“Forget what?”Declan jokes.
“We’ll talk when you get back,” Jamie says.“Anything new with you, Summer?”
“Uh.”I grab the phone and throw it into the street.
Declan and I watch as a stretch limo runs it over.
“Good thinking,” he says looking at the flattened phone.
“I might have panicked.”
“Let’s go back to the hotel and regroup before we fly home.I think we need some breathing space between the shocks,” he says.
“I would say we need a drink, but I don’t think we should ever drink again.”
We hold hands on our walk back to the SUV, and Declan opens the door for me.I crank up the air in the SUV as Declan takes the long way back to the hotel.We ride in complete silence.
I’m lecturing myself for going off on him like I did.I know he’s sitting over there thinking I’m a head case.
When we arrive, he hands the key fob to the valet, and we walk into the hotel, defeated.
We take the elevator to our floor, and Declan unlocks the door to our suite.The maid has been there, and it’s nice to not have to see the bed messed up from our lovemaking and Cheeto frenzy.
If that’s what it was.Lovemaking.
Declan goes into the kitchen to raid the fully stocked refrigerator.“You want a Toblerone?Salted almonds?A banana?”
“Almonds.”
“Good, because I plan on going full Toblerone.”
I turn on the television to a football game, and Declan tosses me the pack of almonds.
“Oh, hell no.It’s a Cowboys game,” I complain, taking a seat on the couch.
Declan sits next to me.“Gods among men, the Cowboys.”
“I can’t understand why you’re a Cowboys fan.You’re such a traitor.”
“I respect talent.And those cheerleaders are unnaturally talented.”
I toss an almond at Declan’s head.“So typical.”
“Hey, I’m nothing if not dependable.”
I laugh and feel a wave of relief to feel normal again.This kind of banter between us is normal.There’s no undercurrent of embarrassment or shyness or another sexual detonation.
I scoot next to him and rest my head on his shoulder.He puts his feet up on the ottoman and crosses his legs at the ankles.We watch the game for about fifteen minutes before Declan begins to stroke my hair.
I close my eyes, reveling in his touch.“Are you hungry?”I ask him.
“We just ate and followed it up with a snack.But you know me—I’m always hungry.Arguing with you has always been the ultimate appetizer.”
“What are you hungry for?”
“You.I’m hungry for more of you.”
I look up at him.He’s looking down at me with a lopsided grin.
