Page 74 of The Lake House

Ok. Go get comfy. I’m here if you wanna talk or text later.

Ok, babe. Sounds good. TTYL.

I place my phone down and finish the rest of my coffee before it gets too cold to drink. After the episode I’m watching ends, I decide to go on my laptop and figure out what the hell I’m going to make tomorrow night for dinner.

ChapterTwenty-Six

GIULIANA

Seeing Declan every other day has not been enough. I miss seeing him every day like I used to, but these past few days, it hasn’t been like that. He’s been so busy between deals he’s been trying to close out at work and making sure someone can watch Lily on the nights when he and I are together. I wouldn’t mind it if he were to bring her or have her with us, but I know he doesn’t want to push that too much too soon on her. I can’t blame him for that.

Even so, knowing all that, I still miss him when he’s not around.

But tonight, it’s all about him and me. He called me last night, and we set up plans. Now we’re at his place, downing this amazing meal he made for the two of us.

“What is this called again?” I ask.

He smiles at me after he wipes his mouth with a napkin and places it down beside his plate. “Do you like it? It’s called Marry Me, Chicken.”

I chuckle at the name. “Sounds promising.” The dish is made up of tender chicken breast with sun-dried tomatoes, herbs, and a luscious creamy sauce. It really is amazing. He also added a side of roasted potatoes and salad to go with it. “How’d you learn to make it?”

He tilts his head to the left. “Would you believe me if I told you I found a last-minute recipe last night online after you and I texted?”

“What? You’re kidding! This tastes like you’ve been making it for years.”

“I swear. I have never made it before. I just went with it when I saw how easy it was to make. I’m really glad you like it, though.”

I nod, and before taking another bite, I say, “I do. It’s really delicious.”

There’s a slight pause before he casually sneaks, “So, Roger’s bachelor party is this weekend,” into the conversation.

I finish chewing and then swallow the last bite. I take a moment to wipe my lips. “Hmm.” That’s all I manage to say. I’m sure a strip club is on the agenda, with booze and gorgeous women taking their clothes off in front of a bunch of single, unwed guys.

Typically, I would be totally against it. If this was Todd, and we were still together, I don’t think I’d be okay with the idea. Even before I knew he was cheating on me. There was just always a different kind of trust with him.

But with Declan? I don’t feel that way at all. I feel like even if there are going to be a hundred women stripping down to nothing right in front of him, he wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize what we have. I mean, I know most clubs have a no-touch policy when it comes to the dancers, but even if they didn’t have one, Declan wouldn’t go that far.

At least that’s what I feel in my heart.

“Giules, please say something…” he finally says.

I search his eyes and the poor guy looks as though he’s waiting on the worst news of his life from his doctor. “Okay.”

Now he looks confused. “Yeah, I mean, this isn’t something Rog nor I are looking forward to, but the other guys are extremely excited about it. I guess it’s because they’re single.”

I nod. “How does Rachel feel about it?” I know some women are totally against their guys going to look at other women taking off their clothes just because.

“That’s the thing; she’s the one pushing it.”

I chuckle. “Really?” I don’t know Rachel all that well yet, but it sure seems like something she would do from the little that I do know of her.

He nods. “Yeah. Rachel feels like he needs that experience to know what he’s getting into. She said it’s going to be the two of them for the rest of their lives and she thinks that if he doesn’t go, he’ll always wonder what else is out there since they’ve been together for the longest time. She said once they tie the knot, they are stuck together for life because she is completely against divorce for reasons like cheating and lying and all that stuff.”

“Rachel’s a smart woman,” I say.

He furrows his brows. “So you’re okay with me going?”

I giggle again and rise from my seat. I walk over to where he’s sitting at the table and kneel so that I’m at eye level with him. Grabbing his face in my hands, I say, “Dec, this is your best friend getting married. You have to go and be there for him. He’s going to be remembering this weekend for the rest of his life. If you’re not there, it’s going to hurt, even if he were to understand your reasons for it.”

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