Page 43 of Protective Love

With the way things are going?

Does that mean that she's interested in me too?

Has she also had the realisation that we've started to grow closer and bond since she's been here or am I just being delusional and imagining things?

I would ask her, but now isn't the time because I'm still waiting for her to answer my original question and I can already tell that she's slightly uncomfortable, I don't want to push her any further.

"I'm running from the life that I lived in Ireland," she says, giving me an extremely vague answer.

"You want to elaborate on that?" I ask softly.

She shrugs and her teary eyes peer around the room.

"I was in a bad situation. I had been for years, and I was hiding it, pretending that everything was okay because for some reason, I believed that it was. My mind was constantly scrambled, I knew what was right and what was wrong, but at the time, I guess the lines got blurred." She pauses, her eyes falling back to mine and she frowns. "Looking back at it now, I think I was just scared, and I didn't know what to do or who to turn to. Thankfully, Chrissie, my best friend,was an observant person, and she helped me realise that I needed to leave."

"Is she the one that recommended you the book?" I ask, giving her an option to change the subject if she needs to.

I think she realises my intention because her shoulders slump in relief and she smiles at me as she sighs.

"Yeah. She's currently pregnant, so she's been reading a lot because, apparently, her husband Nathan is treating her like she's fragile at the moment and he doesn't want her doing anything."

My brows raise as that information seems to spark a thought inside of my mind.

"Is that normal?"

"What?"

"For the guy to become overwhelming and protective when their lady's pregnant?"

"I guess so," she replies, shrugging again. "I've never really been around people that have had kids yet."

"Yeah, me neither," I mumble distractedly, thinking about how Kaleb was with Sophia earlier.

"I am excited for her though," she says, drawing me back into reality. "I can't wait to buy loads of clothes for the baby. I usually avoid that section whenever I'm in the supermarket, because obviously I don't need to be there, but also because I find baby clothes so cute that I'd probably spend an hour in that section alone just looking at all the cute little outfits."

"Will you go back to Ireland then?" I ask, selfishly hoping she says no.

A crease forms between her brows, and she shakes her head.

"As of right now, no. Hopefully soon, but I'm not sure. There's a lot that needs to be sorted out before I could ever return there."

A mix of emotions flood through me—relief, joy, sorrow.

I can see that it's upsetting to her that she may not be able to return, and I assume it's something to do with her past situation, but I can't help but feel hopeful that she'll have to stick around here for longer so that we can continue getting to know each other.

Honestly, with the recent declarations that have been made, maybe I could even follow her back to Ireland when it's time for her to return.

I'm not needed here anymore.

Maybe my new purpose is to be there for her and help her through everything that's troubling her.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Rory

Aweek has passed since I confided in Jaylen about why I moved to London. Although I was vague with the information I gave him, I think he understands what I'm running from.

He hasn't mentioned anything about it since, which I'm grateful for, and I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.