Page 21 of In this Moment

ChapterFive

“Are you serious?”

Declan knew his family would be surprised to hear he’d proposed toEvie.

No. That was an understatement. He knew his family would not only be surprised. They’d also be pissed off, happy, angry, excited, and sad, all at the same time. Some of them feeling more of one emotion than the others.

Chelsea had opted for pissed off as her emotion of choice. “How could you be engaged to Evie Rose, and I didn’t even know you were dating? That’s bullshit, Dec.”

He sat on the couch in his brother Ian’s living room. He didn’t bother defending himself. At least not to Chelsea. She needed to run her course before she’d hear anything he had tosay.

“How could you not say anything?” She ranted. “I mean, Declan, come on! It’s me. For God’s sake, you had to know we’d be happy for you. I’m your sister, Dec. Your sister.” She threw up her arms and paced to the other side of the living room, giving one of the other siblings aturn.

“Dude.” Mitch shook his head. “Evie?”

Declan nodded. “Of course, Evie. Always.”

“You just finished telling me that you couldn’t date her. Remember?”

He remembered well. It had been less than two weeks ago when all four brothers had been hanging out on the docks at Dockside, waiting for Evie to pick up Milena and deliver her for Cal’s big romantic surprise. Mitch had outright asked him why he wasn’t asking Evie out on a date when it was clear he was attracted to her. Declan’s reply to his brothers had been truthful.

“She has akid.”

“I know and Jonah is a great kid. Do you have a problem withkids?”

“No.” Declan jumped up and paced to the edge of the dock. “Not at all. I just know it’s not easy for a single mom to date is all and I need to be respectful of that and of what I can offer before I offer anything atall.”

“That sounds pretty cryptic.”

“It’s just a date,” Iansaid.

“No.” Dec shook his head. “I don’t think it could be just adate.”

Looking back, it had been strange foreshadowing for what had happened earlier that day. Declan was right. It could never be just a datewithEvie.

Apparently it had to be an engagement.

It had been less than twelve hours since he’d proposed and he already had to remind himself that it wasn’treal.

“I don’t know what to tell you,” Declan said. “I meant what I said.” He looked down at the table and tapped his fingers. “I’m not dating her.” He looked up at Mitch. “I’m marryingher.”

Declan hated lying to his brother, but he’d promised Evie and it was a promise he was going to keep. The stakes were toohigh.

“It just came out of left field,” Ian said. “I mean, you guys didn’t even have one date, didyou?”

“I just finished telling you I could never have just a date withEvie.”

“That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard,” Cal said. “How do you get engaged without ever dating? It’s not right.”

“It’s not wrong.” He’d had enough of sitting there listening to his family rant. He could take a lot—heck, he expected to take a lot—but there was a limit to it too. “Listen,” he said, addressing his family. “I’m sorry if this has taken you all off guard. I know you think we should all share everything all the time, but some things don’t need to be shared.”

“Dec, it’s notthat—”

He shook his head, stopping Cal from continuing. “I don’t want to hear any more.” He knew he had no right to be upset with his family, not when he was standing there lying to their faces, but he couldn’t help it. They didn’t know it wasn’t true, and not one of them was supportive. Not even when he’d been nothing but supportive of each and every one of them with all of their relationships. He pushed up from the table and shook his head. “I can put up with a lot from you guys, but I’m done with this today.” He turned to Mitch. “I didn’t say a word about how you got engaged and married all in the same night after just finding out you’re going to have a baby with a woman you just met, didI?”

He didn’t give him an opportunity to answer before he shook his head. “No,” Dec said. “I didn’t. Except to congratulate you.” He turned to his oldest brother. “And you,” he said to Ian. “After all the drama you and Gwen went through, you proposed to her in front of everyone and what did Isay?”

“You congratulatedme.”

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