Verity
Declan's admission ricocheted through my brain as I lay in bed. The faint murmur of voices had woken me from a light sleep, just as Declan confirmed I was like a sister to him.
A girl much too young for him.
Any hope I'd had that there was something between us died. When he'd lifted me from the tub and carried me into the bedroom, naked, he'd been concerned for me. Nothing more.
I'd clearly read too much into the gesture, imagining things that weren't there.
I buried my face in the too-soft pillow, letting the sound of the howling wind and lashing rain wash over me. There was little point in wanting someone who didn't want me.
Evan had taught methatimportant lesson.
Nobody ever wanted me. Not for long, anyway.
Why would they?
I wasn't an ambitious, go-getter sort of woman like Bridget. Confident and outgoing, like Saoirse. Or badass, like my sister.
What could I offer a guy? Nothing.
Sure, I was pretty enough, objectively speaking. Some guys liked big boobs and a fat ass. At least social media said they did, otherwise, why would Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner be so popular?
Declan was right. Going to my sister's place was the right move. I could help Landon take care of the kids for the summer. Work on my tan.
Figure out my next steps.
Switch to a US college and complete my degree there.
Only none of those things felt right.
I loved my niece and nephew, but Landon didn't need my help. I'd only be in the way. Getting under everyone's feet. A spare part.
The wind roared louder, loud enough to drown out my black thoughts, and eventually, I drifted back to sleep.
Something pulled me from a dream of churning, black water sucking me under like quicksand. A hand stroked my cheek. A voice whispered in my ear.
"You're safe."
The lingering panic faded as I forced oxygen into my lungs. I wasn't drowning. This was a bed, not the ocean.
"Breathe, princess. In and out, in and out." Declan's warm voice grounded me.
"I'm sorry. I didn’t mean to disturb you."
He shifted next to me. I felt warm skin beneath my cheek, which startled me before I realized his shoulder was my new pillow. How had that happened? When I tried to pull away, embarrassed at how close we were, he tugged me back.
"I wasn't asleep. I heard you cry out, so I came in to check on you."
That didn't explain why I now lay half over him, but OK?
"Aoife had nightmares when she was young. The only thing that helped was cuddling her until she came out of them. Since my bedroom was next to hers, it woke me when she screamed."
"Where were your parents?"
"Pa was away a lot and Ma had Saoirse by then. As the eldest, Pa expected me to help Ma with the younger kids."
That seemed horribly unfair on Declan, but it explained why he felt the need to take care of everyone; he'd clearly embraced the caretaker role from a young age.
