Page 64 of The Lake House

I let out a breath. “Hey, babe.”

“You make it there okay? I was getting worried when I didn’t hear from you, but I figured you were having a good time with Liv.” He chuckles lightly.

“Sorry,” I respond. “I would have called you a lot sooner.” My voice is a bit shaky, thinking back to when I got home.

“Everything okay?” he asks. “You sound funny.”

“Well, if you have a moment, I’ll tell you everything.”

He pauses for a minute and then says, “I have all the time in the world for you, sweetheart. What’s going on?”

ChapterTwenty-Three

DECLAN

“Here you are.”

I turn my head to see Giuliana bringing me a glass of lemonade. I smile, letting go of the door handle. “Thanks, baby.” The ice clinks against the glass as I grab it from her hand and take my first drink of it. On a warm day like today, it’s so refreshing.

She watches me as I drink the lemonade. “Can I get you anything else?”

I swallow the last bit of it and hand her back the glass. “No, thanks. That’ll do.” I grab the door handle once more and test the locks. “You should be all set here now.”

I still can’t believe what she told me last night. The nerve of her ex, showing up at her place unannounced like that. As soon as she started telling me, I loaded up Lily in my car, dropped her off at Mom’s, and came by to see her. I was at her house before she could even finish telling me what happened. I knew she was going to be spending the night at Olivia’s, but I had to make sure she was okay.

Thankfully she was, and I felt good about leaving her with Liv once she reassured me for the ten millionth time.

She grabs my arm as I put my tools away. “Thanks so much for doing this for me.”

I zip up my bag and tilt my head as my eyes meet hers. “Of course, sweetheart. Anytime. I’m just glad I’m about to do this for you to make you feel safer.” Pausing for a second, I search her gaze. “I still wish you’d stay with Liv for a little while longer, though.”

She gives me a smirk, rolling her eyes playfully. “I’ll be fine, really. Todd has no way of getting in now that you changed the locks,” she smirks, “and installed the Ring.”

Oh, yeah. That. I had purchased the surveillance camera on my way over today.

Technically, she didn’t even know he was able to get in before. But somehow, he had managed to. I really wish she’d stay with Liv instead of being on her own, especially at night, but I understand. As close as I am with Rog, I wouldn’t want to impose or stay with him and Rachel any more than need be. Everyone needs their privacy. I mean, I know Lily and I could of course stay with him whenever, should we ever need it.

And the thought of asking her to stay with me has, of course, crossed my mind a billion times since last night. But it’s not just me there. It’s me and my baby girl. She’s never even met Giules yet. How would I go about moving her in?

I don’t want to freak my daughter out or make her feel uncomfortable in any way. There’s got to be something I can do.

“Hey,” she says, bringing me out of my thoughts. “Are you alright?”

I shrug with a smile. “You can never be too safe.”

She gently punches me on the arm. “I see you being so pensive over there. I’m okay, really. I promise. I’ll be fine.”

“I’m just worried, that’s all. What if Liv hadn’t arrived when she had?”

She says nothing further and I see her in thought, considering my words. She knows I’m right, and I hate that.

I suck in a breath before speaking once more. “Hey, Giules?”

“Yeah?”

I hesitate. There’s something that’s been weighing on my mind for a little while now. I’ve thought about it repeatedly, but I’ve never really had the balls to tell her. She could take it either of two ways: really well or really turned off.

“I’ve been doing some thinking lately,” I finally say.

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