Page 116 of Always Be an Us

He's quiet for a few more seconds, and I can feel him weighing his next words before he says them. "Do you mind talking about what happened to them?"

I shake my head. "They died in a fire when I was young."

"God, that's terrible." His expression and his voice hold the appropriate amount of horror and then he adds, "Wait...that wouldn't bethehotel fire would it?"

Crap. Of course, he would put two and two together.

"Yeah," I admit. "It was."

"Jesus." He stares at me like I've lost my mind. "I'm so sorry. And here I have you helping me renovate the place. You should have told me to fuck right off, Emma."

"No, it's fine." I hold up my hands. "I don't mind."

"Of course you do. I mean how can you even stand to be around the place?"

"No, it's really fine. I don't know how to explain it but it's comforting being there." I shrug. "I don't know. They both worked there. And maybe I'm crazy, but it makes me feel a little closer to them."

He eyes me but rather than call me insane, understanding fills his gaze. He smiles softly. "You're not crazy. You're incredible."

And then he reaches down and kisses me.

I savor the sweetness of it as he picks me up in his arms, effortlessly as though I weigh nothing. He gently sips at my lips and I open up for him as he walks us back to the single couch that wasn't overturned.

I feel him reach down, clearing some debris, before he sits and arranges me in his lap. Then his hand goes behind my head, deepening the kiss, drowning me in the sensation.

This time, the lovemaking is slow and silent. The air is heavy with words unsaid, but we come together instinctively, neither of us needing to tell each other what we need.

It's like our mouths and our bodies are led to each other by fate, fused by a destiny neither of us knows yet.

And when we hit the bittersweet peak, I know one thing.

If my breakup with Xavier hurt, then the one with Declan just might destroy me.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Declan

The next day, as I drive Rachel back to the airport, I notice her watching me out of the corner of her eye. It’s not the first time she's done it. She’s been giving me odd looks since yesterday, and part of me thinks that she’s only doing it to get a rise out of me.

If so, I refuse to give her the satisfaction.

Amelia lounges in the back seat, her eyes glued to Madam Thornley's journal. She's ignoring the two of us, so the silence in the car builds. We haven’t turned on the radio, so the only sound is the smooth hum of the car and the near silent whoosh of the AC.

But then Rachel suddenly starts humming and tapping her finger on the dashboard until I finally break. "What?"

She grins crookedly and says, "Nothing."

She says it in that sing-songy "I know something you don’t know" tone, which means she likely wants to get her fill of teasing me first before she tells me what’s on her mind.

"I’m not going to ask you again, Rachel," I say. "If there’s something you want to say, then say it."

"If you two are going to fight, can you do it quietly?" Amelia grumbles without looking up. "I’m reading and it’s getting good."

"We’re not going to fight sweetie," Rachel says in the same syrupy sweet tone. "I was just thinking about your dad’s girlfriend and how nice she is."

"Emma is nice," Amelia says distractedly.

"Super nice," Rachel corroborates. "Almost too nice for him."

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