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The glares that Ryan and Kat give me send chills down my spine.
“I swear to you. I’m fine. He will not hurt me,” I say. “Will you, Andy?”
He nods his head in agreement.
“If he touches you again, I will never forgive you and I will kill him.” Ryan levels me with a look of pure disgust.
She grabs Kat’s hand and pulls her out behind her. Kat’s protests become muffled once the front door is closed.
Andy and I stare at each other for what could be moments or hours, my head still spinning from the day’s events. He strolls over to sit next to me like it’s just another day. I shoot up from the spot I’ve been in since Kat brought me here this morning. I can’t be this close to him; my body is physically revolting at the thought.
“Andy, I don’t know what the hell has gotten into you. What has changed in the last five years to turn you into such a monster?”
I’m pacing back and forth in front of the couch. My filter is lacking, and I know it’s dangerous for me to be so bold with him, especially alone right now, but I can’t stop myself.
“I don’t know. I thought I wanted to be with Naomi and with you. I thought I needed to experience more.” His voice is shaking. “Hadley, I am so sorry. I don’t know what’s been coming over me. Please. Don’t give up on me here. I will make it up to you, however you want. Please, baby girl.”
I say nothing for a few moments, my stomach turning when he calls me “baby girl.” This desperate begging, it’s not a good look for him.
“You need to go to therapy.” I break the silence. “Nothing about your actions is even remotely okay, you asshole. I will not be your punching bag.” As I say the words, my heart breaks. “I don’t want to lose Connor, and if he is willing to continue afriendship with me, I will stay friends with him. He means more to me than I can express to you. And you? You need to end things with Naomi.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
CONNOR
I haven’t been able to get a hold of Hadley for a few days. Her phone is going to voicemail. I’ve been trying to allow her space, but this has been painful. I have a terrible feeling rooted deep in my bones, my gut telling me that something isn’t right. I grab my phone from my desk and scroll back to the group text I had with Ryan and Kat when they helped me with our date.
Connor:
Howya, ladies. Have you heard from Hadley? Her phone has been going to voicemail for several days.
Kat:
You should go check on her.
Ryan:
Yeah, what Pickle said.
My heart drops to my stomach at their response. I snatch my keys from my desk before jumping to my feet and head to mycar. Once inside, my mind is racing with how our conversation ended when I last saw her. My imagination is on overdrive, picturing all types of scenarios, none of them good.
I ignore every single light and stop sign, not giving a shite about any traffic laws until I am parked behind her car in the driveway, blocking her in. I push my door open harder than necessary, shutting it just as hard behind me, and race to the front door, halting when I am close enough to ring the bell. There’s no answer for several moments, so I knock, hard. Internally, I know I must look like a psychopath out here, but I am so in love with this woman. I’m terrified of losing her.
I finally see movement through the closed curtains. The door cracks open and I see dark purple and yellow blotches through the hair she has curtaining her face. I push my way in as gently as I can to make sure I don’t hurt her again.
“Mo ghrá,” I gasp.
She says nothing, just stares at me with glassy eyes from the tears she’s trying not to shed.
“Mo ghrá. What did he do to you, beautiful? Are you okay? Obviously not, but have you been to a doctor to make sure you don’t have a concussion or any broken bones?” I pepper her with question after question.
Then her hair falls away from her face and I see the extent of how bad it is: her eye is nearly swollen shut, the entire side of her face is covered in a bruise, and there is a cut near her eyebrow.
“Is this why you haven’t been answering my calls or texts?”
“Connor” she sobs, falling into my chest.
My name on her lips is usually one of my favorite sounds, but as she sobs, it breaks my heart.
