Authors: Kate Allenton
Declan (6 page)
Arriving at the spa, she was escorted back where Skylar and Alexis were waiting, already wearing white robes and fluffy flip-flops. Each had a glass of champagne as they smiled and talked.
“I thought I was going to have to send out a search and rescue,” Skylar teased.
“Sorry. I had to run an errand first.”
“Do tell.” Alexis handed Olivia a glass of champagne. “Did you and Declan have a quickie?”
Blood drained from Olivia’s face as she sat down in one of the plush chairs. Her gaze dropped to the floor as she tried, yet again, to process how her missing period might throw her and Declan’s life into shambles.
Skylar and Alexis squatted in front of her. They each took a hand.
“What’s wrong? And don’t tell me nothing. I can see it in your eyes. Talk to us, Olivia,” Skylar demanded.
Olivia opened her purse, pulled out the drugstore bag, and handed it to Skylar.
Skylar dumped the pregnancy test out of the bag, and her eyes widened. “You don’t think?”
She shrugged and met her gaze. “I’m late.” Her words came out a whisper. “And I’m never late.”
“Oh, honey.” Skylar shoved the box back inside. “You’re probably late due to stress. How many days late?”
Olivia’s heart clenched. “Two weeks.”
Alexis rose. “It’s probably still too early to tell. You and Declan only sealed the deed about three weeks ago. You should wait another week and then take the test.”
“Have you told Declan?” Sky asked.
The last thing Olivia wanted to do was to tell Declan when she wasn’t sure herself. They both knew it was a possibility. She swallowed around the lump in her throat. “No.”
Her gaze shifted between both women. Apprehension filled her veins. “Please don’t say anything. I don’t want to freak him out. Not today.”
Olivia rose. “Forget I said anything.” She pasted a smile on her face while wrapping her arm around Sky’s. She nudged her shoulder. “Now tell me where I can get one of those fancy robes.”
She tried her best to stay in the moment, not letting the things she couldn’t control eat at her mind. They spent the afternoon being pampered in preparation for the wedding. Hour later, they were in the bridal room, every one dressed as family members came and went to wish Skylar good luck and tell her how beautiful she looked.
Declan was the last to walk into Skylar’s room. He smiled and kissed his sister’s cheek. “You look beautiful.”
“Thanks, Declan.” She squeezed his hand.
“You know you can still back out.”
Skylar shook her head. “Fat chance. I’ve waited for this day my whole life.”
Declan moved to Olivia and cupped her cheek. “I’ll see you later?”
She nodded, afraid to answer for fear he’d recognize the trepidation in her voice.
Declan glanced one last time at Sky and nodded before he left the room. Olivia released her pent-up breath, knowing it was just a matter of time before she knew for sure that she’d single-handedly ruined Declan’s life. He wasn’t ready to be a father, and if she was honest, she wasn’t ready to be a mother.
****
Olivia straightened Skylar’s train before moving to take her place in line. Declan met her at the door and held out his arm. He smiled at her as she rested her hand in the crook of his arm. They both exhaled a deep breath and smiled before heading out the double doors. They followed the path to where the wedding was set up looking out over the beach as the sunset dipped behind the horizon. Flowers lined the chairs and the arch where the preacher and Luke patiently waited. Flynn and Alexis walked slowly in front of them. Declan’s mother and other brothers were already seated on the bride’s side.
Sky deserved this. She deserved every bit of happiness that her future held. She’d been the unstoppable force behind everything in her life, even their friendship in the third grade. The little girl back then had walked into the classroom as though she’d owned the place and pointed at Olivia before announcing that they would be best friends forever. It wasn’t until later that Skylar had told her that, even though she’d not known a thing about her at the time, it was her energy she’d thought the prettiest.
Olivia smiled, her heart full for her best friend. Declan released her to stand on the podium before the wedding march queued up. Every eye turned on the door where Skylar stood clutching her father’s arm. Tears of joy clouded Olivia’s eyes. This was how it was meant to be. Skylar had fought for what she wanted, never giving up. This was how it was supposed to be. This was how her own life should be. Olivia shifted her gaze to Declan to find him watching her and not Skylar’s approach, his normal hard emotions now soft and reflecting in his eyes. There was a longing in his eyes. Their lives were about to change and he didn’t even know it. A baby? The thought once terrified her, wasn’t so scary now. She’d always wanted to be a mom, even if the married soul mate didn’t come until later. A baby. She grinned.
