Her Collateral Bride: A Lesbian Age Gap Romance

He let her take her bag up to her room. He gave her the

space she needed. She unpacked in quiet. The house was even

quieter below her. It was like her dad wasn’t even there, but

she knew that he was. He wasn’t rushing out. Wasn’t grabbing

his keys and rushing straight to the highway to Claire’s house

to declare war. Maybe that was an improvement. Maybe that

meant something. Haley hoped so.

When she had everything put away, she sat down at the big

writing desk and took out her phone. She sighed softly when

there were no missed calls or messages. She knew Claire

wouldn’t contact her, but of course she’d still hoped.

She felt so tired. She felt like all the things she’d come to

make right were falling apart worse than ever. She didn’t know

how to fix anything. She wanted to go back to Claire’s more

than anything. She refused to accept that she might never see

Claire again.

Claire had listened the night before, but she hadn’t been

able to change her mind.

Haley’s heart wouldn’t listen.

Her dad really hadn’t listened to her either. Would he ever?

Haley dialed her grandma’s number. Out of everyone in the

world, even her best friends, she knew her grandma would

hear her out. She’d hear everything that Haley said and didn’t

say. Maybe she’d hear it all without Haley even having to utter

a word.

Her grandma’s voice was bright and sweet, familiar and

loving, and it brought Haley to tears. “Hello, dear. I’ve got a

batch of chocolate chip cookies just pulled out from the oven,

so you had better tell me you’re calling because you’re on

your way over here.”