Not Pretending Anymore, Ward, Penelope [books that read to you TXT] 📗

his night had also ended early, so I could talk to him.

It was almost 2AM when the door finally latched open.

I got up from the couch. “Hey.”

Immediately, I noticed it. Declan’s hair was all messed up, and he had lipstick on his mouth. I was unprepared for the level of jealousy that hit me.

“Hey.” He flashed a crooked smile.

“Looks like you had a good evening.”

“It was alright. Why do you say that?”

“Go look at yourself in the mirror.”

Declan walked over to the mirror in the hallway. “Oh shit. Yeah.”

“I take it Julia needed consoling because of her breakup?” I huffed.

He wiped his lips. “We got a little drunk and made out in the cab.”

Feeling hot, I cracked, “Wow. She moves fast, huh?”

Rather than address that, he asked, “How was your date?”

Somehow, I felt weird complaining now. Not that this was a competition, but I didn’t want to stress how lame my date had been compared to his—which had clearly gone well.

So, I downplayed my disappointment. “It was okay. We went to that new Greek place, Mykonos.”

“Was it good?”

“Yeah. The food was delicious.”

“Cool.” He paused to look at me, then narrowed his eyes. “You okay?”

Apparently I wasn’t doing a good job of seeming nonchalant. My emotions were all over the place, and I needed to go to bed, call this day over.

“Yeah. I’m fine.”

“You sure?”

“Yup.” I forced a smile. “Gonna hit the sack. Super tired.”

Declan didn’t move from his spot as he watched me move toward my room.

“’Night, Mollz,” he called after me.

I turned one last time and smiled. “Goodnight.”

***

Over the next couple of days, I didn’t cross paths much with Declan. He’d been spending more time out—probably with Julia. Due to a scheduling change, I’d worked the past two days but had Friday off.

I woke up to find a note:

TGIF! Happy day off, roomie. I made this pasta last night but ended up going out to dinner last minute. Have it for lunch “penalty free” on me. ;-)

xo Declan

For some reason, this simple note made my chest tight. It had been the longest week, and I missed him. It was fucked up how much.

Deep down, I knew it was good to have these periods of time where I didn’t see him, because I was going to have to get used to it anyway once he left. It just sucked.

***

Friday night, I met my co-workers for happy hour downtown. Will sat across from me, but you’d never have known we’d been out on a date recently. He hadn’t initiated going out again. And tonight, while he stole some flirtatious glances at me, he hadn’t come over to even kiss me on the cheek. Clearly he was keeping his options open.

I wasn’t sure I would take him up on it if he asked me out again. Casual sex with Will Daniels wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world, but I didn’t want to waste time with someone who’d already written off the possibility of a relationship. So, if he asked me to hang out again, I’d have to see how I felt.

My phone vibrated.

Declan: I was hoping to catch you tonight. I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever.

My heart fluttered.

Molly: I’m at happy hour.

Declan: With Will?

Molly: Well, he’s here, but we’re not really together. It’s a bunch of people.

Declan: What’s up with that?

My first inclination was to be honest and tell him about the date. But the selfish part of me wanted an excuse to see Declan tonight and stick it to Will at the same time.

Molly: I’m thinking I could use your presence here, if you don’t mind showing up.

Declan: You mean as your “date”?

Molly: I know you’re seeing Julia now, so no worries if you don’t feel comfortable with our previous agreement.

The dots moved around as he typed.

Declan: Julia is not my girlfriend. She’s not ready for that. We’re just having fun right now.

Molly: So she won’t mind if I borrow you? ;-)

My heart thundered in my chest as I waited for his response.

Declan: I’ll be there in twenty.

***

“Act surprised to see me,” Declan whispered in my ear as he wrapped his arm around my waist from behind. He moved his mouth to my cheek and planted a soft kiss.

I turned in his arms. “Uh…Declan. You’re here. This is…a nice surprise.”

He brushed a lock of hair from my face and smiled. “Is it? I hope you don’t mind me dropping by like this. You’d mentioned the other day you were coming here for happy hour. I was only a few blocks away and thought I’d surprise you.”

“No, it’s fine. I’m glad you did.”

I’d been standing next to my friend Emma, and I caught her mouth hanging open in my peripheral vision. It made sense, since I’d just finished catching her up about the date I’d had with Will, and now another man had his hands on me in an intimate way—another gorgeous man.

“Umm. Declan…this is my friend Emma. We work together at the hospital.”

Declan flashed his dazzling smile and extended his hand. “Good to meet you, Emma. I’m sorry if I’m interrupting.”

“You’re not at all. Molly and I just finished catching up. I was on vacation the last two weeks.” She gave me the stink eye. “It’s amazing how much you can miss in just fourteen days.”

“I bet.” Declan motioned to my almost-empty glass. “I’m going to order a drink. Is that your usual pinot?”

“It is.”

He pointed to Emma. “What can I get you, Emma?”

“Oh, you don’t have to do that.”

Declan grinned. “Of course I do. Rule number one: make sure you keep the friends of the woman you’re crushing on liquored up and happy.”

Emma laughed. “I like that rule. I’ll take a vodka cranberry. Thank you.”

While Declan spoke to the bartender, Emma whispered to me, “Umm…is there something you forgot to mention?”

Emma was a good friend, but I didn’t think this was