Page 9 of Broken Hero
“Yeah, that was me. It wasn't easy getting you to your door, I can tell you that.”
“I'm so sorry. I never knew who it was that night, or if...” He puts his hands on his hips and looks down.
I remember my note, how Imighthave intimated that something had happened and I feel bad. “Did something happen that night? With us?”
I shake my head. “No, nothing happened. I realised after I sobered up that my note was mean. I figured that you wouldn't remember. I shouldn't have hinted in the note that something had happened. Sorry about that.”
“That's good to know.” He sighs with relief. Wow, dude, I'm not that bad.
“Way to make a woman feel good.” I laugh.
His eyes widen when he realises how it sounded. “Fuck no, sorry, I don't mean it like that, I didn't remember anything. I mean, no offence, but it could have been anyone and, well, I don't do hook-ups.”
“Well, you don't need to worry, Big Guy, nothing happened.”
“Jesus, I'm so sorry I ruined your night.”
“You didn't, it was at the end of the night, and it wasn't any trouble. You...you looked like you needed someone to be nice to you.”
He shakes his head and exhales slowly as though he's trying to compose himself. “That's not me, I . . . I don't normally do that.”
I shrug. “I figured. You were upset about breaking up with your girlfriend.”
He frowns, confused. “Breaking up with my girlfriend?”
“Yeah, you said it was her birthday.”
Realisation washes over his face, and it closes down. He nods but doesn't say anything for a while. Maybe he's still hurting from that break-up.
He goes back to filling the bin bags for a while, and he turns to me. “Thank you. Thanks for doing that - I had some problems I was working through. I'm not happy that you had to see me that way, but I am happy that it was you that saw me home. It's bothered me ever since, not remembering who it was.”
I shrug. “It's fine. I did think about mentioning it to Jack so that he could tell you it was me, but I thought you probably wouldn't want Jack to know that you had a bad night, so it was better to leave it alone. We all have our off days.”
“I would have hated him knowing - it’s embarrassing. Thank you.”
“It's okay. You owe me one.”
He looks like he’s thinking about something. “Yeah, I do, a big one. Actually, I think I might be able to pay you back quicker than you think.”
“Yeah? How's that?”
“Did I overhear you tell Robyn earlier that you were looking for a part-time job?”
I confided in Robyn earlier that I need extra income. The pay is good at the track - it runs my flat, pays my credit card and spending money, but with the way my dad is at the moment, I need to pay the bills for two houses - and for that I need extra income. I didn’t realise Declan was nearby when I was telling her.
“Yeah, you did hear that. Do you know of one?”
He nods. “I do. I work at the fire station, obviously, and there’s a bar opposite that we go to. The landlady is looking to hire a barmaid for evening and weekends - if you're interested, I can put a word in for you?”
“Oh my God, are you serious? That would be so good, thank you!”
“Don't thank me yet - it can get rowdy and boisterous in there.”
I wave my hand. “Oh, I can handle that. I can be fairly loud myself. What do I need to do?”
“If you give me your number, I’ll pass it on to the landlady. I think if she has a recommendation from me, she will go with it.”
I know he's not asking for my number for a reason I may want him to ask, but I will be programmed in his phone. This guy affects me in a way that not many men do.
