“You need to work on your communication skills. Because I’m pretty sure you said Ican’tstay here.”
He blew out a breath. “Holly, this place doesn’t look safe.” There, she couldn’t say he was telling her what to do now.
“It doesn’t look so bad,” she said, but her forehead furrowed.
Then the door to the hostel flung open and a man with dishevelled clothes and messy, dirty brown hair stumbled out almost bumping into Holly.
“Shorry,” the guy slurred. He reeked of alcohol and vomit. “Got any smokes?”
“No.” Holly gave the man a tight smile.
“No worries,” the guy said and staggered back inside. Probably forgetting why he’d come outside in the first place.
“Holly, please don’t stay here. I’ll take you back to my mother’s place.” The rowdy group had moved on. It didn’t mean this area was any safer. And judging from the drunk who’d tripped outside, it wasn’t safe inside either.
For her to be looking at hostels, Ethan assumed she couldn’t afford anything much better. Ethan knew what it was like to scrape up enough money to get by. It wasn’t fun and was the worst time of his life. He would never have survived without his family. He didn’t like to think that Holly had no family or friends to turn to in the city and had resorted to staying in a dump like this. Earlier, she’d closed up like a clam when he’d asked about them. There must be more to the story, something she didn’t want to discuss. What was she hiding? It was her business, and he wouldn’t press her for more details. For now, he needed to get her somewhere safe.
She twisted a ring on her finger not looking at all like she wanted to rent a room here. “It’s one in the morning. I don’t want to disturb her.”
“Then stay with me.”
She gave a surprised laugh. “Stay with you? I don’t think so.”
“Why not?”
“Because if I go home with you,” she waved a hand back and forth between them, “things might happen. And I already told you the kiss was a mistake.”
As much as he’d like for her to share his bed with him, he said, “I have a spare room. I promise to behave.”
“I’m grateful for the offer, but I don’t trust myself around you. I might not behave.”
The comment made him want to smile with satisfaction but he held it back and kept his face neutral. “My brother’s staying with me.”
“Still no. Still might not behave… There’s another place up the road I can try,” Holly said, taking out her phone and beginning to scroll.
“If money’s an issue, let me pay for a room at a decent hotel for you.”
“Uh-uh.” She shook her head.
“You can pay me back.” Not that he’d want her to. She seemed too proud to take the offer.
“I don’t want to owe anyone money.”
She was set on her answer, so it only left him with one other option. “My sister Chloe has a room. She’d be happy to take you in.”
Holly frowned. “You’re making me sound like I’m a stray dog. I’ll be fine at the next place.”
“If you won’t let me help you, at least let me walk you to the hostel.”
She cocked her head to the side like she wanted to tell him she didn’t need his help. Then she glanced along the dark street, her expression grew wary. “Fine, if it will make you feel better.”
He bit back a grin.
They walked a few metres up the road in silence. They passed dingy nightclubs with music thumping out onto the streets, multi-coloured neon signs flashing in shopfronts and the smell of greasy pizza wafted through the air until they reached the next backpacker’s hostel. This place was even worse with its peeling paint and broken windows. And the stench! It was like every man and his dog had taken a piss against the wall.
Holly’s shoulders slumped as she took in the site of the boarded-up window.
“My sister will love having you,” he said gently, trying not to get her back up again.
