Page 10 of Destined Lovers

I sit in the car for a few more minutes and think one last time about what happened tonight and how stupidly I thought if I hid, he would leave. I should have known better.

Declan never gave up on anything.

“Riley.” Killian, a local and regular at the pub, calls from across the bar.

“What’s up, Kill? You can’t possibly need another drink. You won’t even be able to walk home at this point,” I kid. Even though Killian is a regular, he doesn’t drink much. More interested in people and music.

He nods in the opposite direction. “The lad over there has been following you with his eyes all night. You know him?”

I smirk at his overprotectiveness. I live a lonely life but am lucky to have a few unexpectedly close people to keep me sane. Killian being one.

I turn my head, and that smirk drops in record time. I whip back around so he can’t see me. What the hell is he doing here in Ballyclare? I could bet my life on it that Declan has never stepped foot in this small country town in his thirty-three years. So why now?

My heart rate picks up, and before I know it, I’m running into the back to hide.

Killian is hot on my heels though, probably wondering what the hell is going on.

“You want to explain what’s going on, Riley, and whose arse I have to kick?” I shake my head. My mouth opens, but no words come out. I can’t explain this to him. I can’t explain this to anyone except Agnes… and maybe Bennett, but that’s even a stretch.

I’ll have to shut my mouth or lie.

“He’s no one.” I cringe at those simple words because they couldn’t be further from the truth. He is my everything.

“You want to try again because I can tell by that manic look on your face that you’re lying.” I roll my eyes at the observation. I should have known better, he’s amazing at reading everyone.

“He’s no one, really. I knew him when I was a kid, that’s all.”

“You want me to ask him to leave? I don’t like seeing you like this, Riley.” Ugh, I’ve had ten years to get used to the name, and I still hate it.

I shake my head. “Trust me. If you ask him, he won’t leave. Not yet. I’ll wait a while back here, and he’ll go eventually. It’s getting late, and all his friends are leaving.”

A tinge of jealousy passes through me at the thought of him and his friends. His new friends probably know everything about him. Who gets to see him and talk to him every day.

“Riley?” Killian breaks me out of my thoughts.

“Sorry, what’s that?”

He eyes me suspiciously but then laughs. “Okay, let me know if you change your mind. Although, he’s a pretty big lad, so I’m not sure what I can really do. I know I’m buff,” he says while flexing a muscle. “But I’m not sure I can take him on.”

“He used to play rugby.”

Killian’s eyes widen with recognition. “Aye, is that Declan Buckley? He grew up not far from here, aye? I thought he looked familiar.”

I nod my confirmation. I think he’s getting the hint that I’m not keen on talking anymore, so he pats my shoulder and lets me know he’s sticking around a while in case I need him.

I text my boss, I’m taking a break, and that I’m not feeling well. He tells me to head home, but there is no way I’m not collecting the tips I made tonight. Although not customary, I have a few locals that always leave me something when they settle their tab, and knowing that Hannah is working tonight, I’ll need to get back there the second Declan goes. That bitch will steal all my money, and knowing her, she’ll deny it until she’s blue in the face.

I don’t let myself for even one second think about what’s going on out there, about Declan, or anything else because I’ll lose my mind. Literally.

After at least an hour, I decide I’ll take the risk and head back into the pub. It’s almost closing time, anyway.

I get stopped right when I walk out by guys asking for their bill, and before I can even answer, I can feel him.

He never left.

I should have known better.

I shake my head out of my thoughts. I’ve allowed myself enough time to think about it, but that’s it. I need to move on now. So, I start my car and head back home.

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