Page 62 of Always Earned, Never Given

I glance back at him again, seeing how happy he is, and I know I made the right move letting Declan in. Even this frenetic pace we’re keeping seems to be the right fit for us. In one month, I’ve gone from not wanting a relationship to not being able to imagine this man anywhere but beside me.

It still scares me, but I’m trying to not let the fear win.

“Tommy...” I try getting his attention back on me as we pull into our driveway. “Will you share Declan with me?” Please let him not melt down.

Tommy opens his door and hops out. “I’ll share you with Declan, Belles.” He laughs again and runs to the front door. I don’t think he realized the difference between what I asked and what he said, but my heart felt it.

When we walk into the house, it smells fantastic.

“What stinks?” my chicken nugget connoisseur asks before running to the kitchen. “Belles, Declan’s here again,” he calls out. Then I hear, “Belles and I are gonna share you. Can you sleep in my bed tonight?”

By the time I make it into the kitchen, it’s to see Dec holding back his laughter. “I think I might be a little too big for your bed, buddy.” He looks over Tommy’s head, checking in with me.

I nod once.

“Fine,” my brother pouts. “But you’re gonna keep sleeping here, right? ’Cause I like it when you’re here.”

Oh, my heart.

I walk over and pull my brother into a reluctant hug. “I love you, munchkin.”

When Declan wraps both of us up in his arms, I wait for Tommy to pull away, but he doesn’t. Instead, his little arms go around each of us, and he squeezes with all his might.

“I’m not going anywhere, Tommy. I’ll sleep here for as long as you both let me.” I feel him squeeze Tommy and me a little tighter and know I’ll remember this as the moment Declan won my heart.

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