Unbreak Me (7 page)

Letting out a laugh, Connor shook his head. “I’ve been called much worse.”

Marissa Rivers—spoiled, arrogant, beautiful, controlling, delusional—everything he didn’t want in a partner, had been pushed in his direction when he had been selected to escort her to her debutante ball. There was no mutual attraction. It was more her obsessing over him. Connor had expressed on many occasions how she wasn’t right for him, but his mother was insistent that he gave her a chance. Little did his mother know that the more she pushed, the more distant he became.

“Connor, don’t be so rude!”

“Marissa, what do you want?”

“I just wanted to make sure that you’re okay. Is that so wrong?”

“No, but if it were genuine, I’d stomach your words a little easier. Has my mother put you up to this?”

Walking up beside him, she touched his arm. Her warm hands were like silk against his sweaty skin. “She may have mentioned that you were a little jaded.”

“Typical, you women can’t leave it alone.”

“Connor!” she screeched.

“What? You think coming here, offering to, what—blow me, fuck the bad feelings out of me or maybe try to coax me into agreeing to do something I’d never want under normal circumstances—all to aid your mission of nailing me? I might be a little fucked up right now, but I still have my faculties attached,” he shouted. “Get the fuck out of here. I’m not interested.”

Marissa stared at him. She was at a loss for words, which was heaven for Connor as he smirked before sauntering out of the gym, leaving Marissa looking every inch the prize ass he’d always wanted her to be.

Taking a quick shower, he vacated the premises out through the back door and sped home, where he knew he wouldn’t be disturbed. He intended on getting wasted. There was nothing else for it. He wanted to forget the rejection from Molly. Her name alone made him close his eyes, mourning something he had never been able to have. But he was intent on not giving up on her just yet. There was a fire that burned between them. It wasn’t a fleeting moment or a one-night stand. It was something more, and he needed to show her that he could be someone she could trust.

* * * *

Connor sat back on the couch and ate a few slices of pizza as he drank his eleventh beer. Scrolling through the channels, he felt irritated. Nothing caught his attention long enough that he could forget the way Molly looked when she slept.

Every time he closed his eyes, he could hear her, see her and taste her.

Rolling onto the floor, he picked up his cell from the rug and dialed her number.

Nothing.

The called failed.

“What the—?” he muttered as he dialed the number again.

Again, nothing.

“Fuck!”

Tightening his grip around the phone, he held it to his chin as he thought long and hard.

Dialing the number again, he prayed. This time it rang. His heart began to pound.

“Hello,” a groggy voice answered.

“Molly, don’t hang up,” he pleaded.

“Connor?”

“I know it’s late.”

“It’s two in the morning.”

“I really had to talk to you… I’m sorry.”

“Connor, I…don’t know what you want from me.”

Connor slid onto his back as he stared at his ceiling, listening to her voice.

“Connor, are you there?” Molly asked.

“I’m still here,” he replied as he tried to focus on not sounding any drunker than he was. “I feel so bad about how we left things the other morning.”

“I can’t do this now.”

“Then when?” he asked, sounding a little angry. “You just blew me off, like I didn’t matter. Do you know how that made me feel?”

“I’m not doing this. Not over the phone, and certainly not when you’re smashed.”

“Then can I see you?”

Silence.

“Molly?” he asked.

“I don’t know.”

“Please.”

Another pause.

“Saturday,” she replied. “That’s when I am free next.”

Connor jumped up, rubbed his eyes and smiled. “Saturday is good for me. I’ll pick you up, say noon?”

“Okay, I’ll see you then,” Molly said. “Goodnight, and Connor?”

“What?”

“No booze.”

“Okay.”

The phone went silent, then the dialing tone buzzed. Lying back down, Connor smiled as he held the phone in his hand and drifted off into a drunken sleep. One that wasn’t exactly peaceful, but it was sleep, and boy, did he need it.

Chapter Ten

Molly made sure her days were full as Saturday got closer. She couldn’t believe she had agreed to meet him, never mind talking to him on the phone, especially since he was clearly inebriated. She took on two extra shifts at the shelter, helping Regina make up the beds and check inventory.

