If you don’t see it, change your comment settings from “Most relevant” to “All comments”.

PART 2

Claire didn’t leave.

Not because he trusted Adam.

Not anymore.

She stayed because, after fifty-two years protecting the most private part of herself, she needed to know the extent to which the people closest to her had betrayed her.

Adam sat down and put the phone on the table between the two of them.

No excuses.

Without touching it.

Without trying to calm her down.

Then he told her everything.

Vanessa had approached him months before Claire met him.

He had described Claire as a challenge.

A fifty-two-year-old virgin who had rejected all the men who tried to rush her.

According to Vanessa, Claire had spent so many years believing she could recognize selfish men that she had become “too proud” of her intuition.

Vanessa wanted to prove something.

That Claire was no different.

That with the right man, enough patience, and carefully chosen words, he would finally give in like anyone else.

Adam had laughed at first.

Then his ego came into play.

He had recently gone through a bitter divorce and liked the idea of proving that he could win over a woman who supposedly rejected everyone.

It was horrible.

And Adam didn’t try to make it sound better than it really was.

Vanessa gave him information.

What Claire liked.

Which scared him.

What other men had done wrong.

Even the promise Claire had made to herself when she was young.

Adam used all that.

That’s why he knew when to stop.

That’s why he knew not to comment on his body.

That’s why he knew exactly what kind of man would inspire confidence in Claire.

Claire listened as tears fell silently down her cheeks.

The cuteness that he had believed belonged only to the two of them suddenly seemed stolen.

—How much? —he finally asked.

Adam looked confused.

—That?

—What did you earn?

He looked down.

—Nothing.

Claire let out a bitter laugh.

—Don’t insult me now.

—There was no money.

—So why?

Adam looked directly at her.

—Because he was an arrogant idiot who wanted to show that he could do what other men had not been able to.

That answer hurt more than money would have hurt.

For Adam, her virginity had once been an achievement.

A victory.

Something his ego could conquer.

Claire stood up.

—I hate you.