“Worse. Mase bought one of those electric crepe makers or whatever they’re called, you must know what my brother is like with gadgets and shit. Liv struggled with it, because anyone who has ever seen her attempt coffee with their coffee machine knows she is not a gadget kind of girl.”
We both laugh, partly at Mase’s love of a gadget and Liv’s hate of them.
“Well, they do say opposites attract, don’t they?” I ask, meaning my sister and her husband.
“Yes, yes, they do.” Dec replies and suddenly things turn a little strained and I have no clue why. “Finish your breakfast and then we’ll go.”
Somehow, I manage to finish my food before jumping in the shower and now Dec and I are on our way back to my parent’s house where I am hoping to avoid any of them seeing me arrive home with him. At least I am not returning home in last night’s clothes which always pleases my father immensely.
We turn into my street and with no cars parked outside our house, I breathe a sigh of relief before Dec parks the car.
“Last night was great,” he says, leaning across to brush some loose hair off my face.
“Yeah, it was,” I agree.
“And breakfast was amazing.”
I laugh that Dec has brought things back round to breakfast.
“What?” he protests. “It was.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it.” I mean it.
“I’d like to take you to dinner, but I can’t slope out of being at the club tonight.”
“It’s okay. I understand. We have a function to cater tomorrow. A breakfast thing, so probably best that I get some sleep.”
He nods, but looks disappointed, boosting my ego.
“Tomorrow. My mum is having a gathering tomorrow afternoon, for the family. Come with me.”
My eyes widen until I can feel them drying, but the truth is that Dec looks more shocked at the invitation than me.
I’m unsure what to say and I think he senses that or sees it as me preparing to decline the invitation. “Liv will be there, her and Mase. Come, please.”
I don’t know why, but that final word, the note of desperation in it is my undoing. “I’d love to.”
Before I can say anything else, he has reached for me and pulled me to him, his lips covering and parting my lips until we are involved in a passionate kiss in broad daylight in front of my parent’s house for anyone to see.
Eventually, when we part, we’re both breathless.
“I’ll call you later with details,” he says and with another kiss, a slightly less frantic and fervent one, I get out of his car and wave as he pulls away.
Wearing a huge grin that seems to make my jaw tingle, I turn to walk down the path, although it might be more of a skip than a walk judging by the bubbles popping in my chest when I see that I am not alone. Standing there, having had a bird’s eye view of my arrival home is Scott, Liv’s brother.
Chapter 16
Declan
“You’re taking Anita home? Tomorrow? For one of Mum’s, ‘it’s not a special occasion even though we all know it is’ afternoon teas?” Mase’s tone is a little disbelieving.
“That’s what I said, isn’t it? Unless your hearing is failing you in your old age.” I sound terse, but his questions and the tone of them is pissing me off. Why wouldn’t I take her to my mum’s house with me for a family get together? I ignore my own answer that suggests I’m as surprised as Mase by my actions, but when I asked her to come with me, it felt right. I want Anita there with me.
Mase laughs at me, irking me a little more. “Calm your tits.” He shakes his head and leans forward in his chair on the opposite side of my desk to me.
I flip him off. Not mature but it’s all I have.
“Are you on your period or something, because these mood swings are screamingmanstruationto me.”
