‘Peta…’

‘I can’t do this. I can’t.’

He caught her three doors down. She’d tried to move fast but she was on crutches.

He’d followed. Of course he’d followed, even though he was unsure why he was still intent on helping. But he let her have a little space until she cooled down.

She was forced to cool down. Her anger could only carry her so far before the pain in her ankle caught up with her. He watched her slow. He saw her steps falter as if she was unsure where to go from here.

He saw her shoulders slump. Saw the despair catch up.

And when he caught her… As he put a hand on her shoulder and turned her around to face him, he wasn’t surprised to see tears welling behind those lovely eyes.

The tears stopped the moment he touched her. She swiped her cheek and pulled back. Swaying dangerously. He put out his hands to steady her but she backed some more.

‘Leave me alone.’

‘I’m sorry.’

‘You shouldn’t be sorry. You were trying to be nice.’

He carefully pushed away the urge to play fairy godfather some more. He tried to put himself in her place. It was hard, but maybe he could manage it.

Once upon a time he’d been dependant, too, and he knew how much harder it was to take than give. It was just… In the last few years there had been so many takers.

Peta was a novelty. But he could adjust.

‘I was a bit insensitive,’ he managed. ‘I had this idea that I could help. And I’d like to.’

‘You can’t.’

‘I can, you know,’ he said softly. ‘It would be my privilege. If you let me.’

‘Yeah, toss money.’ Another angry swipe at tears she clearly despised and an angry sniff. ‘It’s all you know how to do.’

‘I’m sorry.’ He was stymied. He didn’t have a clue what was happening. How had he got himself in this situation?