Murph just shook his head and pursed his lips. The truth is, I’m happy for the big lug. He’s one of those people that always goes out of his way for everybody else and it’s nice to see people like that find the happiness they deserve.
We made some more small talk while chowing down on some burritos then I left to pick Hadlee up from work. This is a constant battle between us.
“I don’t need you to drive me!” she’ll insist. “I can drive my damn self to work!”
“I’m driving you,” is what I always respond with, “end of story.” The truth is I don’t demand to drive her because I’m trying to keep her from doing her own thing, I drive her because of that slimy prick of a boss she has. He’s always grabbing at her and trying to flirt with her. Even in front of me.
I tell you what, it takes everything in me not to get out of my car and punch that fucker in the jaw. By the time Hadlee gets into the passenger seat, I’m clenching my jaw and cracking my knuckles. There have been a few times where I commented, “You know, they don’t call me Right-Hook Reilly for nothing.”
Hadlee just shakes her head, lets out a breath and answers me with, “Control your temper.”
She’s so calm about it. You’d think that everything she’s been through that she wouldn’t be. Honestly, she’s the only reason why I do control my temper. If it was up to me, that mother-fucker Ryan would have been knocked out cold at least a dozen times already.
She laces her fingers through mine as we walk toward the condo.
My breath hitches.
I stare at her as vibrant smile spreads across her lips.
Sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever get sick of looking at her. Sometimes I wonder if the love I have for her will fade. Somehow, I doubt it. Out of all the women I’ve been with she’s the only one I’ve ever said those three monumental words to. And I can’t help it if she puts my mind in a whirl.
Makes my heart beat a little faster.
Sets my soul on fire until it’s so engulfed flames that I’m almost ashes.
We’re about twelve feet away from the glass doors when I hear it.
“Boy-o!”
Fuck.
My spine stiffens.
I squeeze Hadlee’s hand. I stop walking. She comes to a halt beside me. “Sean, what’s the matter?” she asks. There’s only one person who calls me boy-o and that’s Connie. “Sean, is something wrong?” she probes again.
I can’t tell her. I don’t want her to know anything about Connie except that he’s like a father-figure to me.
I can’t tell her about the brotherhood or the drug running or anything else involving that part of my life. I know there’s probably a big part of her that resents me for keeping quiet about so much, but what she doesn’t understand and what she’ll probably never understand is that I’m doing it to protect her.
Connie’s footsteps are closing in on us.
Panic grasps my insides and latches on for dear life.
I keep my eyes glued to the pavement, refusing to turn around and look at Connie. I release Hadlee’s hand, place my left hand on her shoulder and push her towards the door. “Get inside.” I make sure my voice is low because I don’t want Connie to notice that anything is up, even though he probably already does. That asshole doesn’t miss a fucking thing.
I glance up at Hadlee out of the corner of my eye. She’s wearing a puzzled look and I continue to shove her gently in the direction of the door. “What? Sean,” she pauses, “I don’t understand.”
I put a little more force into my voice, “Just get inside.”
“Sean—I.”
“Get inside!”
With that she leaves me on the sidewalk. When she gets to the door she glances at me from over her shoulder. “I don’t understand.”
“Just go to your old condo,” I tell her. I give her an urgent look then watch as she obeys, walking through the door and scurrying down the hall.
She knocks on the door and the second the door opens and she walks inside I can feel him behind me.