Connor froze. I jumped when Theo punched Robbie. Robbie wasn’t expecting it and went down with the punch. Matt sprang forward to stop Theo following through with anymore punches. “You donottalk to her again, or I’ll do more than punch you, now fuck off.” Theo growled down at him.
Matt had his hand on Theo’s arm but I could see it was tentative hold, I don’t think he would have stopped anything else from happening. Meanwhile Connor was looking at me. In that moment I sawmyConnor, the 15-year-old Connor who made me laugh and love him. His eyes were bright, as I realised, he had tears in his eyes.
“Jeff’s dead?” He came towards me, I nodded as my own tears spilled over. He had me in his arms in a moment and wrapped them around me. I sank against him for just an instant. He let me go, I nodded I was ok. Connor turned to Corey, he raised his hands helplessly.
“Of course, you should go and catch up.” I looked at her, she seemed genuine, she smiled at me in sympathy. “I’m so sorry for your loss,” she murmured then she kissed Connor swiftly on the cheek, turned and walked away.
Robbie looked at me in defeat, whilst rubbing his jaw. “Sorry Elle.” He too walked away. Theo continued to glare after him before turning back to us.
That left the four of us in the middle of the campus, we had attracted a small crowd I realised. I cringed, so much for keeping my head down.
Connor clapped his hands together to get our attention. “Family meeting, right now.” With that he slung his arm round Theo’s shoulder and started to walk away. I looked after them as Theo chuckled at something Connor said.
How had this become my day?
Matt tugged me after him as he went to follow Connor and Theo, I had classes to get to. I couldn’t do this, I wanted to tear out of Matt’s grip and run in the other direction. Connor glanced over his shoulder at me and smiled. A proper genuine Connor Dawson smile, I felt something loosen in my chest, maybe this would be ok.
“Come on Ari, we’ll get a coffee and we can talk,” he offered gently. I looked at Matt, nodded and we followed them.
We settled into a back corner of the coffee shop, where ironically, I had first met Robbie. Now Robbie was one of the reasons we were all together.
“So?” Connor started. “Want to tell me what’s been happening?” His voice was low and he took my hand loosely. I looked up at him slowly, there was nothing but concern and love there, not the possessive domineering Connor that had been present the last few times I had seen him. Once again, I quickly outlined the last eight months.
When I retold what happened to my dad, Connor gripped my hand as he shed his own tears at my dad’s passing.
I picked up my now cold coffee and took a drink. I met his gaze and he quickly wiped a tear from my face.
“You should have called us, we would have been there. You shouldn’t have done this alone. You needed us and you should have called.” His words were low but I could tell he was slightly mad at me, much like Matt and Theo had been. No. They weren’t mad at me, they were mad at the choice I had made to exclude them and if I was honest, I had needed them.
“I couldn’t call, not after...” I started but trailed off, I cowardly looked out of the window not meeting anyone’s eyes.
“Not after I found you making out with my brother at your mother’s funeral you mean?” Connor said.
I swivelled to look at him. “Jesus Con, just shout it out eh!” I whispered furiously.
He threw his head back and laughed. “C’mon Ari, you need to lighten up. It’s done, Cole and I are fine, it’s over with, move on.” He shrugged.
Worthless little tramp.
“You’re not mad at me?” I was hesitant to look at him as I recalled her words.
Connor looked at me and his smile was gentle, he looked at both Matt and Theo quickly and shrugged again. “I was furious at the time, I couldn’t believe it, thought you and Cole had been sneaking behind my back. I mean c’mon, you two looked pretty serious when I walked in. I couldn’t believe that was the first time it had happened. Plus, the thing with that bitch, your mother, all you had wanted was Cole beside you. Cole or Matt. When I saw you guys on the bed, you half undressed and added to how super protective Cole was of you, I flipped.”
“They were actually on the bed?” Theo whispered to Matt, I saw Matt grimace and give a half-hearted acknowledgment.
Theo looked at me and whistled under his breath. I narrowed my eyes at him. He winked. I felt myself turn scarlet.
Connor laughed again.
“Its fine, Ari. It’s in the past, we move on. I just wish you would have called us, we would have been there for you.”
I just stared at Connor, this wasn’t the Connor I knew, or the Connor he had been a year ago. Hell, this wasn’t even the Connor that had been outside fifteen minutes ago. I took another sip of my coffee. Jesus, it really was cold. There’s a huge difference between iced coffee and coffee gone cold and not because it is missing ice. I pushed the cup away sighing.
“What now?” I asked.
Looking at all three of them. Two blonde and one dark. All gorgeous, all staring back at me. There was also a huge presence missing at the table even though the boys were squeezed around the table.
“Does Cole know?” Connor asked. He was acting so casual but his hand tightened on his mug, no one else would notice but we knew him and Matt tensed slightly.