Skylar handed Olivia the bouquet before taking Luke’s hands, and there was nothing Olivia could do to pull her gaze away from Declan’s. It was as if he held her wrapped in magic. Heat flooded her cheeks as the cheering in the crowd sounded. She broke Declan’s hold and turned to find Skylar bent over Luke’s arm in a kiss that said “finally” for both of them.
****
If the awkwardness of thinking she might be pregnant wasn’t stressful enough at the reception, she sat at the round table with Declan on one side of her and Trent on the other. The tension between them was thick enough to slice with knife.
Trent reached across the table and held out his hand. “No hard feelings?”
Declan shook his hand. “Not as long as you know she’s with me.”
Trent smiled with a slight nod as he rose. “I’m going to grab a beer from the bar. Can I get you two anything?”
“No thanks.” Olivia gave him a small smile and rested her hand on her stomach as she watched Trent leave.
Declan cleared his throat. “Do you want to tell me now what’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” She tried to smile.
Lie.
“Olivia, I know you aren’t telling the truth.” Declan nodded toward the bar. “Is it Trent? Are you uncomfortable?”
She didn’t answer, knowing that if she did and told him no, he’d know she was lying. So she countered with the truth instead. “Declan.” She cleared her throat and moved her chair closer to him to whisper, “I didn’t want to tell you here, but I’m late.”
“Late for what?” His brows dipped in confusion, and her cheeks heated.
“My monthly visitor.” His eyes widened, and his mouth parted. Not quite the response she was looking for, but she could hardly blame him. “Say something.”
“If you are, we’ll deal with it.”
Their conversation was cut short when Trent returned to the table. His gaze shifted between both of them. “Am I interrupting?”
Olivia’s heart squeezed as Declan stood. “I think I’m going to need that drink now.”
He turned and walked away, and Olivia closed her eyes. The butterflies in her belly fell like concrete weights sitting in her stomach.
“Don’t tell me you guys got in a fight in the three minutes I was gone?”
She lifted her gaze to Trent’s. “Not quite.” She clasped her hands and held them in her lap. “I kind of dropped a bombshell on him…”
Trent’s gaze flew to the bar where Declan was throwing back a shot.
“Must have been a doozey. I wasn’t expecting him to let you out of his sight with me around.”
“You can say that.” She cleared her throat and shook her thoughts. “I’m sorry. I’m not being very good company tonight.”
He shrugged. “Not a big deal. I’m enjoying having a break from the guys.” His look turned serious. “You remember what I said about visiting Boston?”
She nodded.
“The offer still stands.” He glanced over his shoulder at Declan getting a refill of his drink.
“Thanks,” she answered, her gaze on Sky as she approached Declan at the bar. His face was scrunched, and Sky’s eyes narrowed on him. She pointed in Olivia’s direction.
“Excuse me a moment,” she mumbled and rose, heading to the bar to stop the sibling argument she knew was about her.
She stepped up behind Declan.
“Sky, I’m not ready to be a father.”
Olivia was afraid to move, afraid to breathe, thinking that they might turn around and see that she’d overheard. Her heart crumbled. They turned toward her.
“Olivia, he didn’t mean it,” Sky said.
Olivia fought the tears in her eyes when Declan remained silent.
She swallowed around the lump in her throat and pulled Sky in for a hug. “I’m so happy for you. But I’m not feeling too well. I hope you don’t mind…”
“Don’t you dare let him run you off.”
“Olivia, let me explain.” Declan turned to face her.
“No need.” She let out the breath she’d been holding. Bile rose into Olivia’s throat. “Excuse me.”
She spun on her heels, headed back to the table, and grabbed her purse. Trent rose in response. “What happened? What did he do?”
“I need to go.” She looked up into his eyes. “You’re more than welcome to stay, but I need to go.”
“I’m only here for you.” He took her elbow and guided her toward the exit while Flynn, Skylar, and Luke were busy talking to Declan.
“I think I’ll take you up on that offer.” She glanced up at him. “Can we leave today?”
“Of course.” His brows dipped as he led her through the hotel. “I just need to grab my things.” He gave her a worried look. “I’ll meet you at the ferry in twenty minutes. Is that too soon?”
She shook her head. “The sooner, the better.”
Skylar smacked Declan in the back of the head. “Are you kidding me? How could you say that?”
“I didn’t know she was standing right there.” Declan folded his arms over his chest. “Olivia caught me off guard. I mean I knew it was a possibility because the condom broke, but…I…we…didn’t know. I’m still in shock.”
Flynn gripped the bar, leaning against it. “Did you say anything at all when she told you?”
“I told her we’d deal with it.”
Flynn narrowed his eyes. “Could you be any more insensitive?”
“Declan. She’s probably scared and needed your support. I can’t believe your reaction to a possible pregnancy was that you’d deal with it.”
