Holly shot them both a watery smile, straightening. ‘You’re right. I suppose it doesn’t matter who I pick. I’ve got you lot, and that’s all the winnings I need.’
‘Great stuff, you three,’ Brian said. Jack hid his laugh with a coughing fit as Holly slapped their knees and got up to find Liam.
They sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes, and Declan resumed watching his new bird friend feast on a fallen grape.
Jack sighed happily next to him. ‘It’s pretty incredible, huh?’ Declan glanced sideways and noticed he was looking at Maeve and Imogen.
‘Oh,’ Declan said, watching the two girls laugh. ‘Yeah.’
‘I never thought I’d meet someone like her,’ Jack said, and he looked almost sombre. He glanced back at Declan, his eyeswistful. ‘I mean, all of you. I feel so lucky to have met you, Declan.’
He didn’t know what to say to that.
‘Declan!’ Paige called from the corner of the patio, and Declan shrugged apologetically at Jack before heading over.
‘Yeah?’ he asked, casting a glance at the monitor where she’d been watching them. A miniature Jack waved at him.
‘We were hoping you could have a chat with James,’ she said, her eyes not meeting his.
‘Why?’ Declan asked, more confused than angry.
‘We thought it would be nice to have some closure between you two.’ She still wasn’t looking at Declan, turning her attention back to the monitor. It made Declan want to scream, but instead he nodded.
‘Where is he?’
‘In the bedroom.’
‘Great,’ Declan said tersely.
‘Thank you.’
He walked into the villa with no clue of what to say to James.
He found him and Zoë lounging on their bed, neither looking up as he walked in. James pushed a strand of Zoë’s hair behind her ear as she giggled at something he’d said. He leaned in and kissed her softly. It was surprising to see them like this – almost sweet.
Declan cleared his throat awkwardly, and Zoë sprang away as James turned to glare at Declan.
‘Hi,’ Zoë said. She glanced between them, her cheeks flushing. Declan supposed she was expecting another fight, but he didn’t have it in him any more.
‘What do you want?’ James asked snidely. Zoë shot him a warning look, which he ignored.
Declan would have rather been anywhere else. ‘Could we chat?’
‘Are you sure that’s a good idea?’ Zoë asked, confused.
‘I promise not to punch him,’ Declan deadpanned. Zoë cracked a small smile, but James crossed his arms.
‘I’d like to see you try.’
‘Are you coming or not?’ He headed upstairs, not waiting to see if James was following.
‘What did you want?’ James asked, as they stepped out onto the balcony.
‘I wanted to apologise,’ Declan said, and was surprised by the honesty in that statement. Looking at James now, he only felt sorry for him.
‘For what?’ James asked suspiciously.
‘For all of it,’ Declan said. ‘I’m sorry for punching you, I’m sorry for making your time here harder, and I’m sorry for what happened with Georgia.’
