It was a freaking miracle, honestly. The testosterone swirling between Declan and Bennett was unlike anything I’d ever seen.
Two unneutered wild animals preparing for battle… silently sniffing the other one out.
They finally hit a turning point when they realized they agreed on most things concerning me, and their shackles came down. Minimally. But it still happened.
“Tomorrow, are you free to be on the call with the new lawyer, so you can fill in any gaps Nora doesn’t remember or is unaware of?” Declan asks Bennett.
“Aye, I’m here to help. You know I want this to be over just as much as you. She’s been through enough.”
“Sheis right here, you know. The two of you have been chatting like I’m not sitting beside you.” And bybeside you, I mean beside Declan and squished to his side like we’re Siamese twins. The second we sat down, my chair was dragged to knock against his, and in an instant, his hand was around my nape in his signature hold.
I’m unsure if he was marking his territory or honestly trying to comfort me, knowing I didn’t want to talk about all this and re-hash every detail of my screwed-up life.
“And you know I don’t actually need a lawyer. I’m only a witness. The prosecutor is going to coach me.” They both stare at me deadpan.
“Yeah, not happening,” Declan says at the same time Bennett says, “Over my dead body.”
Declan hired a fancy schmancy lawyer for me, even though the trial is between the state and Conor. Declan thinks it would be beneficial if I have a lawyer to prep me. The prosecutor will also prep me before the case starts, but I’m down for extra guidance if Declan thinks this could help. I’ll do anything to ensure Conor gets locked up.
“I’m going to the loo—”
I stop Declan mid-sentence and raise my eyebrow. “What did you just say?”
He raises an eyebrow right back, “You forget I’ve been living in England for almost fifteen years. Saying the loo is nothing. Wait until you hear what else I say,” He laughs.
“Oh feck, you’re one of those posh stuck-up brits now, aren’t you? I should have known it with the house.”
He rolls his eyes, “Aye, that’s me, a stuck-up brit. You got me. May I use thetoiletnow, Miss King?”
I smile, “Aye. You sure can.” He leans down to kiss my forehead and then walks toward the back of the restaurant.
I turn to Bennett, knowing he’s not happy. He was playing cool, calm, and collected for Declan.
“Just don’t, Ben.”
“Don’t be mad that you fecking left without a word? ‘Oh, let me call you right back, Bennett’, and then I get a text that you’re in fecking London. I was a nervous wreck, Fiona!”
“Can you keep your freaking voice down?” I look around, embarrassed. “I understand why you’re mad. I do. I should have spoken to you sooner. It wasn’t right. You’ve been with me, protecting me, for ten years, and you deserved more than me blowing you off.”
I’ve shocked him. I know he was expecting me to put up more of a fight.
But it’s the truth, it was wrong of me not to consider Bennett, I wasn’t trying to. At the time, I couldn’t think of anything else than Declan. I won’t tell Ben that, even though it’s the truth.
Sometimes you have to make choices in life, and this time I picked my love over my friend.
“Did you just apologize?” He lets his lip perk slightly on one side. I always told him he had a devilish grin.
“Oh, don’t be such a gobshite, or I’ll take it back.”
He swallows, and I see him drop his attitude. “I was so worried. Do you know what it felt like when I got to your flat, and it was empty? I knew when I called earlier that night that Declan was there and said you were leaving. I felt sick to my stomach realizing you were truly gone, without me. We’ve always been a team.”
I hate to see him hurt because of me. “I am sorry, Ben. You’re like a brother to me, and I treated you so poorly. I should have called you immediately because I would have felt the same if the roles had been reversed. I hope you know I would have never survived without you and Agnes. I was nervous, and it all happened so fast, again I’m so sorry.”
I get up to hug him. I tolerate a handful of people in this world, and Bennett is one of them.Most of the time.
“There are a lot of cute girls here checking you out, you know,” I whisper, but he ignores me as usual. He will never discuss women with me. It’s infuriating.
I’m not joking, though, about the girls. I saw many heads turn when we walked in.