Chapter 23 #3
‘Apparently you told him Sofia’s sister told her about what happened. He assumed the sister was me. I guess it wouldn’t have occurred to him to think it was Luisa, he doesn’t know her.’
Connor sighed. ‘Crap. He shouldn’t have done that, I’m sorry.’
She encouraged him to keep walking when he slowed down.
‘It’s okay, it was quite enlightening to see him letting go of his emotions for once.
Who knows, it might’ve expelled some of that internalised rage he carries inside of him.
Do you know how rare it is to have someone stick up for you like that?
He’s a formidable ally to have. You’re lucky to have him. ’
Connor shrugged. ‘I know.’
‘Don’t be too hard on him.’ She tugged on his arm. ‘He stuffed up, he knows that.’
They boarded the train, joining a carriage with a group of drunken football supporters. Their team obviously won, thank goodness. Morose football fans weren’t something anyone wanted to encounter late at night.
When the train pulled away, Connor leaned closer. ‘My dad representing Sofia’s employers feels like a betrayal. I know it’s his job, and I get he didn’t know about the case until this week, but he shouldn’t have accepted it.’
Elena agreed, but voicing her own disgruntlement wouldn’t help heal the brothers’ rift.
‘To be fair, he didn’t know about you and Sofia at the time, and whatever his decision moving forwards, he feels crap about it.
’ She glanced at him, wondering if she was helping or hindering.
‘Has anything like this happened before?’
Connor shook his head. ‘We never fight about anything. He has my back, always. I feel bad his life has been upturned because of me. He never complains about it, but it can’t have been easy.’
Elena sighed. ‘Probably not, but when you love someone you dig deep and find a way.’
Connor raised an eyebrow. ‘Poetic.’
‘It’s a gift, I know.’ The train pulled into Notting Hill Gate and the doors hissed open. ‘Talking of which, we need to talk about Sofia.’
‘No point, I’ve blown it,’ he said, getting up from the seat. ‘This is us.’
She followed him off of the train and through the exit turnstiles, knowing she only had once chance to make him see sense. ‘If you think that then you don’t know my sister. It’ll take more than you getting cold feet to scare her away.’
They crossed the road and Elena resumed holding his arm, probably a subconscious device to prevent him running off.
‘Sofia comes across as the sweet and calm one in the family, and she is, compared to me and Luisa anyway, but she’s the most capable and resilient person I know.
She’s also incredibly kind and intelligent, and you’d be a fool to let her go. ’
‘You don’t need to tell me how great she is.’ He kicked a discarded beer can and sent it bouncing down the street.
‘The thing is, people are always misjudging Sofia, assuming they know what she wants, but they don’t.
Sofia has no interest in money or status, and she loathes social media.
She hates it when bolshy men flirt with her, and despite her very alluring appearance, she’s actually quite shy.
She values kindness and family loyalty. She’s a real homebody, and she wants a man she feels comfortable with and can talk to.
And that man is you.’ She patted his hand.
‘Honestly, Connor, this is the first time I’ve seen her like this. You’re it for her.’
‘I don’t get it.’ He looked genuinely confused. ‘I’ve nothing to offer her.’
‘You don’t have to get it. You just have to thank your lucky stars and accept it.
Don’t question it, just jump in head first. And you’ve plenty to offer her, don’t sell yourself short.
For the record, she never once believed you were guilty of any of that stuff on the internet. She knew you were innocent.’
Connor slowed down. ‘How?’
‘Instinct. Sofia’s an excellent judge of character and she’s rarely wrong.
She trusts you. She knows you. She sees exactly who you are and she loves you for it.
Please don’t walk away from that, you’ll regret it if you do.
At least talk to her. Have a proper discussion before making your mind up, you owe her that. ’
Connor pointed to a street sign. ‘This is us down here.’
They turned into a quiet mews, the traffic noise fading away with each step. ‘Promise me you’ll talk to her and be open to what she has to say?’
‘I promise,’ he said, with a resigned tone.
‘Good, because you know first-hand how hurtful it can be when you’re telling the truth and someone judges you wrongly.
So when Sofia tells you how she feels, don’t dismiss her feelings, okay?
You’ll crush her, and she doesn’t deserve that.
Believe what she’s saying. My sister doesn’t lie. You understand me?’
He nodded. ‘I do.’
She realised he’d stopped walking and for the first time she took in her surroundings. They were in the posh part of Notting Hill. The really posh part, where only the über rich could afford to live. ‘Is this where you live?’
Before Connor could answer, the door to one of the town houses swung open and a harassed-looking Danny flung himself at Connor. ‘Thank god you’re okay.’
Connor stumbled backwards. ‘You’re crushing me.’
‘I’m sorry, but I was so worried.’ Danny took Connor’s face in his hands, his expression one of haunted relief. ‘You scared the hell out of me.’
Connor looked remorseful. ‘I didn’t mean to leave my phone behind. I’m sorry I worried you, it wasn’t intentional.’
‘Okay, but don’t frighten me like that again.’ Danny pulled him into a hug. ‘My heart can’t take it. I love you.’ He pulled back and ruffled Connor’s hair. ‘Now get inside. Hugh’s ordered pizza.’ He turned to Elena. ‘Are you coming in?’
He looked quite the sight standing under the shadows of the street lamps, his hair a mess, barefoot, and his T-shirt untucked from his jeans.
It was a far cry from his usual suited look.
It took all her willpower not to run over and hug him.
But then she remembered she was still mad with him and shook off the feeling.
‘No, that’s okay, I’d best get back to Sofia and Luisa.’ She stepped away, knowing it wouldn’t take much to tip her over the edge. She couldn’t think straight with him looking at her like that, all dog-eyed and pleading.
He leaned against the doorframe. ‘Thanks for finding Connor. You’ve no idea how grateful I am.’ He was suddenly propelled into the street when Connor barged past him.
‘Sorry, but I’ve just remembered something.
You need to know it wasn’t Elena who told Sofia about the stuff on the internet.
It was Luisa.’ Connor came over to Elena and hugged her.
‘When you love someone you dig deep and find a way,’ he whispered in her ear.
‘Take your own advice, big shot.’ He pulled away and headed back inside the house. ‘Night, Elena.’
For a moment, her and Danny just stared at each other, unsure what this revelation meant for either of them, if anything.
Danny recovered first. ‘Shit! Elena, I’m so—’
‘It’s fine, really.’ She stopped his approach. ‘No need to apologise. We both said stuff we regret. At least, I know I did. I’m just glad Connor’s okay.’ She forced a smile. ‘I would say good luck for the hearing tomorrow, but I’d be lying. I hope you lose, in the nicest possible way.’
He ran a hand into his hair, a pained look on his face. ‘Are you sure you won’t come inside?’
She shook her head. ‘You need time alone with Connor.’
He seemed to swallow awkwardly. ‘Can I call you a cab? Hugh’s here, he could drive you home.’
‘Really, I’m fine walking.’ She backed away, nearly slipping off the kerb. ‘Thanks, though. I’m glad Connor’s okay. Bye.’
She was almost running in her eagerness to escape. Her head was a whirl of jumbled thoughts, confusing her ability to think straight. There was so much to unravel. And then her phone pinged with a message. It was from Sofia.
Papi’s home!!! Where are you??? xxx
Elena stopped running.
Papi was home?
Tears welled in her eyes and she started running again, this time at full speed.