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A few of the ladies in the main room bend slightly to check him out. I don’t blame them. If I am being honestwith myself, I’m jealous. He was kissing me a few nights ago and texting me every night before bed.He’s mine.
What?My eyes widen in surprise at my own thoughts. It seems my conversation with Bristol and my subsequent card readings the other night had a bigger impact on me than I thought. Connor is a nice guy with an amazing ass, but this is a fresh start for me. I need to make better choices and learn to make decisions based on what’s best for my daughter.
But you agreed to go on a date with him.
So? We’ve been talking for days, and he hasn’t mentioned the kiss or our date once. If he. was really interested in me, he’d be champing at the bit to go out with me, wouldn’t he? When I met Ian, he was persistent without being pushy. He did everything he could to ensure I didn’t forget that he wanted something more from me than friendship. The exact opposite of Connor. Sure, he kissed me, and we’ve engaged in some light flirting over the past few days, but he hasn’t made a move for something more.
Connor isn’t Ian.
I’m fully aware of that fact in more ways than one. Ian was always nice to Love and never made her feel unwelcome, even going as far as choosing to stay in instead of going out on dates to include her. However, in hindsight, I doubt he did it out of the kindness of his heart. We were his dirty little secret, the last thing he needed was word getting back to his wife about the other woman he was hiding. Connor asked me out and thenimmediately asked my daughter’s permission. There’s no doubt in my mind that if Love had told him he couldn’t date me, he’d have been disappointed but would have respected her decision.
“Can I get a little help, beautiful?” Connor groans, bringing me back to the present.
My eyes lock on his body as he sways from left to right, making it clear that there is something very wrong with him. He shakes his head a few times before reaching his hand toward me.
“We need to get you to the hospital.” I push to my feet and head toward him, gripping his arm to help him stand. He sways again, his large body leaning against mine for support. It takes a few tries, but I get him to his feet.
“The closest hospital is about twenty minutes away. It’s nothing serious. I should be fine after some painkillers and ice.” Connor groans loudly as I wrap his arm around my shoulders and move slowly toward the door.
“Nonsense! You more than likely have a concussion, but who knows what else could be wrong? I doubt you broke anything important, but better safe than sorry. I’m taking you, and that’s final.”
Connor’s green eyes blaze as he pulls his arm from my grasp, standing to his full height. “I said I was fine, Audrey.”
“And if Jade would have fallen like that? Would you let her go home without seeing a doctor?” A few of the ladies snicker at his expense.
“She’s got you there. You made Jade go to thehospital for a splinter when she was six. You swore it would get infected, and they’d have to cut her finger off,” Mrs. Johnson, a woman in my class, chimes in from beside me.
“See! We’re going. Luckily, I’m finished for the day.” I turn toward the ladies in my class. “Can one of you give Bristol a call and let her know that I’m taking Connor to the hospital?”
“No problem, Audrey. Now, you go take care of your man.”
“He isn’t…” I begin but decide against it. I’ve learned that fighting with the old ladies in my seniors’ yoga class is a losing battle. The moment I stepped into class, they knew everything there was to know about me and then some. “Thank you.”
“You help Connor to your car, and I’ll grab your bag from the back.” Mrs. Johnson gives my shoulder a squeeze before heading toward the break room.
“We need to find someone to grab the girls after dance class. If we’re going to the emergency room, there’s no way we’ll be back in time.”
I pull my bottom lip between my teeth, trying to figure out what to do here. I could call Bristol to grab Love from class, but she isn’t feeling well. I’m sure the last thing she wants to do is get out of bed to come get Love. Leia is out of town for a business meeting, so she is out. Selina would probably hang out with her for a little while after class, but I’m not sure how long we will be in the emergency room.
“I can see the wheels turning in your head. I’ll call Vance and ask him to grab both girls from class. He can bring them back to my house until we get back.”
“Vance? As in Selina’s Vance?” I question as I shuffle him toward the door. “That doesn’t seem like a good idea.”
“Selina and Vance need a push in the right direction. Jade and Love are exactly what the two of them need,” Mrs. Johnson says as she heads for the door, holding it open as I help Connor outside to my car. “As soon as I get you two on your way, I’ll head over to Selina’s and let her know what’s going on.”
“Selina will never forgive us for unleashing Vance on her,” Connor mutters as we amble toward my car.
“It’s easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission.”
“I don’t know if I’ll even fit in that thing,” Connor complains.
“You’ll fit, don’t worry. You aren’t that tall.” Mrs. Johnson clicks the unlock button on my key fob before opening the passenger-side door for Connor. It takes a few minutes, but I get him inside and his seat belt buckled. As I stand up and shut the door, I stifle a snort. Connor was right. He looks like a sardine stuffed inside my Kia Optima. I give Mrs. Johnson a quick hug as she hands me my bag, and I promise to call to let her know when we find out what is going on before hopping into thecar myself.
“I told you I wouldn’t fit.” Connor moves slightly, attempting to get comfortable.
“You fit. If you push the seat back some, maybe it will be a little more comfortable.” I pull out my phone and shoot Love a text, letting her know about the change of plans before asking Connor for directions.
“Just head down Main Street to find the entrance to the highway. There are signs telling you where to go from there.”
