Big Man's Claim (Big Men Big Hearts 2)

I've done nothing to hurt him. There's no reason for him to be so cold to me. So what if I said I wanted a family, it doesn't mean he has the right to ghost me like this.

His voice sharpens as he snaps, “I said leave, Mel. I'm done, we're done. I can't keep doing this.”

“What?” I ask, my voice trembling. “What happened? Where is this coming from?” I can hear the plea in my tone. I need more than that. “Doing what? What are you talking about?”

“Leave.” His voice is harsh, full of animosity. “Get the hell out of here,” he barks through clenched teeth.

I haven't seen this side of him. He's brimming with a mix of anger and sadness. I just can't tell if his feelings are aimed at me or at himself. His eyes are glaring at me, but he looks distant. As if he's someplace else in his mind. A scattered thought, a missed moment, a memory he's focusing on.

The only thing I can recognize is him cutting the tether between us. He's gone. Whatever I thought we had no longer exists. It's gone completely.

Taking a step back, my heart starts to crumble in my chest. I can feel the muscle turn brittle as it slows to a stop. My body goes cold, so cold the tips of my fingers are numb. My arms dangle lifeless at my sides as I peer up at him, searching for a hint of the man I met that day in the woods.

The warmth I felt, his tender touch and caring worry. The way he carried me to keep me safe, and allowed me in.

I'm staring at him, my eyes glassing over as I do my best to hold in my tears. I don't want to cry. My own anger is building, and I don't want to give him any more of me. Including my tears.

I still want answers.

“Be a man, Branson, and tell me why? At least tell me where this all went wrong. Don't I deserve that much at least?”

He doesn't answer. His eyes turn cold as he closes the door the rest of the way, flipping the lock to seal him inside alone. The metal click is this last thread he just severed.

My feet are frozen, I want to turn and run, but I can't. I'm so heavy, every muscle and nerve, all the way to my bones feels like they're made of concrete. I'm stunned.

The shock I feel quickly turns to sad rage. He can't shut me out like this. It isn't fair.

Slamming my palm against the door over and over, I yell, “Bran! Bran! I deserve an answer!”

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Pounding again with the side of my fist, I grunt angrily as I beat on his door. “Tell me why!” I demand. “Why?!”

Silence.

He doesn't even care enough to explain. I mean nothing to him.

Dragging myself back to my truck, I sit in the front seat, trying to catch my breath. I want to cry. I can feel it. The tears are bubbling over the edge of my lids, and my lungs are starting to take in short gasps of air.

Flicking my eyes up, I see him standing in his window. He watches me for a second, then turns around and walks away.

There's no wave. There's no smile. There's nothing.

Branson is just an empty shell of the man I met.

Where did I go wrong?

The tears bubble up over my eyes, but I refuse to blink them free. Backing down his driveway, I head back to the farm, doing my best not to lose it. Even though the dam feels like it’s going to burst at any moment.

Pulling into the farm, I don't go inside right away. I'm overwhelmed by sadness. It's eating me away inside, turning my stomach upside down and making me want to puke.

Looking up at the house, I can see Ryder holding Jenna's belly in the living room, talking to their baby inside her. They both start laughing, enjoying the life they're building together.

I feel ripped apart as I watch them and their happiness. I'm jealous because I want that too. And I stupidly thought that maybe I found it. A few stray tears spring free, but I wipe them away quickly.

What am I doing? I knew this could happen. I knew it all along.

So why does it still hurt this bad?

Sniffling, I grab a tissue from my glove box and wipe my eyes. Pulling down the visor, I look in the mirror. My eyes are red and glossy, and there are black smears of mascara across my cheek bones.

Licking the tissue, I do my best to clean my face, but it isn't working. Balling it up, I throw it on the floor.

I can't hide in here forever. Climbing out, I walk into the house with my head down. Ryder and Jenna both turn to me at the same time with big grins on their faces.