Thorn (Carmichael Series #5)✔️

Raised Voices

**Just a forewarning this chapter is about a page or less-ish shorter thank my normal chapter lengths and it has a major cliffhanger. When I write my chapters I let it progress naturally and just go where the writing takes me, but I'm not the type of author to add unnecessary fluff to a chapter to reach a certain length after what I want to happen happens in a chapter.

So, if you're an impatient reader then I would recommend you wait to read this update until next week!**

Tansy's POV

I was speechless. I didn't know what the hell to say. Actually, yes I do.

"Are you out of your goddamn mind?!" I hissed quietly as to not wake Calla up. His features grew stony as he crossed his arms over his chest, clearly pissed with my reaction to his confession.

"Oh my God, you're actually serious right now." I said with a laugh of disbelief.

"Of course I'm fucking serious, why would I say it if I wasn't?" He growled back defensively.

"You don't love me." I stated soundly, not accepted what he said for even a second.

"Don't tell me what I do and don't feel!" He shot back, his voice raising an octave.

"I will when you're fucking wrong, Tanner! You don't love me! If you loved me I wouldn't have to be sitting here arguing with you about whether you did or not! I would be able to tell that you loved me just by your actions. I would be able to tell by the things you did for me and the way you spoke to me." I whispered, all the fight in my body leaving me. It seemed wrong to stand here arguing with a man about something I so desperately wanted to be true, but I knew wasn't. I just can't do it.

"I don't know what you want from me, Tansy. I didn't grow up like you did. At least you had a parent. I barely even had a mother. If she was home, she was usually doped up. My big brother was the only person I had looking out for me, but he had to leave when I needed him the most. I wasn't shown love or affection. Ever. And now, I don't know how to." He retorted back, a haunted look in his eyes. I tried swallowing the reply on the tip of my tongue, but I just couldn't.

"Oh go fuck off with your pity party elsewhere, will you? You're not the only one with daddy issues, sweetheart. My dad left because my my mom wouldn't take him back after cheating on her. I overheard the entire Goddamn fight they had where she begged him to stay for my sake and you know what he said? Huh? He said that if she wouldn't have him then he had nothing worthwhile keeping him here. The next morning, his things were gone. I was five years old. You know what that does to a girls confidence? It ruins it! It makes you feel like you are the smallest most insignificant thing in the world!" I screamed, unable to keep my voice down with everything I was feeling.

"But guess what, Tanner? I bottled all that shit up and I let myself drink away my sorrows every once in a while, but I never let it affect how I treat those that I love. I don't intentionally do things that I know will cause them pain and suffering or make them rethink their own self-worth because that's not what you do when you love someone." I growled back before quickly wiping away the tears that had made their way down my cheeks.

He stood silent in front of me, clearly unsure of what to say back to my little rant. He and I both knew I was right. A wave of exhaustion swept over my body and I just wanted to sleep and forget about everything.

"We can discuss this later, I'm absolutely exhausted." I mumbled before turning to make my way to the guest bedroom.

"Where are you going?" Tanner asked just as my hand had made contact with the doorknob.