“You think she wants to hang around that group of drunkards?”
“I thought she might want to see Aaron.”
“Don’t get mixed up in this, Patrick, keep out.” Erin threatens.
“It’s nothing, it’s okay, really.”
“I’m not trying to mind your business, I just want to do the right thing. How come nobody ever listens to me?” Patrick says, getting up. “I don’t want to pressure you, but that man is completely beaten, Ciara. He’s in pieces. I can’t stand seeing him like that. I don’t want you to lose each other after having made it this far.”
“I don’t feel up to it,” I whisper. “I’m not ready.”
“I can understand that, but I just want to say don’t let someone else, some bastard who tried to hurt you, have any influence in your life now. He won’t do anything to you again because Aaron is going to make sure of it.”
“What are you trying to tell me?”
Patrick shoots Erin a quick glance and she nods, lowering her gaze.
“That guy Mark will not press charges against Aaron if you don’t accuse him of attacking you.”
I sit on the stool because my legs aren’t strong enough to support me.
“Aaron asked us not to tell you, but I am telling you anyway, because that’s how I am. I don’t like keeping quiet, especially where my sister and my best friend are involved. That man is ready to go to jail in order to protect you. And he’s not telling you about it because he doesn’t want you to withdraw your account of events. I’m telling you this because I want you to understand how big that guy’s heart is. Aaron was there for you on the worst day of your life and now I’m asking you as a friend and as a brother, to stand by him in his darkest hour. Because he stands to lose his freedom and part of his life and the woman he loves.”
Patrick’s words go straight to my heart, which magically starts beating faster again, reminding me how much I love that man. I miss him so much I can’t breathe, but I’m frightened, I’m terrified at being close to him.
Not because I think he could hurt me or that I wouldn’t be able to stand his touch, but because I’m afraid I’ve lost that part of me that he was attracted to. That light that drew him to me.
“Okay,” Patrick encourages. “Are we gonna do this?”
I lift my eyes and the smile plastered on his face lets me know he’s not expecting an audible reply.
—
AARON
“Patrick just called. He’ll be here in a minute.”
“It’s not like we need him here,” I say to Liam, who is standing next to me at the bar counter.
“He also said to be careful about how you move,” he says with a little smirk on his face.
Is she…
I leave the bar immediately and head to the back room. I begin pacing nervously, wiping my palms on my jeans. I feel that old panic rising in my throat trying to choke me, but I have to resist. I have to make a monumental effort because she’s coming here and the chance of seeing her, even if it’s just for a few seconds, will carry me through.
I gather my courage, do some breathing exercises and go back into the bar just as she is walking in alongside Patrick.
And what I see in her eyes dashes all of my hopes.
There is no light, there are no colors and there’s no trace of that strong, confident woman I held to me just a few days ago.
My heart stops and with it my entire world because I know this is my fault. My stupid fear of loving her and having her in my life.
I approach and stop a few paces in front of them. Patrick feeds her courage through a hand solidly placed on her shoulder, before giving her a kiss on the cheek and backing away discreetly.
“Hi,” I tell her, unable to think of anything better.
She smiles but keeps her eyes downwards.
