“Erm, no,” interrupts Liv. “I have a horrible feeling about where the pain of the ouchy is currently settling.”
Dec shrugs as Mase leans down and kisses his wife then notices the wine glasses and our near empty bottle.
“Have you been drinking.” His voice oozes horror and disapproval.
“Yeah, that’s our second bottle,” replies Liv, stretching forward to empty the bottle into our glasses.
“Olivia.” His tone is flat, but his dark stare and stony expression clearly demonstrate that he is not happy and is going to leave her in no doubt about that.
“Mason,” she replies and then seems to take pity on him by showing him the label. “Alcohol free as I am pregnant.”
“Oh, good. Coffee, tea, beer?”
Dec nods for a beer and I opt for coffee. Liv goes to help Mase with drinks, leaving me and Dec alone.
“Cupcake. I missed you today.”
I nod and struggle to contain a broad grin that is beginning to crack my face. He missed me and God knows I missed him. It’s a little ridiculous really that either of us should have missed the other when we were in the same building and yet, we have, both of us.
“I missed you, too. I erm, wasn’t expecting you here.” I look at my watch and see that it’s not even midnight yet.
“No, well, Liv ditched Mase so he came to the club, and it was quiet, and I wanted to see you.” He looks awkward at that admission. “So here I am. I thought I could give you a lift home.”
“Home?” I have no idea if he means my home or his.
“Yeah, to mine or to yours.”
I am panicking because there is no way I can take him back to my parent’s home. It would be awkward enough in daylight hours but at this time it will raise some serious questions and that’s without considering whether he wants to stay over, expects to.
“I will pay good money to see Nigel’s face if you rock up with your toothbrush and pyjamas.” Mase is virtually doubled over with laughter.
Liv smacks his arm once he’s put the drinks down but laughs too.
“You two are so fucking juvenile,” Dec accuses. “I was offering Anita a ride.”
Like that, the two of them are laughing like adolescents at the possible implications of Dec’s ‘ride’. I can’t help but join in with them and then Dec does too.
“I pity your child if this is any indication of your maturity,” he fires as his parting shot.
They ignore him. Mase has already pulled Liv into his lap and is gently stroking her belly with one hand while the other holds her hip.
Chapter 14
Declan
We hang out with Mase and Liv for a while longer, but saying goodbye to them, or at least the girls saying their goodbyes seems to take longer than the rest of the night combined.
My brother continues to wave at us as the lift doors close while Liv smacks his arm for his obvious teasing of me and Anita. We both laugh once we are alone in the confines of the lift.
“What’s it to be then, your place or mine?”
Anita’s face morphs into one of abject horror at my question.
“Dec, no, I can’t, my parents, my dad—”
Stepping closer, I skim a hand through her hair and lean in as if to kiss her, interrupting, putting her out of her misery. Although, I am curious as to why she went from her parents being an issue to it specifically being her father.
“I know and that’s not what I meant. My place clearly means me taking you home with me. Or, your place, meaning I drive you home, possibly kiss you goodnight, but essentially it involves me getting you home safely.”
