Page 77 of The Ring Thief
An arm slides around me again as Declan leans down, lips brushing my ear. “My mother is beckoning us over, looking very insistent. Join me?” I appreciate that he’s asking, and when I follow his stare, I see Abigail and Darcy standing by themselves. His mother is in a deep-blue gown, waving an enthusiastic arm, while Darcy stands at her side, looking bored, dressed in a glittery black pantsuit.
We leave Dad and Julie with plans to meet at our designated table later for dinner, before Declan links our arms, leading me across the room.
“I’m surprised they came,” I say. “Especially with all the news about your—” he shoots me a dark look, and I correct myself, “About Donald.”
“Mom wants to carry on like nothing’s changed. Darcy helps with that.” The happiness in his eyes dims, and I hate it, knowing he’s struggling with everything his father has done, and the far-reaching consequences for his family. “I think she’s good at pretending the gossip doesn’t hurt, but so many of her friends have already shunned her, rescinding her invitations to regular get-togethers.”
“She’s got you, as well as Nolan and Darcy,” I soothe him.
He makes a noncommittal sound as we reach them. Abigail draws me into a tight hug, her enthusiastic greeting loud. “Lily! It’s so good to see you!”
“Mom,” Darcy mutters. “Can you chill out? If you don’t, I swear I’m going to slip a valium in your drink.”
Abigail pulls back enough to shoot her daughter an appalled look. “Did you just threaten to drug me?” She looks at Declan, eyes wide. “She did, didn’t she? She threatened to spike my drink. Where on earth did I go wrong to have such horrible children? One of them is basically a ghost, the other ignores all of my calls and now this!” She lets out a haughty sniff, but her eyes are amused, especially when both Declan and Darcy groan. “Now, Lily, this is why I need you around. My children are clearly heathens.”
I shake my head, giving Darcy a small smile. “I think Darcy’s pretty awesome, and I don’t think she’d actually follow through on that threat. Nolan, though? He should be worried. Darcy would definitely smother him with a pillow if he pushed her far enough.”
Darcy sends me a smile back. “He’d deserve it too,” she mumbles, the smile fading back into something more neutral. “How long do we need to stay?”
“As long as we need to,” Abigail says primly.
“Could you be any more vague?”
Wanting to head off the bickering, I look around, wondering, “Where is Nolan?”
“He promised he’d come,” Abigail says, “but I’m expecting a message at any moment telling me he’s come down with a deadly illness.” She grips my hands. “Lily, how have you been? I haven’t seen you since that day in the park.” She smiles warmly at me, and I guess we’re pretending that the annulment didn’t happen. “We need to catch up more often.”
There’s tension around her eyes and Declan’s earlier words replay in my head, sympathy welling in my chest. “I’m good, Abigail. And that sounds nice. Maybe we could get lunch one day soon.”
Her expression brightens like a lightbulb has just turned on. Declan’s hand tightens around my ribs, and I peek up at him. He’s staring back at me, brown eyes shining with gratitude.
“I’d love that so much!” Abigail trills, but then she looks at Declan. “I’d actually like to have a chat with you before they call us for dinner, Declan.” She looks at me with a soft smile. “Do you mind?”
Declan looks at me too, brow flicked up in question, and I shake my head. “I’ll be fine here with Darcy.”
He reaches out, brushing his fingers over my cheek. “Okay. Come find me if you need me. I won’t be far.”
I’m not sure what pushes me to do it, whether it’s the setting, the mood, or just him, but I hook my hand around his neck and drag his head to mine, pressing my lips against his surprised mouth in a soft kiss. Before he can even think of reciprocating, I pull away and turn to Darcy. “Now, we’ve got some catching up to do.”
CHAPTER 33
Declan
Lily moves to Darcy’s side, her smile friendly. There’s a bittersweet ache in my chest, knowing the two of them had been close before the wedding, but I think this is the first time they’ve talked since.
My mother links our arms together, leading me away. We stroll around the outside of the opulent ballroom, more than a few eyes following our path. I’m not entirely sure what I expected when we came here tonight, having bought our seats well before everything with my father became public fodder, but everyone seems to be hiding behind polite smiles this evening, even as their curious eyes throw out silent questions.
I’m relieved for my mother, because she cares a little too much about what other people think. It was ingrained in her early on that she needed to project the perfect image, hiding away anything that might blemish it.
There was no hiding Donald, though, or what he’d done.
As we walk further away from Lily, my skin itches, every instinct telling me to go back to her. I look over my shoulder, catching sight of the bright color of her dress and finding her in an animated conversation with Darcy, her smile bright.
With a heavy exhale, I face forward, focusing fully on my mother,just as she tells me, “I’m glad to see you here with Lily. You seem…lighter.”
“We’re not together,” I remind her.
“I know, but it’s a chance.” She pauses, her brow creased in thought. “It’s a step in the right direction. And being with her here tonight…well, it sends a statement, doesn’t it? The gossip has been”—her nose scrunches in a delicate expression of distaste—“unkind. So, you being seen with the Fosters goes a long way in repairing some of that damage.”
