Page 117 of Vengeful Vows

Lara laughs with me, and by the time Paige gets back, it seems like their little tiff is over with.

I sip my mimosa slowly, not wanting the depressant part of alcohol to bring my mood down again.

Lara takes one sip and then winces and puts it down. Paige drinks hers like a fish, as usual.

I’m the first one to jump into the pool, and Paige follows suit while Lara continues to sunbathe.

Paige splashes water at her until she finally gets in, sighing as if she’s terribly put upon. I can’t help but laugh when Paige dunks her and Lara comes up fighting and sputtering.

I swim a few laps and then start to wonder about Declan—where is he? I know he does work during the day, but I’ve seen both Patrick and Gray around the house this morning. Usually, one or the both of them go with him, especially ever since he got hurt.

I pull myself out of the pool and Paige boos after me.

“First one out is a rotten egg!” she yells, and I turn to smile at her.

“I’ll be back,” I promise. “I want to go and check on Declan.”

“Because you loooove him,” Lara shouts, and Paige blinks, bobbing in the water.

“She admitted it?”

“He did, too,” Lara says excitedly and Paige dances in the water.

“Yes, I knew it!”

“You did not,” Lara groans.

“I did! I told you weeks ago that Declan was crazy about her.”

I laugh. “Well, thank you both for the vote of confidence.”

As I walk away, Paige is talking excitedly. “It’s like she’s really our sister now!”

My heart feels somehow full and empty at the same time. If they knew what I’ve done...

I dry off at the door and walk into the house, padding up the stairs in my bare feet since I’ve left my flipflops behind.

The door to Declan’s office is closed, so I knock lightly.

“Come in,” he calls in a grunt, and I slowly open the door.

He looks up at me, and there’s something I can’t quite name in his expression. Is it hurt? Anger?

Does he know?

He’s holding up two sheets of paper, staring at them.

“Wh-what are you doing?” I stutter in an almost whisper.

“Close the door,” he barks, and fear rushes through me.

He knows.

I almost feel relieved. If he knows, then it can just be over. I can just be done.

“I need you to be honest with me, Bree.”

I nod slowly, standing in front of his desk.

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