Page 4 of Broken Hero
She blows me a kiss. “Love you too.” She sighs and nods to the big guy. “I wonder what’s happened to him. You can feel the sadness oozing from him, can’t you?”
I know exactly what she means. You can almost feel his pain. It's not nice.
“I don't know what’s happened, but he’s not in a good place, that's for sure. I wonder if he lives alone?”
“Dunno, maybe he has a wife and kids at home.” She suggests.
“We’ll see, I guess, but I doubt it.”
“Night, babe.” She says and shuts the car door. I watch her get safely inside.
––––––––
WE GET TO HIS ADDRESSfive minutes later. It’s dark, but I can see that it’s a semi-detached house in a typical decent neighbourhood. There is a four-wheeled drive parked outside, nice enough, nothing flashy. The house is in total darkness, so if someone else does live there, they're in bed. Great. I guess it’s on me to get him inside. I'm not short at 5.9, but there’s no way I could carry this guy. Yoga and swimming may be good for fitness, but I'm not Captain Marvel.
Time to wake him up. I nudge him...nothing.
I shake him a bit more this time...nothing.
Sighing as I climb out of the car, I walk around to his side. His arm slides out as I open the door, but I manage to grab it and pat him on the cheek. “Come on, Big Guy, time to go.”
He grunts a little. At least he seems to be stirring.
The taxi driver speaks. “Hurry him up, love, I don't have all night.”
I throw him daggers through the back of his seat. Hurry him up? How the hell am I supposed to do that? “Yeah, I’ll get right on that. Don't worry, he has money you’ll get paid.”
Big Guy - who I've found out from his licence is called Declan - lifts his head and opens his eyes. He looks right at me. “You.”
I nod. “Yeah, me. Come on, we need to get you home.”
He manages to get his feet out of the cab and stands. He sways a little and falls back onto the taxi.
I bend back into the taxi to speak to the driver. “I’ll have to see him in. Please wait for me - you can charge waiting time.”
“Oh, don't you worry, I will.” He mutters.
I bend down to slide under his armpit so that I can throw his arm around my shoulders. I slide my hand around his waist and try to get him to put one foot in front of the other, trying not to notice again how good he feels.
“She can fuck off. I didn't need her anyway.”
Oh dear - I'm taking it he’s been dumped. On instinct, I would say who the hell would dump this guy, but then, heistotally damaged - he may be attractive but has something going on inside that I wouldn't touch with a barge pole.
“Nevermind, you're better off without her,” I say in a placating voice.
He straightens up and scowls at me. “What do you know? Do you know she was fucking perfect? No, you don't. You're someone that goes to Jack every time he whistles. She was better than that, and she was all mine.”
Okay, so he may be a total arsehole. “Are you really giving me grief when I'm practically holding you up right now? I can step away and let you crash to the floor, and you can make your own damned way to the front door.”
“I'm sorry...I'm so sorry, I love her. That's it for me - I’ll never love anyone else.”
“Good to know. I won't go falling for you then.” I inwardly roll my eyes, I need to get to this front door and quick.
We finally get there after what feels like an hour. “Do you have a key?”
“Pocket.” He mutters as he braces his spare hand on the wall so as not to fall over.
Jesus. I tentatively slide my hand in his jeans pocket, trying not to touch or graze anything that I shouldn't. My fingers touch metal, with relief, I draw the key out. I hope he doesn't have an alarm. I unlock the door, swing it open, and get back under his arm to help him manoeuvre through his front door.
