Page 183 of Destined Lovers

I wouldn’t.

Ethan assures me it’s taking time and that they will find her. He’s so confident, but I can’t trust him. I can’t trust anyone anymore.

Heavy footsteps crowd my thoughts, and tears blind my eyes when I look up. I try to talk, only to choke on my words.Useless.

I wipe my eyes. Wills looks just as bad as I do.

If I survive this, I owe him everything. He’s been my rock and has taken care of everyone.

I know everyone’s upset, and we need each other, but I needed to be alone more. Well, besides Bacon, he’s been attached to my hip. Not even Maeve could get him to leave.

He senses that his other favorite person is missing. Even at such a young age, he’s already so intuitive.

I couldn’t deal with the tears of Agnes, Sadie, and Maeve. The pity from Penelope and the rest of the girls, and the frantic phone calls from Belle and Jackson from Las Vegas.

They’re stuck because of bad storms hitting the North East and can’t get back. Honestly, I don’t care. And instead of being a dick, Wills took it all off my hands.

“Maeve is asking for you,” Wills says.

I half-shrug. I can’t right now. That’s why I sent her to Wills’s house. What will I even say?

“I know you’re not in a good place, but suck it up for your sister for five minutes. I brought her back because I think she was getting homesick. I’ll come back and get her tonight if you need.”

I sigh heavily. I know he’s right. “Fine.” I get up.

“Hey.”

I pause, not looking back.

“Ethan seems confident, Declan. He’ll find her. You know that, right?”

“No, I don’t know that. I don’t know anything anymore.”I don’t wait for a response. I take the elevator up to the top floor, too exhausted to even walk, then I head to our bedroom, knowing Maeve will be out on our balcony since it was one of Nora’s favorite places.

I first stop at Nora’s bedside, open her box, and kiss the picture of us as kids. I don’t know why this picture makes me feel close to her, but any bit helps.

I walk out and stop when I see Archie next to Maeve having lunch.

“What are you doing here?” I unintentionally snap. Shite.

“I-I-I’m sorry, Declan…” He hesitates. “I wouldn’t have come if I knew. Nora and I had plans today before you guys left for your holiday. The car still showed up…I didn’t know.” He gulps down his emotions and bows his head, trying to hide that he’s just as devastated as all of us.

“Sorry, mate, for snapping at you. You’re welcome whenever you like. You know that.”

He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. He probably thinks he doesn’t have the right to feel like all of us since he’s not family, which is not true. He is family.

Someone should have called him, Archie’s gotten extremely close with Nora over the last couple of months, but I can’t help him right now. Any strength I have has to go into assisting Ethan, and even that’s hard.

I turn to Maeve, and her bloodshot eyes stop me in my tracks. I’m not sure my body can take any more emotions. I feel terrible I’ve neglected her too.

I can only hope everyone forgives me eventually.

I wish I could do better, but it feels impossible. “Are you all right, mo dheirfiúr? Do you want to sleep here tonight?”

She shakes her head. “Sleep with Agnes,” her tablet announces. She didn’t even attempt to verbalize it. Too stressed.

Ethan walks in, and I can’t tell what this crazy fecker’s face is saying.

“What is it?” I ask.

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