Page 34 of The Lake House

“She deserves a good guy who’s going to treat her right. Like you.”

Whoa… I was not expecting that. “Huh?”

He chuckles. “Yeah, yeah. You know, my wife and I, when you kids were growing up, we used to watch you all and we always bet you two would end up together.”

Wouldn’t that be something?

He speaks again. “I neverdidthink he was treating her right, and from what I’ve heard so far, I was right.”

Hmm. What had he heard and from whom?

“I see.” I want to ask him those questions, but I leave it alone for now. It’s not my place, really. I know he’s volunteering this information, but still.

“Well, I’d really better take off now. I’ll see you around, Declan.”

“See you, Mr. Abner,” I say, waving him off.

He slowly makes his way out of the park and across the street. Once he’s out of view, I stretch and then decide I should get home, shower, and maybe even do some laundry.

And then, right as I turn away from the bench, I see her.

Giuliana Bianchi.

Fuck, she looks even better than the last time I saw her. How is she even capable of it?

She’s standing at the edge of the pond, stretching out her right calf. She’s got on a bright pink sports bra and black stretchy capri Yoga pants. Her flat stomach with her innie belly button looks so sexy. Her hair is neatly pulled back, up into a high ponytail, with her dark curls cascading down. The light from the sun radiating off of them causes them to look golden brown.

She is so fucking beautiful.

I swallow thickly and decide this is it. This is the moment I need to take a shot. This is the moment I’m going to make my move.

I was ready to head home before, tired from the run I had, but seeing her has got me feeling completely energized.

Walking toward her, I suck in a deep breath, and right before I can say anything, she looks in my direction and smiles as soon as she realizes it’s me.

I’ll never get over how beautiful she looks when she smiles. She’s like an angel.

“Declan!” she shouts, waving at me.

I jog to speed up, and when I finally reach her, I slow down. “Hey, Giules. How are you?” Her smile is so fucking contagious that I can’t help but smile back at her.

“I couldn’t pass up this gorgeous day. I love brisk walking when the weather is so beautiful. You run?”

I nod. “Yeah, I just finished my laps. You’re right though, it is so nice out today.”

She frowns and thinks for a moment before shifting her weight to her other leg. “Hmm, that’s too bad. I was going to ask you if you wanted to join me one more time around the pond.”

Shit. I shouldn’t have said I was done working out. I should have left that part out completely, but how was I supposed to know she was going to ask me to join her?

“I don’t suppose you have one more lap in you?” She raises an eyebrow.

Fuck yeah, I do. For you, I have that and so much more.

“I totally have another lap.”

She smiles, pleased. “Great, let’s go.”

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