“Hey,” I say in a gentle voice. I grab Ellie’s hand in mine.
Her big blue eyes are red and puffy as she looks at me. She squeezes my hand tight, and the tension inside of me starts to fade. I’m with her now. No one will touch her now that I’m next to her.
“What happened? Did Damien say more awful things to you?” she asks.
“We didn’t talk much.”
“Oh…” Her brow furrows before recognition flashes in her eyes. She swallows hard.
“You okay, Ellie?” Blomdahl asks.
She nods and tries to smile. “Sorry, guys. I didn’t mean to bring down the mood.”
“You didn’t,” I say softly. “What happened wasn’t your fault.”
“Yeah, don’t apologize,” Xander says. “That guy was a dick.”
Sam, Del, and Ryker show up and join our table.
“Sorry we’re late,” Sam says. “Our rideshare got lost on the way here.”
Everyone gets pulled into their own conversations. I focus on Ellie, noticing how tense she still is. Her shoulders are tight and she keeps fidgeting with the hem of the long dress she’s wearing.
She smiles when people chat with her, but I can tell it’s forced, that she’s just trying to go along with the conversation and not draw attention to herself.
“We don’t have to stay,” I say quietly. “If you want to leave, I’m happy to take you home.”
Relief flashes in her eyes. “Really?”
I nod.
“But you just got here. I don’t want to make you leave right away. Don’t you want to hang out with everyone?”
I shake my head. “All I care about is you.”
Her mouth parts open the slightest bit, like she’s surprised at what I’ve said.
She looks relieved. “You mean that?”
“Of course I mean that.”
She lets out a shaky breath. “I’d like to go home, if that’s okay with you.”
Chapter 40
Camden
“We’re gonna take off. I’m tired,” I say to everyone.
I look to Xander and Blomdahl. “You guys cool with getting a rideshare back to the house so I can take the car?”
They say no problem. Ryker starts to give me shit for leaving early, but he stops when Madeline gives him a look. Xander turns to him and starts talking in a low voice, probably telling him about what happened with Damien. I’m sure he and Blomdahl will explain to the guys and the ladies what happened once we’re gone.
We tell everyone goodnight, then I lead Ellie by the hand out of the bar and down the busy street to where I parked my car.
I open the passenger door and help her inside, then buckle her seatbelt.
She looks at me. “I can do it.”
