Page 71 of Broken Promises

“You say that like there was anything in there to begin with,” I call back to Belle. I move to get up to help her put the food for tomorrow away, but Declan’s arms tighten around my waist.

“Gross,” Cal complains. I look over my shoulder and glare at him.

“I have a doorbell. If you used it, we wouldn’t be in this situation,” I point out uselessly.

“A minute later, and you would’ve seen things I’d have to remove your eyes for.” I snort at how possessive Declan is being. He still hasn’t loosened his hold on me. “I’m not kidding, Princess.”

Cal looks alarmed and then thoughtful. “Yeah, I get that. I’d kill anyone who saw me balls deep in Harlow.”

“They wouldn’t find the body if it was Belle,” Kai says, walking by us with his arms full of grocery bags.

“You all have issues,” I yell, making sure Cal and Kai can hear me in the kitchen. I finally pry myself away from Declan, giving him a soft kiss. He pouts, but it just makes me smile.

“I kind of like it,” Harlow says. Cora is on her hip and making grabby hands at Declan.

“Unca Deeeee!” she squeals, squirming to get to him. Harlow laughs and hands her over.

“How’s my favorite niece today?” he asks her, swinging her around. She giggles and flails her arms.

I watch them, warmth blooming in my chest at the sheer joy on both their faces.

“He’d make a great dad,” Belle says, coming to stand next to me. She laughs at the sudden panic on my face. “You’d be a great mom, you know. Doesn’t have to be right now. Just don’t rule it out because you lost yours.”

I glare at her.

“Hey, don’t be mad at me for knowing you’re scared you’d either be a bad parent or die and leave them. You’re my best friend, and I know you.” Belle pauses. “I think I know you better than I thought I did when everything with Declan went down.”

I smile and wrap my arms around her. It’s still a touchy subject, but not as much as it once was.

“You do,” I promise. “Speaking of dying.”

Declan freezes, and I can feel Belle stiffen from where my arms are still wrapped around her. Probably wasn’t the best way to break this news.

“I called the hospital and got my mom’s medical records,” I explain. Which does little to erase the worry on Belle and Declan’s faces. Cal, Kai, and Harlow make their way over to me, the worry clear on their faces too. I’ve always been terrified I’d get breast cancer like my mom did and die early. At twenty-five, I’m already close to how old she was when she died. So I contacted the hospital last week, and her records were in my email this morning. I read through them twice while Declan was at the gym with his team. It was a relief as much as it was heartbreaking.

Declan hands Cora to Cal and comes to stand in front of me. I let Belle go, but take her hand in mine, Declan’s in the other. “She apparently had diabetes since she was a child and never really took care of it. She technically died from end stage renal disease. Her kidneys were so damaged that they stopped functioning, and she didn’t want to be put on a donor list. Her death wasn’t as sudden as it felt.”

Declan and Belle both throw their arms around me, sighing with relief.

“I also called my doctor, and she said that there’s always a chance I could develop it later in life, but it’s becoming less likely as I get older. As long as I do my yearly bloodwork, I’m in the clear.”

“You just scared the shit out of me, Princess.”

“Yeah, that was a really fucked up segue,” Belle mutters.

“Sorry,” I say into Declan’s chest, Belle still clinging to my side. I look up and see the love shining in Dec’s eyes. I smile ashe leans in to kiss me. I feel Belle back away as he does, which makes me laugh into his mouth.

“Thanks for the heart attack, but we need to get Cora to bed,” Cal says. “Have fun watching your terrible movies.” I stick my tongue out at him at the same time Belle pinches his nipple. He screams and runs away from her.

“Where are you going?” I ask Declan. He was following Kai to the door.

“I have something I need to finish for tomorrow over at Kai’s. You and Belle can have your night and watch your Hallmark movies. I put the popcorn on the counter for you and there’s margarita mix in the pantry.” He kisses me. “I love you, Princess. I’ll be back in a few hours.”

I watch him walk out the door, admiring how good his butt looks in his jeans.

“He didn’t have to leave,” Belle says.

“I know. I think he wanted to let us have our tradition.” I have a lump in my throat just from how thoughtful he is. The man is turning me into an emotional mess.

---