His Affection

overshadowed by a lingering sense of unease. The faint sounds of breakfast cooking wafted through the air, accompanied b

the fury he had felt. With a heavy sigh, he swung his legs over the side of the bed, the coolness of t

ingled with the unexpected sound of a light giggle. He paused halfway down, confusion knitting

shed over him. Claire sat at the dining table, her bright hair glimmering in the sunlight. She was casual

rsing through him. The anger from the previous night bubbled back up, jagged and

hair. How could his mother invite her after the debacle of the party? Did

other's voice cut through his

stepped around the corner, approachi

t persistent. "Hey, Noah! I hope y

eerful demeanor. "What are you doing here, Claire?" he

she took in the tension. "Noah, I thought we could all

atest gossip or to share a laugh about last night's little spect

y. "I came to talk, Noah. And I'm not here to make t

last night that I wasn't interested," he

creeping into her voice. "Give Claire a chance, infact you

lous. "How can I apologize when s

to turn the page, Noah. I can see how I misread the situation, but I wanted to talk

nearly slicing through the air. He couldn't believe she had

on her features as she looked at Noah. "This isn

m someone who doesn't respect my feelings? I hate women like her most ." Turning on his heel, he moved toward the front do

igail called after him, a

shouted back, slamming t

e reprieve from the tempest inside the house. He paced along the driveway, hands shov

see how her actions were pushing him back into a corner? The worl

, but firmly. He wouldn't allow anyone, not Claire nor even his loving mother,

ld help him sort through the mayhem emotions swirling around inside. He needed to reclaim his spac