Page 37 of Fight for Me
“How am I holding on?” I say with a bit more anger than I wanted.
Connor laughs once. “You showed up two months ago and went to talk, mauled the girl, and came back with grass stains. Love her or don’t, Declan. You can’t have both. Do I want you guys to be friends? Sure. Do I think it’s possible? Not a fucking chance. You love Sydney with more than your heart. If Ellie and I couldn’t be together, I wouldn’t be able to see her. Hell, she was married, and I couldn’t handle it. I had heronenight. One. You had Sydney for years. Tell me that the thought of her with some other guy doesn’t make you crazy.”
I can’t.
Hell, I can’t even imagine it.
“How does this change anything?”
He shakes his head and then grips my shoulder. “That, brother, is what you need to figure out.”
Chapter Eleven
Sydney
My office is a mess—like my life. It’s late Friday evening, and while my assistant, Devney, is leaving to go on a date, I’m stuck here trying to go over a deposition.
It’s so sexy being me.
“You’re sure you don’t want me to stay?” Devney asks as she walks into my office.
“No, it’s totally fine.”
She gives me a knowing look that says it isn’t fine, but I’m not going to force her to stay. Devney has been my assistant for the last two years, and she’s a godsend. This office is always running in perfect harmony because she doesn’t allow anyone slack, including me. I thank God that when she came back from college, she chose to stay here. She’s been a great friend, and an exemplary employee.
“I can tell Oliver I need to cancel.”
Her boyfriend takes her on a date once a month, no matter what, and that’s tonight. I stand quickly. “Absolutely not! You will go on your date and be happy, damn it.”
She rolls her eyes. “You’re a mess.”
“No shit.”
She doesn’t even know the half of it.
Devney turns and then stops. “Hey, are you feeling okay?”
“Yes, why?”
“You just seem … off. Is it because Declan is back?”
I flop back into my chair and huff. “Why does everyone assume it’s because of him? Am I that transparent?”
Devney is best friends with Sean Arrowood, and since he and Declan are the closest in age, we all ended up hanging out a lot in high school. While Devney and I are nothing alike, we’ve always gotten along.
“Not transparent.” She smiles softly. “But I can’t imagine it’s easy for you, Syd. You loved him for a long time, and Sean asked how you were holding up when I spoke to him earlier.”
Great, I’m the family topic of conversation. “Declan and I have our issues that are what they are. I’m not off because of him.” I’m off because I’m pregnant.
There’s a knock at the door of the office and her brows furrow. “That’s weird.”
“Are we expecting anyone?”
“No, but …”
I get to my feet again, and we both walk to the door. My office is known as being not just a place for great legal advice but also a safe haven for people. My sister used to joke that my law firm was more of a shelter than anything else because I don’t turn anyone away if I can help it. There are many women who suffer in relationships and don’t feel there’s an out—I’m the out.
When I pull it open, I almost burst out laughing. It’s a stray all right, but not anyone in need.
