Page 67 of Rules of Association

“Why?”

“I’ve been acting like an ass, but I was just so scared for you,” he said, talking into my hair now, his soft lips pressing onto the crown of my head as he held me. “Ever since you called I’ve been terrified, Cee.”

My hands only hesitated a moment before I pushed them up the plains of his back. Grabbing hold of the back of his neck like he’d done mine the night before and working little massaging lines into the muscles there.

I would have thought it was my imagination, the groan he let out. But I felt it run through my own body as his chest rumbled against me.

“I’m okay now,” I soothed, officially not liking this worried side of him. It made my heart hurt.

He huffed like he didn’t quite believe it. “Tell me what you were doing in Claireview.”

I started to pull back, but he held me close to him. “Please?”

Letting out a heavy breath, I mumbled into his body, “I was at the SWWS.”

Connor jerked back, dislodging himself from me for the first time in minutes. His eyes looking wide and surprised andconcernedas he studied my face. “What?”

“Um, It’s a shelter. Seaside Waterways Women’s—”

“I know.” He paused and leaned backward even more, like he needed to take a better look at me. “I know what it is. Tine donates supplies there every year around the holidays—I’m sorry, why were you there?”

“Don’t be such a snob, Con,” I said leaning back on my hands.

He shook his head, “No Cee, I’m not. You know I don't mean it like that. I’m just confused. Why were you there?”

I looked away from him, not wanting to see the surprise on his face any longer. “I volunteer there every week.”

Silence.

“Nothing much, just helping out with event night and stuff.”

More Silence.

“Just for like a few hours at a time, you know?”

“How did I not know about this?” he asked and he sounded weird. I returned my gaze to him, and on his face there wasn’t the expression I thought there’d be. It was a contemplative, considering look, but not judgmental. He actually looked approving.

“Well, unless you read minds, you wouldn’t. I've never told anyone,” I admitted, my voice low.

“Why?”

“Why haven’t I told anyone or why do I volunteer in the first place?”

“Both, I guess.”

“You can probably guess why I volunteer. It’s important to me,” I started. “But I don’t tell anyone because I don’t like explaining myself.”

He just looked at me. Then with a slow arm he reached along the counter and picked up one of my hands. Staring at it as he moved a thumb along my red palms. I’d really done a number on them yesterday in all the stress. But the sting was nothing compared to the way my stomach was flipping at his soft touch.

“Sorry for the interrogation,” he said, sounding guilty.

“I’ve decided to let it slide.” I shrugged trying to lighten the mood.

I don’t think it worked, his expression simply softening. His voice lowering to a soft timbre. “You did a lot of things right yesterday.”

“You think so?”

“I do.” He murmured, his fingers continuing to caress my palms. “And I’m proud of you.”

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