Page 13 of Destined Lovers

“I came here to talk, not for a peep show.” A deep raspy familiar voice says, stopping me in my tracks.

He didn’t give up.

“What are you doing here?” I croak, then take a deep breath to prepare myself before slowly turning toward him.

My breath hitches and my eyes go wide. How did I not notice this the other night?

He’s…he’s gorgeous—mygod.

Time has been on Declan’s side. He puts the saying tall, dark, and handsome to shame.

I scan his body unashamedly, taking in each inch of what I’ve missed over the years. His muscular build, his tousled hair, to his new tattoos I’ve never seen.

But, when I reach his eyes, they tell me everything I need to know. He is not happy.

That’s Declan’s tell. Most people don’t realize his eyes are the most expressive part of his body and always have been. This is why I couldn’t look at him the other day. I knew they would tell me everything I already knew.

He hates me or hates what I did. Worst of all, he’s hurt.

We stand like this for what seems like forever, the silence deafening and the tension cutting through the night’s air.

I can’t stand it anymore.

“You can’t be back here,” I finally break the silence, then walk toward my car.

“Don’t you dare walk away from me again!” Declan’s voice booms through the dark night.

Once again, making me freeze. He’s never raised his voice to me.Ever.

I bow my head. “I have to go home, Declan. I’m sorry.” He has no idea how sorry I am.

He’s fast approaching my car and somehow gets in front of me, blocking the driver’s side door. His arm brushes against mine, and it takes everything inside me not to shiver from the contact. I’ve dreamed of touching, hugging, and kissing him every day since I’ve seen him last, so even that slight brush of an arm has my body set off like a firework.

“Hanora, I’m not kidding. You owe me an explanation, and I won’t leave here until I get one. You may be the stubborn one, but I’m determined, and I’m not going back to London until we talk.”

So, he does still live in London…I wasn’t sure. Especially since we ran into each other here in Ireland, I thought maybe he had moved home. But he’s never had a connection to Ireland as I did; he was never meant to end up here. I’ve known that since we were kids.

I stopped following Declan’s life many years ago. At first, I thought that following his career, life, friends, and even his parent’s career would keep me close to him, instead, it was pure torture.

Just the thought of it has my heart racing at how much I’ve missed, how I don’t know this gorgeous man standing in front of me anymore like I used to.

I always hoped we would fall back into the friendship we had, as no time had passed. Fall back into the love and life we were creating for each other, but I know all too well life is not that kind.

I may be living in a twilight zone nightmare, but Declan has had ten years to live a fulfilled life.

Maybe he wants closure, perhaps he’s ready to leave me behind, and that’s why he wants to talk.

I shake my head. I can’t think like that.

God, my thoughts are like a freaking rollercoaster, nausea and all.

Declan’s still waiting for a response, and I don’t know what to say. I’m not usually short on words, but he has me at a loss here because it’s impossible to form a sentence.

I’ve gone completely mute.

His eyes soften slightly, probably able to tell I’m struggling with this.It’s too much.

Declan being here, in front of me, at my job, in Ireland.It’s all too much.

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