“Olivia left.” Skylar’s father stood behind them with his arms crossed, a look of disappointment in his eyes, which he directed at Declan. “And after hearing why, I can’t say I blame her.”
Martin Love ushered the others back to the party and the guests before tossing his arm around his son’s shoulders and leading them somewhere private they could talk. They walked toward the pool area and sat under one of the umbrella tables.
“Dad…”
“Declan.” He held up his hand. “Let me speak.”
Declan leaned back in his chair and pressed his lips together.
“I’m sure you’re confused right now, but let me give you a little advice because your next actions might just define the rest of your life.”
Declan remained silent.
“I have no doubt that you’d step up and be a good father, in the event she is pregnant, and I think, deep down, she already knows that. What you have to think about is how you feel about Olivia. Not Olivia, the potential mother of your child, or Olivia, your sister’s best friend. But Olivia, the woman.” His dad stood. “If you love her, you need to act now and let her know you care. If you don’t…” He shrugged. “The family will still love her and support you and her in whatever you two need. This is a defining moment in your life.” He clasped his son’s shoulder. “I guess there’s only one question left to ask yourself, and only you know the answer to that.”
His dad left him sitting at the table.
Did he love her? Yeah, he did. He stood from the table, unbuttoned his jacket, and slid it off his shoulders before pulling his keys out of his pocket. He quickened his gait as he headed through the hotel to try and catch her, only stopping when he ran into Trent checking out.
“Where is she?”
Trent shoved his credit card back into his wallet and let out a long breath as he turned to face Declan. “Why is it every time I see you and her together she’s upset? You know I should really be thanking you.” He shoved his wallet in his pocket. “I didn’t have to win her over. Just had to catch her when she fell.”
Declan clenched his fist and stepped up into Trent’s face. His eyes narrowed in challenge.
Trent’s lips twitched. “Have a nice life, Declan.” He winked. “I know we will.”
Trent grabbed his bags and stepped around Declan as he whistled.
Declan grabbed onto Trent’s arm and spun him around, his fist instantly connecting with Trent’s jaw.
Trent rubbed the red mark while his smile grew. “I couldn’t have planned that better. You just nailed your coffin shut.” He winked. “Whose side do you think she’ll be on now?”
Declan stormed out of the hotel and toward his car. He had to find Olivia and talk some damn sense into her.
****
Trent rubbed his throbbing jaw. Declan landed a mean punch when pissed off. Flynn strolled over to the counter. “You’re a better actor than I thought.”
Trent grinned. “He wasn’t hard to provoke. He already loves her. It’s like you said. He just needed a swift kick in the ass.”
“I couldn’t have said it better myself.” Flynn patted his shoulder. “So what are you going to do now?”
Trent shrugged. “Go to the ferry and see if she shows up. If she does, then I’ll take her to my place and let her cool off for a few days while she gets her head on straight and figures out what she wants to do.”
“Jealously is a fickle bitch. I hope Declan doesn’t screw this up.”
“You and me both.”
“I owe you.” Flynn folded his arms across his chest and watched as Declan sped by the front door on the way out of the parking lot.
“I’ll collect when Mia moves here. You can keep her out of trouble.”
“Of course,” Flynn answered. “How hard could it be?”
Trent chuckled. “You haven’t met my sister. Trouble is her middle name. She can attract slime balls from a mile away.”
Trent shook Flynn’s hand before walking out of the hotel. The plan they’d concocted had easily worked. The rest was up to the lovebirds.
****
Olivia swiped away the last tears she’d cry over Declan Love. Her heart clenched just thinking his name. She shoved a couple shirts into her bag and was grabbing some jeans when she heard the knock on her door. She folded them as she went to the door. She opened it to find Declan on her stoop and, with a flick of the wrist, shut the door just as fast.
“Go away, Declan.”
Anger seethed in her soul, wrapping around her and taking hold.
Her door opened, and she continued to her room. She shoved the jeans into her bag. “You aren’t welcome here.”
“Olivia, you have to listen.”
She spun on him. “I don’t have to do a damn thing.” She pointed toward the door. “Now leave.”
He closed the distance between them and rested his palms on her arms. Fire licked her veins.
“You didn’t let me explain.”
“What’s to explain?” She swiped his hands from her arms and went back into the closet to grab more clothes. “You’re not ready to be a father.”
“You don’t even know if you’re pregnant.” He watched every move she made like a hawk.
She dropped a shirt into the bag and lowered her head. It was true. She didn’t know if she was, but at least she knew where he stood on the matter. She glanced up at him as tears clouded her eyes. “If I am…I’ll do this by myself.”
