Page 64 of Feel Me

“How’s your evening?” he asks her.

“Awesome,” she says. “Ma’s already asking when I’m popping out our first kid.”

He grins, guiding her inside. “Perhaps we should assure her we can’t wait to start.”

“Don’t tell her that,” she says, laughing. “I swear she thinks my ovaries will turn to stone or some shit.”

Finn turns around. “Evan wants a ton of kids,” he nudges me. “Wanna bet they give Curran and Tess a run for their money?”

His good humor dwindles as a pang of hurt fills my chest. Declan and I are never this affectionate in public. He’ll hold my hand, certainly, and open the car door for me. Occasionally, he’ll even kiss my cheek. But he’s never this open and free. Wren and Evan can’t seem to keep their hands off each other. And here, Declan hasn’t even spoken to me since he left the kitchen.

“You all right?” Finn asks.

I’m ready to lie and assure him that I am when Declan steps out. His stare locks on me, and how I’m holding Fiona, sleeping against me. “Dinner’s ready,” he says.

Finn frowns at him, placing his arm around me when I don’t move right away. “Come on, Melissa. The food’s not going to eat itself.”

Declan steps in front of Finn. “Do you mind?” he asks, fixing on the way his arm rests on my shoulders.

“What the fuck, Deck?” Finn counters, his arms slipping from my shoulders.

“Finn?”

A small voice has us turning in the direction of the walkway. A young woman, edges forward. She’s beautiful, despite that it’s clear she’s been crying. “Is everything okay?”

Finn jets down the steps, gathering her to him. She falls into his embrace, clutching him. “I’m sorry I’m late,” she stammers.

He whispers something I don’t quite here. “That’s Sol. His fiancée,” Declan says. “Let’s give them a moment.”

He’s speaking to me, but looking at them as if his heart is splintering. I step forward, pulling his attention away. “Declan, what’s wrong?” I ask him.

“Nothing,” he says, averting his gaze.

“I don’t believe you.” I adjust my hold on Fiona to stroke his arm. “What’s wrong, love?”

The way he withdraws tells me I couldn’t have picked a worst choice of words. “Let’s just get inside,” he says, refusing to meet my gaze. “It’s like the damn Arctic out here.”

For a moment I can’t even move, stunned by how upset he seems. But he’s not moving either. He waits for me to step forward, placing his hand on my back so carefully, I almost don’t feel him. I think in touching me, he’s trying to close the distance prying us apart. Yet the moment we’re greeted by the warmth from the foyer, he drops his hand and he pulls further away.

I pause in the foyer as Curran hurries forward, offering his thanks when he lifts Fiona from my arms. I barely hear him, too distracted by the noise and by the way Declan stands stiffly beside me.

I don’t know what’s happening, or why he’s keeping me at arm’s length.

I only know that it’s killing me.

CHAPTER 18

Melissa

Declan stays unusually quiet through most of dinner, barely saying anything to anyone. I wish I can say that the O’Briens don’t notice, but even though they maintain their animated chatter, I don’t miss the looks tossed my way. Even Sol, who seemed so upset when she arrived, tosses a worried glance my way. She nestles against Finn, who seems scared to let her go, whereas Declan I’m sure already has.

When Killian and Sofia say their goodnights to have dessert with her family, I use it as an excuse to leave, too.

“Dad’s tired,” I say. “Could you take us home?”

Declan nods. “Of course.”

We walk my father into his house in silence and settle him in despite his insistence that he’s fine. My hope is that Declan will tell me what’s troubling him when we’re alone. But that hope is quickly crushed.

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