I See The Light (Book #3 in LA Series)

Chapter Twelve

Dan's POV
When Beth runs out of the bar I send a questioning gaze to Georgie and she motions to the door, telling me to go after her.

And I do.

Beth was against the wall and she was crying. I walk over and take her into my arms. She sobs into my chest and wraps her arms around my waist. "Your okay," I murmur, kissing her hair. "I'm here."

I held her like that for what felt like an hour. Realistically it was about five minutes. "God I thought I was better," she croaks. "I'm such a mess."

"Nothing happens overnight," I say. "It takes time to heal."

"I want to forget about it," she whispers.

"I wish you could too," I murmur.

"I was a virgin," she admits.

"I know," I say before I could think. She pulls away, wiping her tears and frowning at me.

"You know?"

"I didn't want to tell you this," I say. "But your first night back in the bar, Violet was the last to leave and she told me."

"She told you?" Beth croaks.

"She said 'Beth was a virgin you know, she doesn't have experience like me,'" I say. It made me angry to think about it. "I kicked her out of the bar and told her she couldn't come back otherwise I would call the cops."

"Oh my god," Beth moans. "How could she do that?"

"She doesn't care about you," I whisper.

Tears pool in her eyes again. "I'm so emotional," she says trying to lighten the mood.

"That's okay," I say. "I'm a hugger, so I'm here to comfort you."

She nods and wraps her arms around me again. "You are a good hugger," she admits. "Is this how you get women to sleep with you?"

I laugh and it takes over my whole body. "No."

"I can't go back in there," she says. "Can you cover for me?"

"Of course I can," I murmur. "But I think you should."

"You do?"

"You shouldn't feel ashamed because of what he did," I say. I pull her off my chest and cup her face. "That wasn't your first time, Beth. You get that choice."

Her bottom lip trembles and she nods, pulling my hands away from her face and holding them. "Yeah okay."

"Those girls in there would never judge you," I say. "Lenny and Georgie have been in your position and Liv and Cristina have seen a whole lot of it coming into the hospital."

"Thanks, Dan," she says. "You're amazing you know that?"

"Oh stop Beth," I giggle. "You're making me blush."

She laughs and my heart pulls in my chest.

I haven't felt that in a long time

*
"Good night, Liv," I yell out the driver's door as Jax carries her up the steps to their house.

"You the best bartender ever!" She screams.

Lenny giggles from the passenger seat and I pull off the street. "Enjoy your night Lenny?" I ask.

She nods.

"Did they buy the fake shots?" I ask.

Lenny nods again.

Lenny asked me before the other girls were there to make sure all her drinks had no alcohol as she's pregnant and technically can't tell anybody yet.

I'm the exception of course.

"How was Beth when she got back to the table?"

Lenny shrugs. I stop the car outside her house and she smiles at me before jumping out of my car. She waves me goodbye and runs up the driveway. Seb opens the door and greets her with a passionate kiss. He says something to her and then makes his way over to me.

"Hey Dan thanks for dropping her off," Seb says.

"All good," I say. "At my bar, you always get the full experience," I joke. "Congratulations by the way."

"Yeah thanks," Seb says. "Lenny and I are very excited."

"I'm sure Elle will love a little sibling," I say.

"She doesn't know yet, but we will see," Seb says. "Has Violet shown at the bar?"

"You know about that?"

"I'm a detective, I know everything," Seb chuckles.

"No, she hasn't," I answer. "Which is good, because I hate her."

"Hates a strong word," Seb says.

"She's the worst sister to Beth," I snap. "She had to talk bad about Beth to make herself look good."

Seb smiles. "You're very protective of Beth."

"She's my friend," I say slowly. "Why do I feel like you mean differently?"

"You just seem a bit like a knight in shining armour over her," Seb says. "Always at her aid."

Huh.

"Have I opened a can of worms?" Seb questions.

"A little," I mumble.

"Well have a good night," Seb says.

And then he leaves me with my thoughts.

So many thoughts.