“Would you let me explain?” He guided her to the bed to sit while he knelt in front of her and took her hands. “I said I wasn’t ready to be a father. I wouldn’t even know where to begin. Not that I didn’t want to be.” He searched her eyes. “I love you, Olivia.”
A tear broke free, leaving a wet path down her cheek. She swiped it away.
“You’re only saying that because of the situation. You don’t mean it.”
He cupped her cheeks. “I’ve never meant anything more….ever.”
She stood and walked into her bathroom, grabbing her toiletries. “I don’t have your gift of knowing whether you’re telling the truth, Declan. All I have is your actions.” She tossed the items into the bag and zipped it up. “And right now, all your actions prove to me is that you’re trying your best to get me to stay. If you’d told me a week ago that you loved me, before all of this, I might have believed you.”
“Damn it, Olivia, I’m telling you the truth. Baby or not, I love you.”
She picked up her bag and rested the strap over her shoulder. “I have to go.”
“Please, Olivia, I need you.”
A tear slipped free. “This isn’t about you.” She adjusted the strap on her shoulder. “This is about doing what’s right for me. And right now, I need time to think.”
“You can think here.” He held up his hands in surrender. “I won’t bother you. Just please don’t go with Trent.”
Realization dawned on her. That was his reason for being there and asking her to stay. He’d figured out her plans. “How did you know?”
“I ran into him in the lobby. He was gloating that he’d won.”
“Is that why you’re here?” Her eyes searched his.
“No. Yes. What does it matter? I love you. Isn’t that enough? I’m not just telling you what you want to hear.”
“Why do you love me? I mean what is it about me that you love?”
“What?” Confusion clouded his face.
“Give me one reason why you love me.”
He paused too long.
“Answering that shouldn’t be so hard.” She swallowed around the lump in her throat. “Forgive me if I don’t believe the words. You only show up when you don’t get your way. It’s like you don’t want me, but you don’t want anyone else to have me either.” Her words were a whisper. “You can’t have it both ways. Goodbye, Declan.”
She spun on her heels and left him standing in her room. Once out of her house, she threw her bag into the passenger seat, got in the car, and backed out of the driveway.
Tears clouded her vision as she drove toward the ferry as her mind replayed their conversation over and over in her mind. She parked her car and watched as people boarded the ferry. Trent was standing on the dock and held her gaze. When she didn’t move to get out of the car, he gave her a slight nod and turned, leaving her behind. She watched the ferry as it pulled away from the landing and slowly moved across the water. She closed her eyes, grasping the wheel tight as her shoulders shook and the tears flowed free.
Her door opened, and Declan pulled her out and into his arms, holding her tight.
“I never meant to hurt you, baby.”
She grasped his shirt as the tears continued.
“I’ll call the ferry back. You can still go.”
She shook her head and leaned out of his hold, wiping the tears. “I didn’t miss the ferry.”
He guided her over to one of the picnic tables and eased her down onto the wooden bench.
“You asked me why I love you.”
All the fight left her body. She didn’t want to do this again. She didn’t have the energy. “Declan…”
“No.” He squatted in front of her. “Let me answer.” He cleared his throat. “I love you because you’re beautiful. You’re funny, and you have a huge heart. You love my sister and my family as much as I do. I love you because you make me laugh and you drive me nuts. I love you because you’re you. I didn’t know how to answer that before, not because I didn’t love you, but because there are so many reasons why I do.” He cupped her cheek. “I couldn’t pick just one.”
Olivia licked her lips as she held his gaze, trying her best to tell if he meant his words. Her mind reeled from his declaration.
Declan dropped to his knee and took her hand. “Marry me.”
Her mouth parted. “Declan, we don’t know if I’m pregnant.”
“That’s why I’m asking now. I don’t want you to ever question if I mean it. All of our relationship you thought I was reactive to our circumstances, even when that wasn’t the reason for my actions. I NEVER want you to doubt this moment. I’ll love you with all of my heart, Olivia. I always will. Please do me the honor of being my wife.”
“You’re serious?”
“Have you known me to be any other way?”
She moved to stand and put some space between them, forming the letter T with her hands. “I think we need an emotional time-out. You’re not thinking clearly.”
He watched every movement she made. “I am thinking clearly. More than I have ever.”
She shook her head and held up her hand, stopping him from stepping forward. “I won’t let you do this.” She walked to her car and opened the door. “If you want to marry me, I mean really marry me, you won’t ask when I’m upset. You’ll wait until the right time.” She gestured around. “This isn’t the right place or the right time.”
