Page 137 of Destined Lovers

“You look like a cartoon character. Close your mouth.”

“I do not,” I huff.

I try to look away, failing miserably when they start walking in our direction, and then before I know it, they are standing right in front of us.

Feck off. Are these Declan’s friends?

The handsome one with the perfect hair slaps Declan on the back, and the pretty one with piercing green eyes and dimples messes with his hair and kisses his cheek. At the same time, the skinny, well-dressed one laughs at their antics.

“Hey asshole,” the pretty one says, and I realize he’s American.

“Fiona, these are the lads… Wills.” He points to the handsome one. “Jackson, Sadie’s brother.” He points to the pretty one. “And, Marco.” He points to the well-dressed one.

This is the first time he has uttered the name Fiona.

Never once did Riley come out of his mouth, but I guess when you’re put in an impossible situation, he has no other choice.

“Hello, love, nice to meet you,” Marco says as he leans down and kisses both cheeks. He’s English, but I think I detect an Italian accent.

Jackson walks up next, and plastered on his face, is a smirk I can only imagine wins him all the girls. “Hello, beautiful,” He kisses me, too, then winks, and Declan punches him in the stomach.

“What the fuck was that for, dickhead?” Declan doesn’t answer because he’s staring at Wills.

Who hasn’t said hello. He’s standing back, staring at me like I’m the enemy.

I know Declan hasn’t told him about me and has asked Sadie not to tell him either, so he’s probably wondering why his best mate is sitting here with a strange girl.

I can’t imagine this close-knit group bringing random girls around often, or ever. Well, maybe Jackson. I get the feeling that random girls are all he knows.

Wills finally walks over and gives me a hand to shake,no kiss. Gray, serious eyes bore into me through his thick dark lashes, then finally says, “Nice to meet you, Fiona,” dragging out my name in contempt while he now looks over at Declan.

Is he mad?What’s this guy’s deal?

They all take a seat, and Declan leans over to whisper in my ear, “He’s not being a jerk to you. He’s wondering why I haven’t said anything about you. We tell each other everything.”

I nod my head. That’s what I figured.

Declan puts his arm around me, pushes my hair aside, and palms the back of my neck.

I can feel Wills’s eyes on us, but I don’t turn my head. Afraid of the look I’ll give him back, and I don’t want to start off on the wrong foot with these guys.

“Where are the girls?” Declan asks the table.

Jackson shakes his head. “You’d think they were getting ready to go to the fucking ball.EspeciallyCharlie. She’s almost four years old. Why does she have so many dresses to pick from?”

A four-year-old? I didn’t realize anyone had kids.

Wait… Charlie?

I’ve heard Declan on the phone talking to or asking about a Charlie, I thought it was a friend.

I didn’t realize he spent so much time with a four-year-old.

“You never mentioned a child in your whole descriptive pyramid,” I whisper.

“I didn’t know you needed to be prepped for a little kid,” he retorts dryly.

“I mean, even I got dressed faster than them,” Marco adds and shimmies in his seat while Wills rolls his eyes at him.

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