"Enya."I lean in slightly, making sure she hears me clearly."Please.Five minutes.That's all I'm asking."
She finally looks at me, and Christ, the fear in her eyes nearly undoes me.Not fear of me.Fear of everything else.Of being vulnerable.Of admitting she needs help.
"I can't..."
"You can.And you will."Still gentle, but firm this time."Because we both know something's wrong, and I'm not walking away until we talk about it."
She opens her mouth to argue, but Ciara appears at her elbow."Go ahead.I've got the bar."
Enya shoots her a betrayed look.Ciara just raises her eyebrows."Go.Talk to him."
For a second, I think Enya's going to refuse.Going to tell us both to fuck off and keep pretending everything's grand.
But then her shoulders sag."Fine.Five minutes."
She comes around the bar, and I follow her to a corner booth at the back, away from the main crowd.Private enough to talk but not so isolated that she'll feel trapped.
I make sure to sit across from her, not beside her.Give her space.Give her an easy exit if she needs it.
She sits with her arms crossed, defensive posture, jaw tight.Waiting.
I take a breath."There was a man outside, watching the pub.Same one I've seen before, near your building.When he saw me, he ran."
Her face goes white.Whiter than it already was.
"I chased him but lost him in the crowd."I lean forward slightly, keeping my voice low."Enya, someone is watching you.And you know it.I can see it.You're jumpy as fuck, you're not sleeping, you look like you're about to collapse, and you keep checking over your shoulder like you're expecting someone to grab you."
"I'm fine."The words are automatic.Hollow.
"No, you're not.And you know you're not."I keep my tone even, not accusing.Just stating facts."I'm not asking to own your problems.I'm not demanding you let me fix everything.I'm just asking you to stop pretending nothing's wrong."
"It's none of your business."
"Maybe not.But I'm making it my business."
"Why?"Her voice cracks slightly."Why do you care?You don't even know me."
"Because I see you."The words come out rougher than I intended."I see how scared you are.I see you trying to hold it together.And I can't just..."I stop, jaw clenching."I can't just watch you drown when I could help."
She's shaking now, hands trembling where they're pressed against the table."You don't understand what he's like."
There it is.He.
My whole body goes still."Who?"
She doesn't answer.She just stares at the table, breathing shallow and fast.
"Enya."I say her name softly."Who?"
"My ex."The words come out barely above a whisper."Declan.He...he used to watch me like this.Before.Before he..."She stops, swallows hard."He's doing it again."
The name lands like a punch.Declan.I file it away, burn it into my memory.
"Tell me about him."
"Why?So you can...what?Go after him?Make it worse?"
"So I know what I'm dealing with."
