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"Is it okay to eat here?"
"Sure," Eli said, glancing up at her. He stretched out on the couch, one arm behind his head. "I eat in here all the time."
"Thanks."
Holly curled up with the tea and toast on the opposite couch and got lost in the action movie on the big screen.
Fifteen minutes later, she scratched her shoulder, then winced when her arm started to sting. Lifting her sleeve, she found the beginning of a bruise. A gift from Baseball Hat guy.
Eli sucked in a breath and shot up off the couch as she slid her sleeve back down. "What the hell was that?"
Holly set down her tea. "What? I didn't hear anything."
"No. On your arm." He stared at her. "What the hell was that, Holly?"
"Nothing," she said quickly. "It's nothing."
Eli sat down next to her. "If it's nothing, then show me."
Letting out a ragged sigh, she slid her sleeve up.
"Those are finger marks. Imprints of someone's fingers, Wilkes." His voice was eerily quiet. "Who did this to you?"
"I don't want to talk about it," she mumbled, her voice wavering.
Son of a bitch. She didn't want to lose it. Not here. Not in front of him.
"Holly."
His voice was kind and gentle, and her eyes welled up at the sound.
"I need to know if someone hurt you, honey."
"Why? I don't need you fighting my battles for me."
"Please, Holly. Just tell me."
She took a few deep breaths and glanced down at the floor as she fought back tears.
"If I talk about this, I'm going to cry," Holly said, still unable to look at him. "And I fucking hate crying."
* * *
Eli stared at her, his stomach churning. "Please talk to me."
Holly bowed her head, focusing her gaze on the floor as if she couldn't bear to look at him. She took a few more deep breaths before speaking.
"It happened today, right after you messaged me to pick you up. I left the coffee shop and went outside. A group of guys had gathered around your car, admiring it. When I approached, one of them got rude and mouthy."
"What did he say?"
"He asked me what—or who—I did to afford such a nice car." She paused, wrapping her arms around her middle. "I told him to move, and he asked what I was going to do about it."
Mother fucking piece of shit asshole.
"I said if he didn't move, I'd scream. He told me if I did, he'd throw me in the car and give me something to scream about. Seven inches, in fact." She gritted her teeth. "He fucking wishes."
Eli closed his eyes and blew out a breath, biting the inside of his cheek to keep his rage in check. If he'd been there, he would have ended this guy. Fucking ended him.
