Then I kiss him hungrily. This feels like everything I’ve ever wanted is finally within my grasp. Not only will I have all of Declan all year long, but I can finally help him get the care he needs. I can be there for him the way he’s always been there for me.
“It’ll be like old times again,” he mumbles against my lips.
I smile for a moment before the words sink in, and I feel my smile fade.Old times.
I don’t want it to be like old times. Is that what he thinks this will be? Roommates? Friends again?
Pulling back, I stare into his eyes, searching for a sign that maybe I’m wrong. I misheard him. That’s not what he means.
But I don’t dare question it. Because this moment is too delicate, and if I ask for too much, I could lose it all.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Declan
Two days until the wedding
The rain won’t stop. The forecast is calling for a major storm this weekend. Not just rain, but gale-force winds and possibly even hail, in July.
On top of that, Colin’s ankle is sprained. He’s been instructed by the doctor to stay off of it all day. He and Pierce were supposed to have their photos taken today, but with the roads too dangerous, the photographer canceled. Which means everyone is just stuck in the house together.
Colin’s parents are staying at a resort in the city, so thank God for that.
“I heard rain was good luck for a wedding,” Blaire says to Colin as she serves him tea in the parlor. With nothing to do, he and Pierce are bored to tears. Pierce seems to be keeping busy with work on his computer and apparently practicing his lines.
And I keep finding reasons to go into the room they’re in.
“Thank you,” Colin says to Blaire with a warm smile. “I hope that’s true.”
“Don’t you have an indoor gym or something?” Pierce complains. “We can’t just sit stationary all day like this.”
“Colin is supposed to be stationary today,” I reply flatly, earning me a glare from the American.
“Fine,” he says, closing his computer. “We can just use this time to plan our bachelor party tomorrow night.”
“Pierce,” Colin says in a warning.
“What? We obviously need a bachelor party, and we decided we were going to have one together.”
The hairs on the back of my neck rise as I glance back and forth between the two of them. I have a feeling this has to do with the argument I heard them have yesterday. I was hoping I just heard it wrong, or they would let it blow over without bringing it up.
“Pierce,” Colin says again, this time sitting up on the couch as if he’s going to stand.
“Okay, okay, relax,” he says, putting his hands out toward Colin.
Since there’s not much reason for me to be in the room, I turn to leave, but Pierce immediately calls me back. “Please, for the love of God, don’t leave.”
“What can I do for ye?” I ask.
“Why don’t you tell me some more stories about my Colin when he was younger? I’m bored to fucking tears, and I need something. Apparently, he can’t fuck with that sprained ankle either, so I’m begging you. Entertain me.”
My eyes narrow with my back to the man. I don’t like that I find comfort in the fact that Colin told him no to sex and blamed it on the ankle.
“Okay,” I reply as I go to the bar in the corner and pull out three glasses. Then I pour whiskey into each and deliver them to the two men, keeping one for myself. “What would you like to hear?”
I drop into the chair opposite Pierce and watch him over the top of my glass as I take a sip.
“We’re all adults here. Let’s not beat around the bush,” he says with a mischievous grin. “How long did you two fuck?”
