Page 90 of Destined Lovers

Holy fecking shite, what do I do right now?

I’m a brave person, a badass bitch most of the time. But right now, at this moment, I’m the most cowardly person I know. I want to run.

Far, far away.

Knowing I have very little chance of escaping him if I try, I have to turn and face the music.

Slowly I move toward him and stare wide-eyed, in shock. I can’t form one single word.

God, he’s gorgeous in a fitted dark suit and tie. His hair is brushed back, one lone piece has fallen over his eyebrow.

My fingers itch to move it. To run them through his dark, perfect hair.

His eyes, dark and menacing, have me wanting to wither to the ground as he slowly picks the phone up to his ear, never blinking once.

“Sadie, cancel the flight. Something just came up.”…“Aye, everything is okay. You’re okay still with Maeve?”…“Thanks. I’ll call you later to explain,” Declan says, hanging up the phone, never breaking eye contact.

“I won’t repeat myself. Who. The. Fuck. Is. Fiona?” he says through bared teeth and a clenched jaw. A sudden wave of emotions washes over me when I look at him. I’ve never seen him like this.Angry.

I knew I had hurt him by leaving when he found me last year. His tortured eyes told me everything I needed to know. Now I see nothing but black holes of emptiness. Completely blank and void of any emotion.

My mouth opens and shuts, getting dryer by the second. What do I say? What do I do?

“Umm…It’s hard to explain who she is,” I look down and whisper to the ground.

“Feck. I’ve been the nice guy my whole life. I’ve never put myself first, especially when it came to you,” he spits. “Now, right at this moment, I’m choosing to do just that. And what I want is for you to tell the goddamn truth. Once and for all.”

I raise my eyes to look at him, and for a split second, I see the sad emotion he’s trying to hide, but he’s still angry.

Do I blame him? No.

Not even a little.

I can’t imagine what he must think of me, running without explanation. He deserves so much more. He deserves the truth. Although, If I tell him before I’m ready, what would have been the purpose of staying away for the last eleven years? Torturing us both, depriving us of the life we’ve wanted together.

“I-I… don’t know what to say, Dec,” I mutter, unable to raise my voice above a whisper.

“Just tell me why,” his voice croaks as a loud horn blares through the air.

It’s then I realize we’re still standing outside the art gallery. “I need to go to work,” I blurt out, and his eyes snap back to mine.

“Hanora King, or is it Riley? I mean Fiona. Whatever the feck your name is now. You listen, and you listen good. If you walk away from me without an explanation, I will never speak to you again. I can promise you that. Unlike you, I don’t break my promises.” He scoffs.

A sense of dread fills me when I realize this is it.

It’s do or die.

I point to the gallery, “I have to go, Dec. I’m done at ten; you can come meet me after.” I turn to walk toward the gallery because I have nothing else to say. We can’t stand here and talk on the sidewalk about my past. I need time to process that I’m about to tell him everything I’ve always wanted but never did to keep us both safe.

He reaches for my arm and spins me around so we’re face to face. “Nora, so help me, god, if you think I’m waiting until tonight to get answers. Go in there and tell your boss, or whomever you need to speak to, that you’re sick and can’t come in today.”

I take a deep breath. I can do this. I need to do this.For me, for us. Knowing if I don’t, I will truly lose Declan forever.

“No one is here yet. I’ll just text them.” I take my phone out quickly to let my boss know I won’t be in. She won’t be happy. Tonight is crucial for the gallery’s success.

Not as crucial as Declan and I.

“I have a flat upstairs. We can go there to talk.” Instinctually, I grab his hand, but he pulls back fast and out of reach. It’s almost impossible for me to hide my flinch.

---