Page 25 of Saving Ren
I turn and look at Cooper, who’s looking back at me wearing a frown. I scratch my head as I ponder both the questions posed by my brothers.
“I do not have a clue what’s going on with me because yes, I think I do still want to get involved, even with all the drama she’s got going on.” I address both of them.
“I knew it. You gave Alysa Hawkins the flick earlier, so I knew you liked her.” Zac nods his head towards the dance floor.
“Her name’s Lauren,” I inform him.
“She’s gonna be a mess, Gabe. You sure you’re up for that? Don’t fuck the girl about if you’re not.”
My eyes meet Cooper’s. “Don’t doubt me, brother. I like her. Fucking women about is not my thing. I do everything I can to set them straight, not my fault they get their knickers in a knot when they’re trying to put them back on, but this one’s different. I like her. I don’t know much more than that, I just know that something feels different about her. I like her, and if it’s what I’ve gotta do, then I’ll wait until she’s ready.”
My gaze slides to Zac as he examines his beer bottle. “What the fuck is in this stuff? I think it’s got me tripping, or did Gabe just admit to liking a woman and that he’s willing to wait for her to be ready?”
“Get fucked,” I tell him as he throws his arm around my shoulders and pulls me into him.
“Didn’t we tell you earlier that you’ll know when it hits?”
“You did,” I admit while trying to push Zac away. “But I don’t know if this is that, or what it even is. It just is, and I’m gonna run with it and see where it takes me.”
“Thanks for the drinks and everything tonight, Gabe, I’m heading off now.” Lauren, flushed from her antics on the dance floor, smiles in front of me. Most of the makeup she was wearing earlier has been rubbed from her face, and I instantly notice the light blue and green bruising along her jaw.
I open my mouth to say something, but I’m not entirely sure what I should say. My gut churns, and the alcohol buzz has been replaced by something else. A strange vibration hums through me, making my fingertips tingle.
“You getting a cab? I’ll walk you to the rank,” I offer.
“No, that’s fine, the girls are with me.”
I study her smile, wondering what it’s hiding. She hasn’t realised her makeup has been wiped away and that her bruises are on show, and that makes me feel so fucking sad. She’s cute and funny, with just the right amount of sass, and why anyone would want to hurt her, I have no idea. I don’t want to point the bruises out and embarrass her, but I also can’t let her leave here without knowing exactly what it is she has going on in her life.
“I’m leaving now anyway; I’ll walk with you.”
“Pussay,” Zac coughs the word into his hand, Coop says nothing because he sees exactly what I am.
“Dude,” he leans in and says into my ear.
“I know. I know, I see it.” My eyes remain on the girls as they put on their coats and jackets in front of us.
As Lauren pushes her arm through the sleeve of her leather jacket, the cuff of her blouse rides up, and that’s when I see she has more bruises around her wrist.
“Man, that’s just fucked up,” Cooper says.
My mouth fills with saliva, and for a moment I think I’m going to vomit. Someone’s obviously been putting their hands on her, and I’m pretty convinced that someone is her husband, and that would explain why she’s leaving him.
My head spins as I try and work out exactly what to do with this information, especially as she’s still oblivious that I know.
“I’m gonna walk with the girls to the taxi rank, then head home. I’ll see you at Carroll’s at six?”
After agreeing on a time for a morning meet with my brothers, I say my goodbyes and make my way outside with the girls. Without a word, I grab Lauren’s hand and walk at a slower pace, so we fall behind the others.
“You got my card, right?” I ask.
“Yep, put it in my pocket.”
“Use it for anything. Whatever you need, you need help with something, call me. I don’t pick up, leave a message, or text me. My office number’s on there as well.”
“Thanks, I will,” she says quietly as she walks while staring down at the pavement. I give her hand a squeeze before I stop walking and pull her against me. Head tilted back, wide blue eyes darting over my face, I look down and realise just how short she is. Why the fuck would anyone want to hurt her? Keeping my gaze pinned to hers, I focus on not letting them wander to the blue and green staining her jawline.
“Don’t wait until you’ve got your shit together. Call me tomorrow and let me know what happens with you moving out, or if you need help with that, just, for whatever reason, call me will ya please, Lauren?”
