Page 57 of He's the One

They sat on uncomfortable vinyl chairs and Dominic leaned in. “What happened to you? It looks recent.”

“It’s a long story.”

Dominic checked a non-existent watch. “I don’t have any pressing appointments.”

“Robert turned out to be married with kids. How did you know that night that I’d broken up with him?”

“Something in your voice. It was a guess.”

“I walked out and he wasn’t happy. I told him not to tell his wife but he left her for me. He was shocked I didn’t still want him. Wanker. In the midst of all that, I lost my job. I think because my boss was told I was having an affair with a married man or maybe because the estate manager at the place where I was working decided he didn’t want me around. I moved home to be with Mum and Dad.”

“Do they send their love?” Dominic’s eyes looked so dark.

“What do you think?”

His brother huffed. “Iamgrateful to them. They’ve been good to you.”

But they don’t think you’re good for me.“Anyway, I was at Asquith Hall’s Autumn Show, under pressure from Mum, and Robert turned up. There was a promises auction at the end of the day and he bid for my offer of a day’s stonemasonry work. He didn’t win and stormed off. He was waiting when I got back to my car and he hit me. I banged my head and then someone knocked me out.”

“Someone? Not him?”

“A friend came to help me and I told him I’d heard Robert’s wife, but when I came round, I couldn’t remember that. I spent last night in hospital. I gave a statement to the police this morning, but they aren’t going to pursue the assault. It’s my word against his. But theyaregoing to give Robert a harassment notice, so if he tries anything else, they’ll take action. I’m not supposed to tell anyone but it isn’t as if you’re going to. Anyway, I don’t think he’ll do anything else. He won’t want to risk his reputation.” Col looked up at him.

Dominic listened with his fists clenched. “Can you really not remember?”

Col shook his head and risked reaching out to stroke Dominic’s knuckles. “It’s okay.”

“It is not fucking okay,” Dominic said under his breath.

“Don’t look so…”

“Murderous?” Dominic said quietly. “It’s a good thing for him that I’m in here.”

“Sshh.” Col glanced at the guard, though he didn’t appear to be paying attention. “You look like a breeze would knock you over.”

His brother smiled. “We know size doesn’t matter if you’re determined enough.”

Col gulped.

“Who’s the friend who came to help you?”

“Theo. He drove me here today.”

Dominic’s eyes widened. “Does he know who you are? Who I am?”

“He’s the first person I’ve told since I went into care.”

A muscle ticked in Dominic’s cheek. “You like him.”

“You’d like him too. There’s only one downside.”

“What?”

“He’s the son of a marquess and his parents want him to marry a woman.”

For a moment, his brother said nothing, then asked, “Eldest son?”

“No, but his older brother has been missing for ten years in South America.”

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