Page 18 of Shattered By the Currents

“Doesheknow?” Nathaniel asked, not taking his gaze from her.

Raven frowned, wanting to ask, “Know what?” Wanting to know exactly what lies Xander had told his best friend.

But the words never came out. Because what ifConnorbelieved those lies?

Zac and Ryan came into view behind Nathaniel. The men surrounded them, a silent signal that they had Connor’s back.

Connor inched in between them. He stood close enough that his heat permeated her skin. “Time to walk away.”

“Or what?” Nathaniel spat.

“You really have to ask?”

There was a pause before a new voice sounded. “Nathaniel.”

Raven was the only one who looked to the right at Dusty.

The old man stopped a foot away. “What’s going on here?”

“Just having a little conversation,” Nathaniel said through gritted teeth.

Dusty’s eyes shifted between each of them, weighing the situation, before returning to Nathaniel. “Get back to work.”

A muscle in Nathaniel’s jaw clenched. He gave her one last glare before heading back to the bar.

Dusty watched Nathaniel leave before turning to her and Connor. “What was that?”

Her mouth opened and closed. She had no idea what to say.My ex told him lies about me and now Nathaniel hates me?

“He’s friends with Xander.” That was it. It was all she had in the way of explanation.

She shot a glance at Nathaniel behind the bar one more time. He was serving now, but he still looked hard and angry, like the muscles in his tattooed arms were a second away from splitting.

She jumped at the touch to her arm and turned back to look at Connor.

“I’m fine.” The words were like muscle reflex, said to diffuse the situation, but not entirely true. She felt off-balance and shaky, but then, anything to do with Xander had that effect on her.

“Come on.” He held out his hand.

Without too much thought, she placed her palm in his and let him lead her back to the table.

The rest of the night was a blur. The hum of talk around her, the clatter of glasses on tables. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t recapture the contentment from earlier. Her chest felt too tight, her skin hot. And every time she sipped her drink, the alcohol coiled in her belly.

She finished a quarter of it before finally stepping back. “I’m going to head home.”

Connor straightened. “I’ll drive you.”

“I have my car here.”

“Okay, I’ll walk you out.”

“You don’t?—”

“I’m walking you out, Raven.”

A little bit of that tightness eased. At his protectiveness. His conviction. “Thank you.”

After a quick goodbye to everyone, she headed out, Connor’s warm hand on the center of her back as they walked. She liked his closeness. It felt grounding and safe…two things she hadn’t had a lot of lately.