Then he returned to his supposed legal right to part of the furniture.
After that, he began listing all the times he had driven Claire somewhere and the one occasion when he had helped move a heavy cabinet during a rearrangement.
“You should send me a bill for moving that cabinet,” Claire said.
“What? My labor means nothing to you?”
“Of course it means something. You can subtract its value from the cost of living in my apartment rent-free.”
“I did not live here for free!”
“Really? How much did you transfer to me each month?”
“I’m your man, not some tenant!”
“Exactly. And supporting a man like you cost me considerably more than supporting a tenant.”
Ryan moved closer.
His expression changed. It became hard and openly threatening.
“You’ll regret it very much if you keep humiliating me.”
Claire met his stare.
“Are you threatening me?”
“I’m warning you.”
He raised his hand.
He did not strike her, but the movement was sharp and unmistakably threatening.
Nothing like that had ever happened between them before.
Ryan had shouted, slammed doors, and driven away until late at night. But until that moment, he had never tried to intimidate Claire physically.
Now it was obvious that he wanted to frighten her into backing down.
She did not move.
“Just try it,” Claire said quietly. “Then you’ll leave without a single bag. You can collect your things later through someone else.”
“You’re not afraid of me anymore?”
“No, Ryan. I’m finally no longer afraid of being without you.”
He lowered his hand slowly, still staring at her with naked fury.
Claire walked around him, grabbed the first suitcase, and wheeled it toward the hall.
“Where are you taking that?”
“Outside.”
“Bring it back!”
“I’m getting the second one now.”
“Claire!”
She opened the front door and placed the suitcase in the hallway.
A strange silence settled over the landing.
A moment earlier, a television had been playing in the neighboring apartment. Now the sound had nearly disappeared.
Claire knew the neighbors were listening.
She did not feel embarrassed.
Let them discuss the argument by the elevator tomorrow if they wanted.
Ryan rushed into the hallway.
“Have you lost your mind? Bring my things back inside!”
“I’m bringing out the second suitcase.”
“Claire, stop!”
She went back into the apartment and reached for the handle of the second suitcase.
Ryan immediately seized it from the opposite side.
“Let go!”
“I won’t! You can’t just throw me out onto the street!”
“I can. The apartment belongs to me.”
“I’m registered here!”
“You’re not registered here, and you know it.”
Ryan fell silent for a moment.
Apparently, that argument had collapsed as soon as he said it aloud.
But he soon found another.
“Then pay me compensation!”
Claire looked at him in disbelief.
“Compensation for what?”
“For throwing me out! We lived together for a year, and now I have to find somewhere to stay.”
She nearly lost her grip on the suitcase handle.
“Are you seriously demanding money from me?”
“Of course I am! You’re leaving me without a roof over my head. I have to live somewhere!”
“You have a brother, parents, and friends. You have a job and a salary. And judging by how much you spend on your car every month, you’ve always had money. You simply never found any for this household.”
“That has nothing to do with you!”
“Perfect. Then you can solve your housing problem without my help.”
Claire pulled the suitcase sharply toward herself and aimed it at the open door.
Ryan stepped in front of her.
She pressed one hand against his shoulder.
“Move.”
“Don’t order me around!”
“You can keep standing there. I’ll call the neighbor downstairs and ask him to help carry you and your luggage out.”
Ryan knew exactly which neighbor she meant.
He was tall, broad-shouldered, and a former service member. Once, he had already come upstairs to complain about Ryan’s loud music.
Ryan clearly did not want another encounter.
“Go to hell,” he muttered, stepping aside.
The second suitcase joined the first outside the door.
Claire returned for the remaining things.
She brought out his sneakers, his jacket, and a small bag containing his documents. She arranged everything beside the suitcases.
Ryan stood in the entryway, breathing heavily.
He still seemed to believe Claire would eventually calm down, change her mind, and ask him to stay.
But she felt only overwhelming exhaustion.
And, beneath it, a growing sense of relief.
“Give me your keys,” she said.
“I’m not giving them to you.”
“Ryan. The keys.”
“This is my home too!”
“No. It was never yours. You lived here because I allowed you to.”
Ryan pulled the key ring from his pocket and clenched it in his fist.
“Give me back the money first.”
“What money?”
“At least reimburse me for what I spent on the car. I drove you around!”
Claire looked at him almost without emotion.
“You spent my seven hundred dollars repairing your car today. Consider it a farewell gift.”
Ryan threw the keys onto the floor with all his strength.
They struck the tile with a sharp metallic sound and skidded toward the wall.