Page 144 of Destined Lovers

I thought he was easing up this last, but something’s got him rattled this past week. He either found out something that he’s not sharing, or he’s just losing it.

It’s been a point of contention, something we go over like a broken record. “Otherwise, you wouldn’t have been in hiding for the last eleven years, would you?”

I take a deep breath so we don’t start fighting in front of his friends.

I know this is a touchy subject for him. I’ve been doing this for the past eleven years, he hasn’t and I empathize with that. It’s just that his constant focus on it is driving me mad.

“I’ll protect her, Declan. You have my word,” Wills promises, and Declan nods, mollified.

“Okay! Let’s walk home and get ready,” Sadie says to break the tension, and I smile at her thankfully.

“Do you guys live nearby?”

She chuckles. “We live around the block from you and Declan.”

“What? How am I just finding this out now?” Sadie shrugs.

Since the guys are behind us, I take this as a chance to vent to Sadie. “This is what’s driving me nuts. He’s so overbearingly protective lately. Last week when I got to London, he was tolerable, then as the week’s gone on, he’s seemingly worse by the day. I barely leave the house. How have we not met and we are neighbors? I’m going insane.”

I turn to look at Sadie, and she is sporting a wide smile.

“What?”

“So many things…” She can’t hold in her laugh. “First, although I feel bad for you, you’ll never know true overbearing unless you date a Wills Taylor. Second, I like this side of Declan.” She pauses and suddenly falls serious.

“I was worried this past year about him, Nora. I know it was not your fault, and you did what you thought was right. I wholeheartedly believe that. That being said, it doesn’t change the fact that he didn’t take it well at all when you left him in Ireland. So having you back in his life is a blessing. Is it honestly that bad that someone loves you so unconditionally that they spend their life wanting to love and protect you?”

“Well, when you put it like that…”

“He’s one of the best guys I know. I hope you know how lucky you are,” she says, and I can hear the conviction in her voice. Again, someone from this group shocks me with their true love and loyalty.

We make it to our house first, so we say our goodbyes and promise to be quick in getting ready.

Sadie’s words play on my mind how Declan wasn’t well when I was gone, and my regret hits deep. I vow to make it up to him, even though I’d run again if I had to do it over.

I would run because, like him, I am also protective of the ones I love.

* * *

“You’re sure Agnes is okay? I’m nervous.”

“Nora,Charlotte’sis fifteen minutes from the house, and it’s late. She’s sleeping. Ethan will call if anything happens and Penny promised to check on her constantly.”

“Okay,” I sigh. I’d hate myself if she got worse or needed me and I wasn’t there.

We turn the corner. “This is their house?” I say in awe. “And I thoughtyouwere rich.”

“Wills is in a whole other category than me.”

My eyes widen in shock. “Is he a billionaire?” I whisper scream. “Are you a billionaire? Holy feck.”

Declan chuckles, finding my freak out amusing. How does he expect me to wrap my head around something like this so quickly? In my head, it’s still eleven years ago, and he’s still my nerdy Declan graduating Uni. And he forgets for the past ten years; I scraped by working at a pub.

“Wills is, yes. I’m not… well, not yet.”

“Yet?” I cry. This is crazy talk right now. I’m not trying to be dramatic I’m really blown away.

“Did you buy your house because it was nearby?”

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