If there was ever a universe or fate in which I didn’t find Colin, I wouldn’t want it. No matter how painful this road was, it brought us here. And I’d endure it again a thousand times over if I had to.
Stroking his pale blond hair, I notice streaks of sunlight across his face. Which can only mean one thing…
I turn my attention to the bright window to confirm—the rain has finally stopped.
It’ll come back eventually. It always does. But lucky for me, I’ve found someone whose smile is bright enough to get me through. And I don’t need to feel bad for basking in its warmth, because I’m the one who makes him smile in the first place.
And I’ll never let him go again.
Chapter Forty
Colin
Present day
Barclay Manor
“I think that’s everything,” the tall Scottish brunette says as he drops one side of the large trunk on the gravel outside the house. Declan’s other brother, Lachy, releases his side with a wince, holding his back.
“What in the bloody hell is in here?” he asks, looking down at the thing.
Declan comes up behind me and places a hand on my back. “Colin. Lots and lots of Colin.”
Killian makes a face of disgust. “I don’t want to know.”
The moving company takes the trunk and loads it in the crate with all of Declan’s other things, which isn’t much. Mostly paintings and supplies that I know he wants although he tried to argue that he doesn’t.
Declan’s sister, Anna, comes around and barks orders at the movers, making me laugh to myself.
It’s been a week since the wedding, or lack thereof, and I need to get back to LA to start shooting a film next week. I didn’t wantto leave without Declan, so when he refused to let me, I knew for sure this was it. He means it this time.
He promised, and when Declan Barclay makes a promise, I know that he’ll keep it.
“So you officially lost your bet,” Killian says with a smug grin. “Which means our sister gets to keep your house and have as many weddings here as she wants.”
I laugh to myself, squeezing close to Declan’s side. He told me about the wager he made with his brothers, and I found it quite funny in the end. Because it sort of didn’t matter anyway. There was no way he was winning that bet once I showed up. With every passing day, it seems more and more clear to me that I was never walking out of here with Pierce. I’m not sure I ever really wanted to.
“I’ll never forgive you for that,” a sweet Scottish voice says from behind me, and I turn to find Blaire walking up to our group. She gives Declan a despondent look as she adds, “Or for leaving me.”
“I’m sorry,” I mumble to her, and she grins through her tears.
“It’s my fault for making him look so irresistible that night.”
Giving her a warm grin, I rest my head on Declan’s shoulder. I don’t like to think about that night much, no matter how things turned out. Having to tell Pierce that the wedding was off was nearly the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do—second only to the night I had to walk away from Declan.
Pierce fought back. Tried to manipulate. Even tried tocommandme to take it back, and it was a little humiliating for him. Because I said no, again and again.
He was never the right guy for me, and nothing he could ever say or do would have changed that.
When Anna rejoins our group, she looks flustered and tired. Whenever she glances toward Declan, I see the sentimental sadness in her eyes.
“Well,” he says, squeezing my shoulders. “We should probably get going. We have a flight to catch.”
“Do you have to go?” Anna cries, tears filling her eyes. “You’re all leaving me here. Killian’s married and gone. Now, you’re leaving.”
“I’m still here,” Lachlan says as he holds up his hands. Everyone chuckles for a moment, and Killian reaches over to ruffle his hair.
“You have what you want, Anna,” Declan says softly. “You have the manor for weddings now.”
