Page 95 of Come Back for Me
He smirks at me as though he knows what he spoiled tonight. That’s fine, he isn’t the only one who has something to use against the other. Declan forgets that this town is small, and we’re not in the days of no cell phones and where we have to sneak out to see someone. I can get a message to a girl he’s avoiding very quickly.
“We just got Hadley . . . our . . . my . . .”
“Our daughter,” I answer, saving her from trying to figure out if I’d told him or not.
Her smile is warm, face shining with joy. “Our daughter to bed. I’m sure you guys have a lot to catch up on, and it’s getting late, so I’m going to head to bed.”
“Please, don’t feel you have to run off on my account.” Declan tries to stop her.
“No, no, it’s not that. I have work in the morning, and I really am beat.”
I want to choke my brother.
“Dec, why don’t you go to bed, I’m sure you’re tired after your long, uninvited drive out here. Ellie and I were going to talk.”
“Connor, it’s really okay, we can talk anytime. You and your brother probably want to catch up.” She walks over to me, places a kiss on my cheek. “Good night.”
“I really wanted us to be happy.” I know I sound like a petulant kid, but I don’t care.
She smiles. “We can be happy tomorrow.”
Declan laughs but covers it with a cough.
He’s dead.
Ellie blushes and then takes a step backward. “Good night, and it was nice to meet you.”
“You too, Ellie.”
When she’s out of sight, I turn to my brother. “What the hell are you doing here, Declan?”
“We have to talk, and I thought it was best to do it in person.”
He turns and heads outside, giving me no other option than to follow.
Chapter Thirty-One
Connor
Declan and I walk in silence, and I can feel the tension rolling off him.
He keeps going, and as much as I want to stop him and demand he spill it, I know my brother. Sean and Jacob can be pushed, Dec can’t. He works through things in his mind, weighing each possibility before attacking. It’s why he’s successful in his business. He sees the field before making a play.
When we get to the barn that I’ve busted my ass in getting fixed up, he finally stops. “She’s pretty.”
At first, I’m not sure if he means the barn or Ellie, but then he looks back toward the house. “She’s more than just pretty.”
“Is that what this is? A crush or whatever you want to call it?”
“Fuck you for even asking me that,” I spit back at him. “I have a kid, Dec. A fucking kid. I love that woman, and I love my daughter.”
He raises both hands. “Easy! I’m asking because the last time I saw you, it wasfuck this placeandburn it down. Now you’re asking to buy some of the land on the very farm we swore we’d never come back to. I don’t know how the hell you thought any of us weren’t going to come see if aliens abducted you or whatever. For all we knew, she found out who I was and was extorting money from you.”
I clench my fists and release them at least three times before deciding I need to walk away for a minute. There has never been a time where I’ve actually wanted to raise my fists in anger toward my brothers. I may be willing to break my other promises, but that is one I never will. Declan must know how pissed I am because he stays silent as I work through it.
Once I’m calm enough, I turn and face him. “You may be willing to walk away from what you want, but this isn’t an option. If you three don’t want to sell me the land, that’s fine. I’ll take the money from the sale and buy my own. You don’t have to understand or agree with me, but I thought you’d at least respect my decision.”
“I do respect it! That’s why I’m fucking here! I called Sean and Jacob, who think you’re insane, but they also want you to be happy. How much do you know about Ellie?”
