Let Me Love You

Chapter 4

"Mind your own business, lady," he scowled at me.

"I would, only if you weren't forcing this lady to go with you, but you are," I said, stepping up and grabbing the girl's hand.

"Hey, you—" he screamed holding the woman's hand tightly.

"What's the problem over here?" Nolan's deep voice cut through, coming from behind me. "Is that my sister's hand you're holding?" he said, referring to the girl's wrist in the guy's palm.

The man's eyes widened in fear. He quickly released her and ran. Bloody coward. I swiftly supported the girl to stand. Moving her hair out of her face, I checked if she was okay. 

Rachel. 

She is in the club. I scanned the area for Miss Taylor or anyone who might be with her, but found no one.

"Nolan, I think we should take her home. We can't leave her here." He nodded in agreement.

I helped Rachel stand and guided her to my car. "Nolan, you drive. I'll sit in the back with her." I opened the backdoor. "No funny business, Lisa," he said, wiggling his eyebrows.

"Nolan, for God's sake, she's married. Now drive," I said, helping Rachel into the car and then getting in myself. I gently shook Rachel, trying to get her to regain consciousness. She mumbled incoherently. "Rachel, Rachel, can you tell me where you live? Your address?" She looked at me, confused.

"Where do you live?" I asked again.

"Silver Lake," she mumbled. "Nolan, head to the Silver Lake neighborhood," I instructed. He started driving.

"Lisa, which house, though? We don't know," Nolan pointed out.

Good question. Then it hit me. I pulled out my phone and emailed Miss Taylor, asking for Rachel's address. I promised to explain everything later since she lived in the same neighborhood.

"Henry—Henry, I miss-sss youuuu," Rachel mumbled in her sleep. Henry? Who is that? I pulled out a water bottle from the side compartment and opened the cap.

"Rachel, Rachel, drink this water. You'll feel okayish, I guess." Nolan turned back, giving me a two-second 'are you serious?' stare.

"Okaish? Are you out of your mind?" he said before he looked ahead focusing on driving.

"What? She needs to drink water," I said, helping her take small sips. She fell back against the seat, and I just sat there, staring at her, capturing this moment in my mind. I felt a twinge of guilt because she's married, but I couldn't take my eyes off her beauty.

A ping sounded, signaling a new email. I unlocked my phone and saw it was from Miss Taylor. "Nolan, first right, third house on the left." He nodded and followed the directions.

I looked out the window, scanning for house numbers, and saw a woman standing on the front porch ahead. "Nolan, look ahead, Miss Taylor is there." He pulled up in front of her house. I got out, carefully bringing Rachel with me, cradling her in my arms.

Miss Taylor gasped. "Is she alright?" she asked, a bit panicked.

"Yeah, she's drunk, and I think the bartender spiked her drink. But she's alright," I said, holding Rachel securely. "Miss Taylor, where should I lay her down?"

She quickly opened the door. "Follow me," she said, leading the way upstairs. She opened a bedroom door, and I gently placed Rachel on the bed. Before Miss Taylor could remove Rachel's sandals, I did it carefully so as not to disturb her, then placed a blanket over her. I took one last glance at her before walking out of the room and heading downstairs to wait for Miss Taylor.

"Before you say anything, her drink was drugged. There was this guy trying to force her to leave with him. I was at the club with Nolan, so I intervened. I didn't know it was her at first. The guy ran off, and I emailed you. I looked around the club for her husband or any man looking for his wife, but found no one. Rachel kept whispering the name Henry. I thought someone might be at the club for her, but it seems that wasn't the case," I explained, seeing the tension in Miss Taylor's face.

 "Lisa, thank you for what you did, seriously. Rachel was alone in the club. You wouldn't find her husband because he is dead." 

What the Actual fuck. Dead? When? How? 

"He was a detective and died while saving a kid. Henry was her husband," Miss Taylor explained.

She's a widow, still hurting, still in love with her husband. Losing a loved one you promised to stay with is a pain no one can understand unless they've gone through the same thing.

"Lisa," Miss Taylor called out, breaking my thoughts. 

"He was a Hero, died while saving a child." I said but then remembered Nolan is waiting in car. "I think I should go. Take care of her and yourself. Goodnight," I muttered, walking out of the house.

"Lisa, thank you, and goodnight." I nodded and walked to my car, sitting inside. "So, what did Miss say?" Nolan asked.

"Her husband is dead," I whispered to myself, not really hearing his question. "She's a widow," I said louder.

"I got that the first time, Lisa, and that's not something you can be happy about," he said, starting the car.

My neck snapped in his direction. "How the fuck would you think I'd be happy about this news? I just feel sad for her. She's all alone. She lost the love of her life. How does she manage to put a smile on her face after this?" I wondered aloud, thinking about her daily life.

"Sorry for assuming, but if she lets you in and is open to finding a partner, you might have a chance," he said, smiling as if it might actually happen.

I took a deep breath. "Nolan, if you want to live, drive us home so we can sleep and get to work tomorrow morning."

I looked out the window, watching everything pass by, just like memories with loved ones that slip away before you have time to capture them.

................

"I am so tired, I just want to go home and sleep now," I said, dropping my head on Nolan's shoulder and closing my eyes. He picked up his hand and gently ruffled my hair.

"Aww, Lisa is tired. Just one more hour to go, babe, then off we go home," he said. I nodded, thinking about my bed.

"Hey, look who's here," he said, lifting the shoulder where my head rested. I opened my eyes to see Rachel walking toward us. Maybe I can go home late. She was heading towards the cashier. I straightened up. She's here to order, not to see me. You aren't in a relationship with her, dumbass.

"Hey, Lisa," she greeted me.

I smiled brightly. It was an automatic response, like my brain was programmed to light up whenever I saw her. "Hi, Rachel. What do you want today?" I asked, trying to sound like a normal cashier.

"I want you," she said, looking directly into my eyes.