He pulled the covers over himself, knowing he’d messed up – he should have just let her kiss him; he had pulled away without thinking. He tried not to look over at the bed next to his, where Oliver slept.
Chapter 10
Declan
As Declan finished his laps the next morning, he noticed Oliver watching him from the far side of the pool.
‘Morning,’ Oliver said, his voice still thick with sleep. His hair hadn’t been brushed yet, but Declan liked the look of him this way. He looked soft in the mornings.
‘Morning,’ Declan replied, leaning his arms along the side of the pool and resting his head on them, trying to catch his breath.
‘You’re beautiful in the water,’ Oliver said.
Declan laughed, surprised. There was a beat where neither of them said anything, both still basking in the silence of the cool morning air. Oliver shifted next to him, pulling one of his legs out of the water and curling it under his other knee as he leaned back on his hands. The movement caused his shin to knock against Declan’s arm. Neither moved away.
‘How are you feeling?’ Declan asked finally. Oliver looked more rested than he had since Declan had met him, which he took as a good sign.
‘I’m good. Really good, honestly.’ He looked like he wanted to say more, but stopped short. Then, ‘I’m glad we’re mates now.’
Declan’s stomach flipped. ‘Me too.’
Oliver nodded, turning as the bedroom lights switched on and the other contestants filtered through the sliding glass doors. ‘I’ll let you finish up.’ He walked to meet Maeve in the kitchen. Declan looked after him for a moment, enjoying the graceful way his body moved before shaking his head and sinking back into the water.
Later that morning, Brian waved Declan over and told him to have a chat with Holly about her budding romance with Owen. Declan rolled his eyes, tired already of the manufactured conversations, but conceded. He found Holly sitting on the balcony and joined her on the couch.
‘Fancy meeting you here,’ Holly drawled.
‘Anything new with you?’ Declan asked. ‘Any bearded Irishmen come to sweep you off your feet?’
‘He’s right fit, isn’t he?’ Holly said, uncharacteristically excited. ‘But does helikeme?’
‘Oh, Holls,’ Declan said, putting an arm around her. ‘Don’t tell me you’re up here looking all conflicted because you’re worried he doesn’t want to crack on with you.’
‘No,’ Holly said defensively.
It was almost funny to see the normally unflappable Holly so anxious over a man, but Declan tried to stay serious. ‘You’re a total catch. If he doesn’t want you, he’s mad. Just tell him how you feel.’
‘You want us to communicate in a healthy manner about our relationship?’ she joked. ‘That’s completely unrealistic.’
‘You idiot,’ Declan said, ruffling her hair with one hand. Holly stuck her tongue out at him.
‘Oh, all right,’ she said, standing. ‘I suppose I’m off to be a grown-up. Need any romantic advice from me before I go?’
Declan shook his head. ‘I’m the love expert here.’
She headed back inside, and Declan lay back on the couch for a few minutes.
While he enjoyed the solitude, he felt a sudden longing to talk through things honestly with Georgia.
He was certain that if he could curl up with her and tell her everything happening with Zoë and Oliver, she would be able to help him figure it all out. But the feeling in his chest when he was close to Oliver wasn’t something he thought he could describe.The initial embarrassment of his drunken words on the beach had subsided, leaving uneasiness in its wake. Thinking back to their conversation the night before and the one that morning, Declan was letting Oliver get to him in a way he’d never allowed anyone to before, revealing things he hadn’t meant to. It was throwing him off his game.
The chime sounded and Declan sighed, feeling the beginnings of a headache forming.
When he walked onto the patio, Owen’s arm was around Holly’s waist. Darcy’s voice rang out: ‘Owen, take the Lover of your choice on a romantic night out.’
He looked at Holly, a stupid smile on his face. ‘Holly Henderson, will you do me the honour of going on this date?’
‘I will,’ Holly said, her cheeks reddening.
