Page 26 of Saving Ren

She pulls her head back and tilts it to the side. With her perfect brows pulled down into a frown, she looks between me and her friends.

“Did Jo say something to you?”

So, Jo knows what’s going on? She’ll be the first person I’ll be calling in the morning, maybe even tonight. I’m not sure what she must see in my face, but she pushes her hands against my chest and tries to pull away.

“I don’t fucking need this. . .”

“Don’t,” I cut her off. “No one said anything. Your makeup has rubbed off your face.”

Her hand instantly moves from where it was pushing against me to the side of her face.

“I can see the bruises, Lauren. Then when you put your jacket on, your sleeve rode up.”

“Stop.” Her lips tremble, and she turns her head away from me. “Just fucking stop.”

I hate that I’ve made her cry, but I need her to know I want to help—need to help.

“Who did it, Lauren? Is your husband putting his hands on you? Is that why you’re leaving him?”

“None of your . . .”

“Yeah, nah. See, that’s where you’re wrong,” I interrupt her again. “No matter where this goes, I’ve seen the bruises. Whatever goes on between us, even if it goes nowhere, if he’s putting his hands on you and causing those bruises, then me and him are gonna have a problem, a big fucking problem.”

When she tilts her face up to meet mine, tears coat her cheeks.

My hands instinctively go to her hips. I don’t pull her closer, I just hold her in place.

“I’ve got this. I’m getting out. I’m leaving him. Not that any of this has anything to do with you. He’s not your problem, he’s mine, and I’ve got it covered.”

I turn my head, looking from one side of the street to the other while I rein in my temper and loosen my jaw.

“Don’t keep telling me it’s not my business. Yesterday I didn’t know you, so no, it wasn’t my business, it’s after midnight now, a new day. Now, I know you. Now, I’ve seen the bruises. Now, it absolutely is my fucking business.”

“You don’t know me. You met me, bought me drinks, but you don’tknowme, so don’t start giving it. . .”

“What about tonight? Are you gonna be safe tonight?” I cut in.

She lets out a huff, rolls her eyes, and tries to pull away but I hold her in place.

“Don’t roll your eyes and behave like a brat. I’m worried, I want you safe.”

“Look, thank you for being worried. . .” She licks her lips and her eyes finally meet mine as she trails off.

“I’m still not happy about you going back there. Come home with me. I have a spare room, a sofa, a huge fucking bed.”

Her head’s shaking before I even finish.

“I need to go home tonight, there’s stuff I can’t get out of the house till he’s out tomorrow. I’ve got this.” She moves her hands from her side and rests them against my pecs. I’m only wearing a long-sleeved T, and the heat from her palms feels good as it seeps through the fabric to my skin. I notice she’s not wearing a wedding ring, which instantly reminds me of the bruises around her wrist and why that is.

“He has an early start tomorrow. As soon as he’s out the door, I can grab what I need and be gone. I’ll be all right. I wouldn’t be going back there if I didn’t think it was safe.”

“Why can’t you just go back tomorrow, once he’s gone?”

“Because if I don’t go home, he’ll come looking for me. I don’t want him banging on my mates’ doors at three in the morning. Besides. . .” She shakes her head before continuing. “All of my personal documents and all of the cash that I have are in the safe. It’s some state-of-the-art thing we had installed last year. It’s connected to an app, and we both get alerts on our phones when the safe’s opened.”

“Documents are replaceable, and I can lend you money.”

Looking as cute as fuck, she gives a small laugh and shakes her head.