Forty-Four
He straightened his shirt and ran a hand through his hair. For probably the first time in his life, he felt a little nervous about what he was about to do. After taking a deep breath, he rapped his knuckles on the Tennant's front door.
Isabella looked up at the door when she heard the knock. She wasn't particularly in the mood to see who it could be and she'd just settled back into her dozing position when the visitor knocked again. She sighed and got up slowly, her body protesting at its first movement of the day; she'd made her way downstairs this morning and not moved since, absentmindedly watching a little TV or dozing. Her body was also still trying to heal, from that night as well as the last four years. She chanced a quick glance at the mirror in the hallway, running her hands through her knotted brown hair and pulling her oversized shirt a little straighter.
Her heart sank through her stomach to her toes when she saw who was stood on her front porch. "What are you doin' here?" she asked softly, her voice sounding a little unsettled.
"I don't mean to bother you, I just wanted to check you were okay," he said, taking her by surprise.
"Why do you care?" Isabella asked him. His visit and his demeanour made no sense.
"Well… as a family, we've always hated men that beat women, it's why the feud started," he started to explain himself. "But I guess, I feel… part responsible…"
"Aaron, you're not makin' any sense. David was like this before I moved back here, and he followed," she said, a little impatiently now. Typical to somehow make this about himself.
"No, I guess I ain't," Aaron admitted, going through his hair again with a sheepish smile. "Sorry," he apologised. "I meant… I feel bad that I didn't see what he was doin' to ya. I would've stopped him," he managed to get it to come out the way he wanted.
"Yeah, okay," she scoffed and was about to close the door to go back in, when his strong arm shot out to hold the door open. She couldn't stop herself from flinching, her brown eyes widening in fear. Was he first condemning David, just to then hit her himself?
"Don't be scared, I ain't gonna do nothin'," Aaron rushed to reassure her when he saw the look in her eyes, almost like prey freezing while they hoped the predator didn't see them. He pulled his arm back and held both hands up innocently. "I mean it though, if I'd known he was hurtin' ya, I would've run him out of town so fast…" he reiterated, seeing she relaxed briefly at the knowledge she was safe before becoming concerned again about his motive.
"Thanks, but this ain't your battle," Isabella said, still holding onto the door nervously.
"Maybe, maybe not," the Miller responded with a shrug, knowing he couldn't tell her about his feelings for her yet. "I still would've," he added. He couldn't help smiling a little when her eyes took him in curiously. His blue eyes were a little darker than his brother's, though they seemed to lighten a little when he smiled; his jaw was strong, and she could see a muscle clench and unclench; his dark blond hair a little messy as a few strands brushed his forehead; his expression a lot lighter and friendlier than she was used to seeing. She didn't know what to make of him.
"Thanks," she nodded again. "I appreciate that," the brunette said as she took a step backwards and started closing the door, indicating that she wanted to head back in now.
"Wait…" Aaron started to object, but stopped when she gasped, her eyes fixed in near terror on something behind him. He turned around to see the man that had put her through this walking up towards them. "David," he grunted, adrenaline pumping through him as he prepared himself to fight if he needed to.
"Aaron, how nice of you to welcome me b-," David started with a grin, until he saw the look on his friend's face. "What are you doing here?" he asked, his clear blue eyes going from his friend to his girlfriend, his mind racing suspiciously; he knew it, this stupid feud didn't exist, and they'd used it as a way of putting him off their scent.
"I came to check she was okay," Aaron answered, stepping slowly down the porch steps towards him, trying to make his frame look as menacing as possible. "And to make sure you stay away," he added.
"She's my girlfriend, who are you to tell me to stay away?" David started in a rant, wanting to rush up towards her, but his friend stopped him like a road block. He looked past him at her, willing her to say something in his defence; either she forgave him or nothing had happened, it had been a misunderstanding. For the first time in her life, Isabella shook her head at him. His attention went back to the Miller holding him off when he chuckled softly.
"I swear, David, you'd better stay away from her."
"Or what?" he made the mistake of asking.
"Or else I will make your life a livin' hell, like you did hers," Aaron answered, sending chills down even Isabella's spine when she heard how cold his tone was. "Trust me when I say I have enough money and enough connections to find you wherever, to make it look like an accident."
"Why do you care so much?" David asked, not taking him seriously.
"I hate men that beat women."
"It can't just be that, not with the feud between your families. What is she to you?" the city boy pressed him now.
"Here's what you're gonna do," the Miller started laying out the ground rules as he ignored his questions. "You know she ain't pressin' charges, because she's scared of you and your fancy lawyer. Austin has had to let you go, and you are gonna go. You're not gonna see her again, or talk to her, you're gonna go back to the city you came from."
David looked from him to her and back. "My stuff- … "
"Will be sent to you," Aaron cut him off icily.
Isabella, for once, held his gaze and didn't cower when his gaze rested on her, testing her resolve. "Fine," her now former boyfriend conceded. "You know where to reach me when you come to your senses," he aimed at her before finally heading back to his car.
"Don't count on it," the Miller protecting her made sure to scoff before the city boy finally pulled away and out of her life.