Novel Palace
70
“I told him if he hurt you, I would single-handedly destroy him.” He smiled. “But otherwise, I was fine with the situation and that I’d never seen you so happy.” He reached for my shoulder, squeezing it. “Which is the truth.”
“Dying. Keep going.”
He laughed. “That was it. The convo was short, sweet, and to the point. He said nothing about the weird place the two of you were in or that you’d gotten into a fight or anything about the lie.”
My brows rose. “Really?”
“Why does that surprise you?”
As Ford drank his coffee, I thought about his question.
Maybe Declan didn’t want to involve my cousins.
Maybe he thought it was none of their business.
Or maybe, in the long run, we were going to move past the tornado that had uprooted our relationship last night, so why even mention it?
“I don’t know,” I sighed. “I’m not sure I know anything anymore.”
He wiped his lips. “Not true. You know how much you love Declan.”
I gripped the armrest as those words slapped me over and over again. And once I got past the initial shock, I studied Ford’s grin. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you? Now that the family is done giving you shit about Sydney, it’s like you’re passing the baton to me.”
“Nothing makes me happier.”
I rolled my eyes. “So, what do I do? Help me. I’m lost.”
He wrapped his arm around the back of my chair. “You have to be patient and continue showing him why he fell for you. Don’t hide your feelings, Hannah. Let him see them. But don’t shove them down his throat either.”
“I need a manual.”
He shook his head. “You just need to be yourself.” When he tightened the grip on the cushion behind me, the chair moved. “Listen, Declan talked to Jenner. He talked to me. Now, he’s in Dominick’s office, talking to him. He wouldn’t be doing any of this if he didn’t see a future with you.”
“Wait …” I thought back to everything I’d said since I’d walked through Ford’s door. “How do you know he’s in Dominick’s office, talking to him? I didn’t tell you that.”
He smiled back at me.
“Jesus,” I groaned. “Don’t tell me; I already know. Dominick told you all in your group text. You’re a bunch of clucking hens, I swear. You’re just as gossipy and drama-filled as women-maybe even more so.”
“Should I take offense to that? I can’t tell …”
I stood from my chair. “No comment.”
“Hey,” he said as I reached his door. “Don’t forget something-something that’s extremely important.”
“And that is?”
“He loves you.”
I clutched his doorknob as his response melted into my body. “Those are words I need to hear from him, Ford.”
He nodded, and I strolled down the hallway, passing Declan’s door on my way to the kitchen. His office was empty, and that meant he was still with Dominick. I didn’t know how I felt about that, but I would do anything to be a fly on that wall.
In the kitchen, I made two coffees and grabbed some napkins and went into Declan’s office. I placed his coffee near his keyboard, a folded napkin next to it, and a Danish on top of it. I’d made a special batch of apple ones in the middle of the night when I couldn’t sleep. I’d even attempted a sugary glaze, similar to Chef Alex’s, that had hints of cinnamon and vanilla that I swirled over the top. Happy with the placement of his breakfast, I took a seat at my desk and checked my phone to see if I had any messages.
CAMDEN
T-minus 2 days until I’m home. I might crash at your place until my stuff gets delivered to my new apartment. Movers said it should take about a week. Oaklyn won’t care, will she?
ME
I can’t wait. I feel like I haven’t seen you in years. And, no, of course she won’t care.
CAMDEN
Dude, can you believe our graduation party is THIS weekend? That we’re going to be in full-force bar prep by next week? Shit, I can’t even believe I’m leaving NY and moving back to LA.
ME
You know what I can’t believe? That our schools have the audacity to have graduation on the same day, so our parents have to divide and conquer, and you get Dad, and I get Mom. I want to be in NY for you. I want you here for me.
CAMDEN
You know I feel the same way.
ME
I have so much anxiety about bar prep that I can barely even think about it.
I heard Declan coming down the hallway, and I held my breath. The last thing I wanted was to make eye contact, so I didn’t turn around when I sensed him walking into his office or taking a seat on his leather chair. I didn’t even look to see his reaction to the Danish or watch if he took a bite.
But, damn, I wanted to.
CAMDEN
If Dom, Jenner, and Ford passed, I’m not worried about us. We can run circles around those fools. 🙂
ME
Don’t be so sure of yourself, Mr. Cocky. It won’t be cute if you say that and then you don’t pass.
A new message appeared on my screen.
But this one wasn’t from my brother.
DECLAN
Get to work.
The temptation was far too strong, and I was on the verge of turning around when my phone chimed again, stopping me.
DECLAN
Best Danish I’ve ever had in my life. Thank you. I’m going to miss these breakfasts.
I’m going to miss you.
TWENTY-FIVE
DECLAN
I
‘d spoken to each of the Dalton brothers, and all three had given me their blessing.
Of course, Dominick had doled out plenty of shit before his came. Words I’d expected. Words a best friend would slap you with and break your balls over because you’d not only kept him in the dark, but the person of interest was also his cousin.
What helped with Dominick’s opinion, I assumed, was that he’d heard Hannah’s side first.
I hadn’t anticipated her doing that.
But when I had sat on the opposite side of Dominick’s desk and told him what had gone down between us, he had gotten it. He understood. And he hadn’t blamed me for what I’d done.
Even though he knew I was an asshole with quite the reputation when it came to women, he also knew Hannah was different to me.Property © NôvelDrama.Org.
She was mine.
And now that all that was behind me and I’d confessed the truth to her about the night at the bar, I felt zero guilt.
As for the emotions, those were growing by the goddamn day.