We gently sway back and forth. The Righteous Brothers croon, “And time can do so much. Are you still mine?” And I swear Declan’s grip tightens around my waist at the lyric.
My stomach takes flight.
He seems to be enjoying this dance with me in the simplicity of our silence, but I am stewing with the secret of my decision to stay in Seabrook. I want to dive headfirst into whatever is happening between us, but I don’t want to scare him off by announcing I’ll be living in the cottage across the street on our first date.
But what was I going to do? Not tell him I was already living there? I wouldn’t be able to keep up the charade for more than a week.
“Declan,” I say in a rushed voice. “Can I tell you something?”
“Of course,” he breathes, looking down at me like I’m precious to him. “You can tell me anything.”
I nod and catch myself grazing my teeth over my bottom lip.
“I called Ernst and Young.” Declan stiffens for a moment and takes us offbeat with the song. “To tell them I don’t want the job anymore.”
At first, his eyes widen like he’s not sure he heard me correctly. But then he exhales in a rush and smiles, shaking his head like he’s scared to feel hopeful.
“Because…” He quirks an eyebrow up in question, elongating the word while he waits for me to fill in.
“Because my mom needs me here. And… I want to be here. I know it sounds crazy, and way too fast, and you and I just started talking again, but you’re right. We should see where this will go because we’ve wasted so much time—”
The sound of my voice disappears as Declan cranes hishead down to kiss me. The kiss is urgent, like he can’t go on living another second without pressing his lips to mine. I arch back with the force of it, and it makes me giggle like a lovesick girl, vibrating our lips. I feel his smile as it blooms.
He pulls back slowly.
“Woah, there.” I chuckle. “I didn’t know how you’d react, but I definitely forgot to consider whateverthatwas as an option.”
“Sorry.” His mouth quirks on one side. “Like you said, we’ve already wasted so much time.”
I tip my head back and laugh. All the built-up nervous energy escaping in a moment.
“You were scaring me, talking all slow like that. I thought I was already getting dumped not even halfway through our first dance. But no, this is the best news I’ve heard in a long time.”
“Really?” I ask in disbelief.
“Yes. Are you kidding me? Are you shocked by that?”
“Well… this is technically our first date—”
“Second first date.”
I laugh. “Right. Our second first date after four whole years, and I’m telling you I’m moving into the house across from yours. That doesn’t freak you out at all?”
“Why would the girl I’ve waited for my entire life moving in across the street freak me out?” He says it like it’s the truest thing about him. Like it’s obvious and he is unafraid.
“You’re not scared that we’re moving too fast? That whatever broke us apart back then won’t crop up and choke us out again?” I ask.
He stares down at me and presses his lips together in thought. His eyes sparkle in consideration in that way they always do when I’ve asked him something serious.
“No, Blair.” He shakes his head emphatically like he’s found his conclusion. Like I am his conclusion. “I think ‘moving too fast’ is the last thing someone would use to describe us.” He chuckles. “I’ve wanted you longer than I can remember wanting anything else. And there have always been things in the way. I’ll never forget always calculating how long we would have been dating by the time I got to propose to you. I thought sixteen years was a pretty huge bet, so might as well wait as long as possible to start dating you.” He smiles ironically, and I cough a laugh.
“There’s no way you were calculating marriage with me at, what? Eight?”
“Eh, I think seven.”
I swat his shoulder and gape up at him. “You’re lying.”
“I’m not!” he retorts. “I’m dead serious. It was torture. But now? There’s nothing in the way of us anymore, Blair. Nothing about being with you scares me at all. It’s being without you again that terrifies me.”
