Elle stood rooted to the front step, Dean's tight grasp the only thing keeping her standing as she shook. When her ex was concerned, she usually shut down. From the experiences she'd had with him, she'd always found it easier to close off her emotions, and now it was simply second nature when she spoke to him. It was a defense mechanism – if she shut off the part of her brain that made her feel, and used only the part that made her function, then she could get through whatever Jordon had to throw at her.
Dean hadn't seen her this way before, and his concern was clear as he expected her to do something – to cry, to explain what had happened, to return his embrace. Instead she stood still, her eyes unfocused as he uttered his assurances in her ear.
"Mum?" Trent's asked from the door.
Litt