“You seem lost, sweetie,” Regina remarked as they counted sheets.

“I’m good, Gina.”

“You sure, honey? Because from over here, you look like a girl who has the weight of the world on her shoulders.”

Molly stopped what she was doing, looked over at the elderly woman and sighed. “Guy trouble.”

“Then why in hell didn’t you say so? I could tell you a tale or two.” Regina laughed. Her presence was infectious. “Now, tell me what he has done.”

“It’s not that he’s done anything to me.” Molly sounded down. “It was me who kind of rejected him after, you know, spending the night with him.”

“Uh-oh, he didn’t take it well?”

“Nope.”

“Do you like him?”

“Well, yeah, I mean, I’ve agreed to see him tomorrow. But, I don’t know, it’s all happening too fast.”

Regina walked over to where Molly stood and wrapped her arm across her shoulders. “Sometimes you’ve got to take risks, otherwise life will pass you by and you’ll wake up one morning an old woman with no family, no happy memories—life will have just been one long, wet, miserable day.”

“I know… I’m being stupid.”

“Nope, you’re not stupid, honey, but you’re just a little too hard on yourself. It’s quite obvious that this young man has gotten under your skin.”

“I hate it when everyone is right.” Molly smiled.

“Oh, me too. Nothing like a know-it-all, huh?” Regina winked at Molly before going back to the closet and checking off bed linen from her inventory list.

Sometimes Molly was thankful for those who played her conscience. She needed sound counseling every once in a while, and if it made her sit up and take stock, then she graciously accepted the advice—even if it went against her better nature.

* * * *

Saturday morning came faster than she expected. It was odd, because although she was nervous, a little part of her was excited about seeing him again. It was as though she was on a roller coaster, fighting with her demons, trying to get off and just be normal.

She sighed and sipped her coffee as she looked out of her window, taking in the beauty of the sun shining down on the little cluster of crystal chimes Aggie had placed outside the kitchen window. The luminous colors of the rainbow danced in through the window, making everything pretty and radiant. Another piece of Aggie firmly attached to the small apartment.

Regina was busy stacking books on a shelf, smiling over at Molly. “You okay, honey?”

“Yes,” Molly replied.

Molly finished off her coffee and set the cup down before she began writing in her journal. It was a coping mechanism that Aggie had encouraged from the first day she had begun her long road to recovery.

Molly had written in several over the past six years, but not once did she ever read through them. She firmly believed that if she read anything she’d penned, then it would be like opening up a can of worms, and Molly didn’t like worms—or snakes, or spiders, or anything that reminded her of the pain from her past.

She sat at the kitchen table, biting on the tip of the pen before she closed her eyes. It was another ritual—silent prayer before she unleashed her thoughts onto paper.

Saving someone’s life comes with a whole other level of responsibility.
I had to stop, I mean, it was only natural to step in, but I didn’t realize I’d be seeing him again, or sleeping with him for that matter. Connor is everything I thought I’d never like, or want, or need. I know that sounds cold and harsh, as though I am judging him, but can two people—two very different people—truly find each other like we did and be happy?

The way he made me feel, that is something I’ve never experienced in my entire life. Not when I was a child, and certainly not when I was a teen. He made me feel beautiful, but that also made me feel vulnerable. If I am to allow my heart to let him in, I am leaving myself in danger of being hurt, and I don’t know if I can handle being damaged—not like that.

But everyone is right. If I don’t at least try, then what kind of life am I really going to have? I want to settle down. I want to have children—I want a home. Could Connor really be the one? Could he truly be that person who can salvage everything that I’ve lost?

Dear God, if it’s him, please give me the strength to trust and believe. I could really use your guidance and love.

Molly

Closing the journal, Molly picked it up, placed it at the top of her bookshelf, deciding on a long soak in the tub before embarking on whatever would happen that afternoon.

* * * *

Dressed in a white fitted shirt and cutoff jeans, Molly slipped her feet into her silver flats as she brushed her hair.

