Page 83 of Destined Lovers

Even though he’s not in the game anymore, the press follows a lot of Wills and Sadie’s life. Whoever didn’t want this cute little pup must have read about Sadie’s shelter inthe daily mail.

The puppy has something called megaesophagus, making it hard for him to swallow.

He has to sit in one of those chairs that stand him upright. For some, that may be difficult to handle, but we don’t discriminate in our house.

Sadie said, other than the eating situation, there was nothing else wrong, and he would be a perfect fit for Maeve, and knowing puppies also go the fastest at rescues, I wanted to scoop him up immediately. Having a younger dog will also be easier to train. He’ll need to be comfortable walking beside her wheelchair and listening to commands through her tablet. We have the first training session next week with a woman who specializes in training dogs for people with disabilities.

“I already ordered breakfast for all of us. I got both of your regulars,” Sadie says, smiling over at Maeve. She is so lost in her newfound happiness she doesn’t even know what’s going on.

Happiness. Who is truly happy anyway? I sure as hell am not.

“Declan.”

“What’s up?” I look at Sadie, her eyebrows drawn together and her face full of concern.

“What were you thinking about?”

“Nothing.” I turn back toward Maeve’s, hoping some of her good energy rubs off on me.

“Declan, don’t turn your back on me,” Sadie spits in annoyance, which has me turning back toward her—shocked at her tone.

She tilts her head, her eyes staring deep into mine, trying to figure out what’s happening. “Please talk to me. I’m getting worried now.”

“I’ve told you before that I don’t want to talk about it. There isn’t anything more to discuss than we already have,” I huff, annoyed. How many times can people ask me if I’m okay? I’m fecking fine.

“You can tell me until you’re blue in the face, but you’re one of my best friends, and I won’t let you suffer alone. You’ve always confided in me in the past. I’m worried about you.”

The food arrives, which is a perfect distraction. I need to cut up Maeve’s food, and Sadie does the same for Charlie, then I put our new pup in his carrier.

Besides Maeve and Agnes, Sadie is the only person who knows what happened a year ago with Nora. When I arrived home from Ireland, I admit, I was not myself. I got lost in a deep depressive state, losing myself in work, hiding away and not speaking to any of our friends.

That is until Sadie forced her way in one night. That’s when I broke down, letting every emotion I suppressed go. It was cathartic, and I’m grateful for her being there, but now I need to focus my time on Maeve and the things that give me purpose in life. LikeThe Taylor Foundation.

Two days ago, Wills and the foundation were awarded a recognition award for the success of our growth rate throughout London and the surrounding areas. We never in a million years thought we would expand so quickly. We have our hands full on top of life and work to make sure we’re there for the kids in the program. It’s keeping us busier than we’ve ever been, and worth every second of it.

“Are you still looking for her?” Sadie asks as she takes a bite of her pancake.

“What do you think?” I deadpan.

“I don’t know what to think. Honestly, I admire that you’re not giving up on true love. The other part wants my friend to be free of hurt, and I think soon you’ll need to think about moving on.” She cringes at her own words.

Move on.

If it was only that simple.

Before I found Nora last year, I didn’t think much past finding her. Then, when I finally did, things changed. Emotions and feelings were high. We fell in love all over again. And then she leftagain.I’m not sure I’ll ever ‘move on.’

“It’s not about love anymore for me. It’s about making sure she’s safe. After that, I don’t know if I’ll ever want more from her. Trust was our thing, and she broke that the second she lied to me. The second she left me without a goodbye.”

Sadie’s face softens. “Declan, if you’re committed to finding her, you have to allow her to explain what happened. Don’t dismiss love because you’re hurt. You either walk away now or need to be open to the truth. You, more than anyone, know that things aren’t always what they seem. Look at Wills and me.” I bite my eggs, so I don’t have to answer.

She’s right. She and Wills separated for three years because of a misunderstanding that shocked us all. I can’t think past just making sure Nora is safe before anything else, my own self preservation needing to stay somewhat intact for my own sanity.

Sadie drops her fork, and it bounces on the sidewalk. A young bloke walks by, picks it up, freezes in his tracks, and then hands it back to her.

“Ugh… here you go, love,” he stammers, and I have to hold in my laughter.

Sadie is beautiful. Looks are something none of our friends are lacking. But Sadie’s blazing green eyes can place a spell over anyone, and this poor guy stumbling over his words is no exception.

---