Page 80 of Declan

I thought telling Wesley the truth would be the hardest part. I was wrong.

Losing her?

That’s hell.

A knock sounds at the door.

I don’t move.

Another knock, louder.

I finally shove to my feet and open it.

Lex stands there with a six-pack and that same unreadable expression he always wears. “Didn’t think you should be alone tonight.”

I step aside, and he walks in like he owns the place.

He tosses me a beer and drops onto the couch.

“Wes still breathing?” I ask, sitting across from him.

“Barely. I think he pulled something trying to kill you.” Lex smirks but doesn’t laugh. He takes a sip, then looks me dead in the eye. “You good?”

“No,” I answer honestly. “I’m the furthest thing from good.”

He nods slowly. “You love her.”

“More than I’ve ever loved anything in my goddamn life.”

“And now?”

“I don’t know,” I whisper. “I don’t know if she’ll ever talk to me again. I let her walk away thinking I don’t love her. Thinking she was just some dirty secret. And Wesley, he’s never going to forgive me.”

Lex leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “You made your choice. Now you gotta live in it. If Lena’s the one, you don’t stop. Not now. Not tomorrow. You don’t fucking stop until she knows, every day, every breath, that she’s your entire world.”

I nod, eyes stinging. “I’m going to lose them both.”

“Maybe,” Lex says. “But if you don’t fight for her? You’ll lose yourself too.”

We sit in silence for a while, and even though he’s not talking, I do appreciate the company. He’s right, I shouldn’t be alone tonight because I’m unpredictable right now. If he wasn’t here, I’d probably have gone back to Wesley’s, and we’d both be busted and bleeding. If he wasn’t here, I might be banging on Lena’s door, shouting for her to let me explain.

“You gotta try to stay outta your head, brother,” Lex says, breaking the silence.

“Not sure that’s possible.”

“You have a woman who is depending on you. Waiting on you to fight. The only thing you should be thinking about right now is how to make that shit right. Everything else, well, you handle that after. You got me?”

Exhaustion hits hard and fast as I nod. “Yeah, man. I got you. And seriously, I appreciate you being here tonight. I needed it, but I think I need to get some sleep.”

He stands, tosses me one last glance, and heads for the door.

“Don’t be a coward tomorrow, Declan.”

And then he’s gone.

The silence returns.

But now I’ve got something to hold onto.

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