“Way too much,” she said, staring at her reflection. She decided on no makeup. She didn’t want to pretend to be something she wasn’t. So she settled for the less is more look.

The slight knock at the front door caused a swarm of butterflies to begin their dance. She was nervous but knew it was only natural, considering how she practically threw him out earlier in the week.

“I’ll get it,” she shouted to Regina, who peeped out from the kitchen.

Pausing before she opened the door, she trembled as she inhaled deeply.
You got this
, she thought to herself as she reached for the handle and opened slowly.

Connor’s face lit up when he saw her. “Hey.”

“Hey there, yourself.”

Moving out of the way, she let him in. As she closed the door, the familiar feeling of wanting to be lost in his arms scratched the surface, but she did well as she quashed the desire, replacing it with a more composed manner.

“You look lovely,” Connor remarked as he stood with his hands in his pockets, looking more afraid than ever before.

“Thank you. Not sure I scrub up as well as you, but this is me.”

“Well, I think you’re beautiful,” he said as he gazed at her. “I figured a day at the beach would be a nice place to start.”

Smiling, Molly looked at him, surprised. His gorgeous green eyes glistened as he watched her move over to where her purse sat “I’d really like that. It’s been a while.”

“You ready?”

“Sure… Should I make us up some food or something?”

“Already taken care of.” He winked at her.

As they were about to leave, Regina appeared, her dark eyes inspecting Connor.

“Connor, this is Regina. She’s kinda like my surrogate mother,” Molly said. “Gina, this is Connor, my friend.”

Regina walked down and shook his hand. “Good to meet you, Connor. Have you something nice planned today?”

“A day at the beach,” he replied.

“Molly sure loves the ocean,” she said, smiling. “Go have a wonderful time.”

As they walked out of the door, Molly looked back, seeing Regina giving her the thumbs-up, winking at her. Giggling, Molly closed the door.

Connor was already on course to woo her. Molly knew he was going to go all out for her, but never expected the things he had planned.

Chapter Eleven

With a heart that refused to stop galloping, Connor opened the passenger side of his black BMW convertible and smiled as he waited for Molly to get comfortable. God, she smelled good. A light floral scent swept through him, enticing him, tempting him to break his own promise and kiss her hard. Shaking the thought out of his head, he closed the door and walked around to his side.

“Nice car,” she said as he slipped behind the steering wheel.

“I like nice things,” he replied then instantly regretted sounding so materialistic. “Sorry, I meant—”

Molly laughed and touched the back of his hand. “You’re so silly. I knew what you meant.”

Letting out a sigh of relief, Connor started the ignition and drove. Soft music played from the stereo as they traveled down the 101, passing Bair Island and Redwood City on the way.

The conversation was flowing and their awkwardness had been replaced by a newfound confidence.

“I was such a dork at school. I swear, my mother made me stand out like a sore thumb—and the braces didn’t help.”

“And there was me thinking you were the school hottie.” Molly giggled.

“Are you serious?” Connor laughed. “I was a complete moron. God, I was this awful little shit. I had this complex about entitlement.”

Molly gave him a curious glare.

“I kid you not. Until I was fifteen, I was a complete ass. I’m the baby of the family, so, in a way, I was ruined from a young age. It wasn’t until I started dating, moving away from the circle of friends I associated with, that I realized that there was no way I could go through life walking on people, expecting others to pick my shit up after me.”

Connor wanted to be honest. But he didn’t want to ruin the day by bringing up too much of the past. Bad memories were bad omens.

“So what changed? I mean, your family is a big deal, right?” Molly asked.

“Yes, they are.” He sighed. “Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had a privileged upbringing, but that meant love, or the kind of love a parent showers their child with, was missing. Instead of a kiss or hug, it was a new gadget or toy, or trip abroad. I missed out on a lot of things.”

“That makes two of us,” Molly mused.

Connor could tell from the way she had said that that there was a deeper understanding of how hard childhood could be. But he didn’t want to rock the boat too much and scare her off, or, even worse, be rejected again.