“Did he do this to you?” he grinds out through clenched teeth. “I’ll fucking kill him.”
Honestly, given the look of rage on his face, I believe him. If Rhys were in the vicinity, he’d be neck-deep in trouble.
I want to tell him it’s not what he thinks. I want to explain everything. But my emotions get the better of me and I break down completely, sobbing into my hands, barely able to breathe. Connor reaches out to catch me before my knees give out underneath me and guides me through a fire exit into the alley at the back of the building.
I slump down the brick wall and crouch on the floor, putting my head in my hands so Connor can’t see me. My breath comes in ragged heaves, combining with my concussion to make me even more dizzy than before. All I can think about is how much I’ve messed up my life and how that must be because it’s what I deserve. And now I’ve come here and involved Connor again.Stupid, stupid, stupid…
“Tilly!” I hear Connor speaking, but I can’t bring myself to look at him. I’m too far gone.
“…stupid, stupid,” I mutter without meaning to.
“Hey, Tilly, stop.” Connor grabs my wrists and forces my hands away from my face. I let my filthy hair fall in front of my face as a barrier, but he just holds my wrists in one hand and brushes my hair away with the other. “Tilly, look at me.”
“I’m so sorry,” I sob. “I’m so fucking stupid… stupid, stupid…” I try to pull my hands away from his grasp, but his hold is too tight. I struggle for a few seconds before admitting defeat.
“Tilly, I don’t know what’s going on, and you’re worrying me. What exactly are you apologising for?” Connor’s tone is calm, soothing. He leans in when he speaks to me, and I smell his comforting scent. Like a creep, I take a deep sniff and immediately feel the effects. My racing heart starts to slow. My lungs don’t burn as much as oxygen finally starts to fill them. My tears slow down.
“I’m sorry for coming here,” I finally say. “I shouldn’t have bothered you. I’m so stupid…”
“Stop that,” Connor says firmly. My wrists still wrapped in one of his hands, presumably so I don’t hurt myself. He uses his other to cup my cheek, careful not to touch my bruise. “You’re not stupid, so stop trying to convince yourself that you are. And as for bothering me…” He huffs a disbelieving breath and gently turns my face so our eyes meet. “Do you have any idea how many times I’ve stared at that front door and wished you’d walk through it? How many times I’ve thought about turning up outside your house or work just so I could see you?”
Connor traces a gentle finger over my bruised eye and flinches when he examines the cut disappearing into my hair.
“Now that I see this, I wish I had,” he continues quietly. “I should have looked out for you better, Til, I’m so sorry. But he won’t get away with it. As soon as I get you settled at home, I’ll sort this.”
The rage filtering back into his voice scares me. Not that I think he would hurt me, but I definitely think he would hurt Rhys, and I can’t have Connor getting into trouble over me.
“It’s not like that,” I try to argue, but my head is banging so much it’s hard to speak.
“It’s okay, you don’t have to defend him…”
“No, he didn’t touch me,” I say, my eyes closing at the pain.
Connor holds my face between his hands. “Promise me?”
I nod weakly. “I promise.”
Connor pulls me forward into his chest, and I melt into him, feeling a hundred times better already. He holds me tightly and I feel his chest rise and fall against mine. I try to match my breathing to his, and I’m soon calm. Well, as calm as can be expected, given the circumstances.
“Let me take you home?” I stiffen at the word ‘home’, assuming he means the home I shared with Rhys. Sensing myunease, he adds quickly, “Ourhome. Please let me look after you, Tilly. Let me take you home and keep you safe?”
I nod into his shoulder.
“Good.” Connor gives me a squeeze of approval but makes no move to let me go. “You’re going to have to tell me what the hell happened to you soon you know, Tilly? Because every time I see that bruise on your beautiful face, I want to smash something, and that something might end up being Rhys’s face.”
“It wasn’t his fault. I fell at the gym, Rhys wasn’t even there.”
I don’t know if it’s the trauma of the day, my head injury or being so comfortable in Connor’s arms, but my eyes start to get heavy, and I have to stifle a yawn.
“Right,” Connor says, noticing how tired I am. “Let’s get you home to bed.”
“Aren’t you in the middle of a shift?” I ask, suddenly panicking. I can’t have Connor losing his job over my silly problems.
Connor stands up and waves a hand dismissively. “I never use my holiday time, and I haven’t had a sick day since I started here. They owe me. Now come on, sleepyhead.” He pulls me up and supports me with an arm around my back, letting his hand fall on my waist.
“You don’t have to do that, I’m too—”
“If you say ‘heavy’ I’m going to be livid,” he says, giving me a serious look.
