Page 55 of To Hate Adam Connor

“Because…”

“Because you were a stranger. You didn’t expect me to do nothing, did you? As much as I’d trust Jason looking after him, all I knew about you was that you enjoy climbing walls to watch other people.” I took a sip from my coffee, keeping my eyes on hers. “Dan enjoyed himself immensely during the singing parts.”

Her eyes seemed to narrow further. “You know what. I should be pissed. Hell, I’m pissed, but I get where you’re coming from. I guess I would do the same thing if I were in your shoes. You’re not the worst dad after all. So, there you go. You can stop feeling guilty about how wrong you were about me.”

“I didn’t say I was feeling guilty. I just wanted you to know.”

“Now I know.”

We stared at each other some more then Lucy was the first one to look away.

“Your turn. I’m listening.”

“Now you can hear me from all the way over there?”

“Would you like me to come closer? Because I can.”

Her eyes sparkled. “No.”

“I didn’t think so.”

“You know what? Forget about it.” She stormed out of the kitchen.

I put my mug down and caught up to her as she stepped out into the backyard.

My tone was gentle when I asked, “What is it, Lucy?”

I didn’t think she would stop or even answer, but she did both.

“I want to press charges.”

I stilled. She wanted to press charges against me?

“You know, for assault. I know nothing will come out of it and he’ll just shrug it off, or the cops will think I’m just one of his groupies or something, but at least—” Her forehead furrowed. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“He?” I managed to ask.

“Jake Callum.” Her expression hardened. “Don’t tell me he is your friend and you don’t want me to go to the cops.”

How could she even think that?

“Did it look like I was his friend when I wrapped my hand around his throat?” I growled at her.

“I didn’t think so, but…you never know.”

“I’m not his friend, Lucy. And yes, press charges. I’m your witness.”

She pushed her hands into her pockets and looked at my face, not quite into my eyes.

“You’d do that?”

I wanted to go to her, embrace her, but I stopped myself. “Of course I would do that,” I replied gruffly. “In fact, I’m going to call Dan, and you’ll go down to the station with him. If they want me to make a statement too…” I checked my watch. “I have to be on set in two hours, but I’ll drop by before I come home. It’s our last day of shooting, otherwise I’d come with you, but—”

“That’s okay,” she interrupted me. “I wasn’t asking you to come with me, and I don’t need your bodyguard either, but…but thank you. And I know they won’t do anything about it, nothing happened after all and…and maybe I’d had too much to drink. They’ll think I’m lying.” She bounced on her toes and looked away from my gaze. “I just want them to have something on file or whatever. In case he really does something to someone else. So they’ll see it’s not his first try.”

At that moment, with those words, I fell for her a little.

“And,” she started, her hand gingerly touching her breast. “He kinda gave me a bruise, so maybe that’ll help.”

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