Page 54 of Declan

I force a smile, but I’m not fully there.

Because while Wesley’s watching the waiter refill our water glasses, Declan shifts in his seat, his fingers digging into my thigh.

My breath catches.

And just like that, all the fire I felt earlier is back. Blazing.

I can’t be mad at Wes.

Not when I’m the one playing with fire under his nose.

Dinner continues with mostly awkward conversation about the weather.

Once it’s over, Wesley apologizes again, and I hug him, thanking him for dinner but say nothing about Jeanne.

Wes tears out of the parking lot, his bike a loud, angry roar disappearing into the night. I stand there in the stillness he leaves behind, arms wrapped around myself, not because I’m cold, but because my chest feels like it might crack open from everything I’m holding in.

He told me about Jeanne. Blurted it out like ripping off a Band-Aid, then waited for me to bleed.

But I didn’t. Not really. I was angry, sure, but only for a second.

Because the truth is, I’ve been sleeping with his best friend.

I hear the familiar crunch of gravel behind me. I don’t have to look to know it’s Declan.

Of course, he waited.

Of course, he stayed.

“Thought you’d be gone by now,” I murmur without turning.

“I figured you might need a minute.”

I finally glance over my shoulder. He’s standing there, hands shoved in his pockets, watching me like he always does, quiet, steady, intense. Like I’m a problem he’s dying to solve with his hands and his mouth and every inch of him pressed against me.

“I’m fine,” I say.

“Liar.”

I huff a soft laugh. “That obvious?”

He walks toward me slowly, the way he always does, like he’s giving me time to run, even though we both know I never do. I never want to.

When he’s close enough, I tilt my head up to meet his eyes.

“He told me about Jeanne,” I say.

Declan nods once. “I figured he would.”

“It was just once?”

He nods again. “Drunk. Stupid. Over before it started.”

I swallow hard. “I wanted to be mad. I really did.”

“But?”

“But I’m sleeping with you,” I whisper. “So what right do I have?”

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