Page 119 of Always Be an Us

I answer without looking at the caller ID. "What?"

"Well, you seem like you're in a good mood," my father says.

"Sorry. There’s been some complications with the reconstruction."

"Meaning?"

I don't want to tell my father about the problems yet, so I say, "Don't worry I'm figuring it out." And then I pause. "Back in the day, when you stayed at the hotel, did anything particularly unlucky happen?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, strange things. Things you couldn't explain."

"Don't tell me you're suddenly believing in all that hocus pocus now?" My father sounds amused.

"No. Never mind," I say, rubbing my hand over my face. "I must be losing my mind."

Chapter Thirty-Five

Emma

He’s behind me.

I feel the gaze of his dark presence following me, even though I can’t see him. Damn it, why can't I see him? Whenever I turn around, there's nothing but wind and the cobbled pavement leading out of the alley.

God, why did I come into this alley in the first place?

The spicy scent of leftover curry from the restaurant next door peppers the air, mingling with the acrid aroma of my fear. The streetlights barely illuminate the steps in front of me, and darkness looms in the distance like a threat. Even when I listen closely, I can’t hear the hint of footsteps behind me. Yet I feel him anyway, a steady menace coming closer and closer.

Finally, I break into a run.

My footsteps steadily tap against the pavement, my breath panting in the air. It’s only a light jog at first, but when I hear something fall over, perhaps a garbage can, I speed up. That fear is a creature in my chest now, tightening to the point where I can no longer breathe.

I push my limbs to go faster to overcome the fear, but they lag. And the burn in my muscles can no longer be ignored. Now I can finally hear the drum of footsteps behind me. Someone gave chase. They're getting closer and closer.

I stumble on a rock, falling.

Possessive hands grab my shoulders and spin me around. I stare into the crazed eyes of a boy I used to love.

"Gotcha," he says with a smile.

I bolt up in bed, gasping for air, and I'm immediately dragged into strong, muscular arms. Instinctively I fight against it, struggling and hitting at him, trying to get him to let me go, but then a voice rumbles out of the body.

"Easy," he says. "Take it easy. You’re okay."

Familiarity immediately eases my tension. I know that voice. It's not Xavier's. And the body holding me doesn’t smell like faintly sweet cologne. Instead, it's the warm scent of sandalwood that greets me, mixed in with the coffee he had earlier.

Declan.The name echoes somewhere deep inside.Declan has you.

And just like that, my flight or fight instinct dissipates, and I relax against his hold, allowing him to calm my runaway heartbeat.

"That’s it," he coos, rubbing my back. "You’re not in danger. You’re here with me."

"Mmm," I murmur my agreement as I shut my eyes and enjoy his caress.

I know eventually it will sink in that I just made a fool of myself in front of him. And eventually, I'll have to deal with the embarrassment of that. Declan will also have questions for me and that will trigger even more memories that I try to keep buried.

But for now, I just want to enjoy being in his embrace.

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