitting somewhere other people have already touched. Feels dirty.”

Something in his expression cracked, a flash of real hurt, his eyes dimming a shade.

I didn’t feel so much as a flicker in return.

Ryan noticed, and I could practically see him glowing with satisfaction. He shot Nate a raised eyebrow and

shut the door for me himself.

Ryan stayed for dinner at my parents’ house that night. They adored him so completely I couldn’t get a word in edgewise the whole meal.

It wasn’t until I’d showered and climbed into bed that I finally checked Nate’s messages.

From three hours earlier: Claire, we need to talk.

I ignored it. Then: You might have the wrong idea about Lily and me. Let’s clear it up in person.

Still nothing from me. Then one more.

I’m outside your place. I’ll leave the second you come down.

That last one had come in two hours ago.

I leaned toward the window and looked down, and sure enough, his Bentley sat parked right where I’d expect

Maybe it was pure coincidence, but the moment I looked, he seemed to sense it and glanced straight up at my window.

His expression was complicated, carrying something I couldn’t quite name.

A soft chime.

Another message from him.

I’ll wait as long as it takes.

I pulled the curtains shut, silenced my phone, and went to sleep.

The next morning at breakfast, my mother kept glancing at me like she had something to say.

Finally, after a long pause, she worked up the nerve.

“Claire, honey, there was a car parked outside all night. It didn’t leave until seven this morning.”

I nodded, not bothering to hide it from them.

“That was Nate. Don’t worry about it.”

“If he wants to sit out there, let him. I’ll just treat him like he’s invisible.”

“Are you really over him?” My mother watched me closely, worried I might just be putting on a brave face.

“You loved that man for five years. You’re really not going to give him one more chance? You won’t regret it

someday?”

My spoon paused halfway to my mouth.

I was scared.

But I was more scared of what staying with him would cost me in the long run.

Better to rip the bandage off clean than to bleed slowly for the rest of my life.

“Mom, he and I… it just wasn’t in the cards.”