“Fair enough.” He shrugs. “If you’re serious—”
“I am,” I say, cutting him off.
He puts his hand up. “If you’re serious, are you ready to leave your old life behind? Because Jackson, this is Annabelle we’re talking about. She’s one of us. You feck her over, and you’ll have hell to pay.”
I take a deep breath in and feel my nostrils flare. I would never intentionally hurt her.
Ever.
It’s the exact reason why I haven’t pursued her, but I’m not a teenager anymore, nowhere close to one.
“I’m not trying to upset you, Jackson; I’m only trying to be realistic. You’ve lived a colorful life, to say the least. I once walked into your house and found a girl tied to your bed… then that night, a different girl. Are you okay with giving that all up for one woman? No more one-night stands, no more threesomes—”
“All right, I get the fucking point, Declan,” I yell and stand up in a rush. My chair flies back, hitting the bar, glass smashing behind me, but I could give two shits right now. “Annabelle Hughes is not some random fucking girl! It wouldn’t be a sacrifice to give that up for her. It would be a goddamn honor!” I heave, trying to catch my breath as he smirks.
He fucking smirks.
Oh, that bastard. “That was a test, wasn’t it?”
“Uh-huh. One you passed with flying colors.”
I pick up my chair and sit back down, slightly embarrassed. I’m all out of sorts lately.
“You don’t think this is all too sudden?” I have to ask to confirm I’m not losing my goddamn mind.
Because somehow, to me, it all feels right.
“No, mate. I think it’s always been there, and I reckon she’s already there as well.”
God, this could be a disaster… or it could be the best thing to ever happen to us. Because if this works between us, if she’s on board, we could be all types of epic.
“What do you like about her?”
“What’s not to like about her? She’s so naturally beautiful. Anyone with eyes can see it. She loves her family, and mine, which you know is important. She’s generous, smart, and hardworking. She listens to Queen without complaint.” I smirk, thinking about when we were younger, and how my sister would die of embarrassment when I would blast it while driving in the car, but Belle would smile and go along with it, throwing her hands up and dancing along.
“She’s fun, loves to travel, she—” I keep the last part to myself, not wanting to share that she’s sexual and can keep up with my appetite.
I love sex, lots of it, and Annabelle is right there with me.
“And… she’s one of my best friends.”
“And that, mate, is the most important of them all. Being best friends with the one you love elevates your relationship to a whole new level that others will never understand.”
I grin. “All right, all right. Enough of this sappy, pussy shit so early in the morning.”Or ever.
My phone has been buzzing continuously in my desk drawer, so I grab it, then throw it back in disgust.
It’s like a bucket of ice water was thrown in my face, and I’m instantly brought back to reality.
This is what I would be bringing into a relationship.
Drama.
And it’s the last thing I want for her. I was fooled for a second into thinking I could do this.
“What the hell was that?”
“A reminder.”
