Chapter Fifty-Six

"We can't stay out here," Sean said in a hushed tone.

They were outside Bellum, as he'd picked her up after closing, and Tatum had pulled him in to kiss him when he'd opened the car door for her. She wrapped her arms around his waist, reaching up to kiss him.

"Why not?" she asked softly, still trying to press her lips against his.

"We don't want people to see us," he said, looking around quickly to make sure no one was around before he'd even consider kissing her.

"Wait, what?" she asked harshly, stepping back as much as she could, given that they were stood between the car and the door.

"Oh, no… I just meant…" Sean stammered when he saw the look on her face.

"Are you embarrassed… about me? About bein' with me?" Tatum said, unconsciously rubbing her hand over her bump. The move wasn't lost on him though, and it hurt, deep.

"No, of course I'm not embarrassed," he quickly denied, reaching out to pull her in again.

"What then?" she demanded as she held him off; even her hormones were past the moment.

"Tate…" he started, not sure what to say or even how to. His blue eyes searched her green, pleading with her to understand that their situation was a lot to get used to in such a short space of time. He knew she didn't when she crossed her arms in front of her chest, waiting for a good explanation. "I'm not embarrassed," he reiterated, carefully putting his hands on her upper arms. "I just… I haven't told… that's to say… my family…" he stumbled over his words, not sure where to look. "I mean… they've never really… with the feud and…"

"You haven't told your family because you don't think they'll approve of me," Tatum summarised what he couldn't.

"Yes..." Sean agreed until he saw the look in her eyes. "No! No, Tatum, I didn't mean it like that," he objected as she started pulling away from him. "I haven't told them because…" She looked at him, daring him to finish that sentence with something that wasn't insulting to her. "Because…" he said again, trying to put how he was feeling into words. "Because…"

"That's what I thought," she said with a sigh, disappointment evident in her eyes and her voice. And he knew he didn't want to hear what she was about to say. "Sean… bein' together shouldn't be a difficult decision. It shouldn't even be a decision if we really like each other. But it definitely shouldn't be somethin' to keep hidden," she told him.

"It's not, I do want us to be together," Sean said desperately, trying to take hold of her hand.

"How is that ever gonna work if we can't be seen in public together?" Tatum asked incredulously as she pulled her hand back.

"Well… I…"

"I don't like settin' ultimatums, but…" she started, stopping with a sigh, barely able to believe she was about to say this. "If we can't be together in public, then we can't be together at all. It's all or nothing, Sean, I won't be kept a secret," she told him, righting herself up proudly. It had taken a long time for her to realise that she and her sister were worthy, despite their father's actions and the lives their mothers had put up with. And she wasn't going to settle for less.

"No… Tatum, don't say that. I just need some time," he almost begged her.

"That's fine. But 'til then, we shouldn't see each other. Call me when your family knows," Tatum said resolutely, now stepping away from him completely to walk home.

"You can't walk all that way. Let me drive you home," Sean said concerned.

"No, that's okay. What if someone sees us?" she asked him mockingly and started walking.

"Tatum, please. Come on," he tried to stop her, but she ignored him and continued her way home. "Tatum?" he said one last time, hoping she'd turn around, but slamming the car door shut in frustration when she didn't.

Austin made his way up the stairs to the Miller's game room. The family didn't stand for formality much when it came to him, so he was usually able to walk in and find whoever he needed to find. He'd originally been hoping to see Isabella this afternoon, but she was at the bar and he'd have to start work by the time she got off. He wasn't sure if Aaron or Sean were at home or in the factory, but he could usually count on one of them being here.

He was just about to head into the game room when he heard Aaron's voice; it sounded like he was practising some kind of speech. The Sheriff chuckled to himself when he heard how nervous he sounded, until he heard, "Isabella, I know that you got no reason to… that is to say, I know my behaviour in the past…" Aaron thumped his fist on the table. "That sounds so stupid. Come on, think!"

Aaron's in love with Bella? Austin closed his eyes, in near despair, as he grabbed onto the doorpost to steady himself. If that was true, he was going to have to say goodbye to her again. There was no way he could go up against his friend, not after all the family had done for him over the years; he owed them so much. He would not force her to choose, not in the vulnerable state that she was in right now. Frustrated, he silently said goodbye to her and…

"Hey Austin," Aaron said casually, making him look up. He'd been about to find his aunt for some advice on how to talk to Isabella, without mentioning her name of course; his aunt would be the last person he'd confess his feelings for a Tennant to.

"Hey," Austin said eventually. For the first time ever, the Sheriff felt something akin to jealously of his friend… and a want to punch him in the face.

"You here to see Sean?" the Miller asked when his friend didn't say anything.

"Oh, eh, no, whoever really. I just had a few spare hours before I have to work, but I… remembered I've got stuff to do," Austin backtracked. There was no way he could hang out with his friend, not the way he was feeling right now. He had to let his heart get over having to lose Isabella for a second time before he could, if it ever could. "Sorry to bother you," he said, distracted enough to make his friend frown, and headed back down the stairs again.

"Okay… that was weird," Aaron commented to himself as he watched his friend leave, looking a little distressed. He couldn't think of why though, unless his cousin had tried getting her claws into him again. With a shrug he went on his way to find his aunt.