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

you to tell her to leave. I’m really okay. This is your apartment, too. And you’ve been more respectful than you need to be. You barely bring her over. It’s fine.

Declan: I owe you one.

I sighed and turned on the blow dryer.

After I finished with my hair, I returned to the kitchen. “As always, that cinnamon French toast smells so good.”

Julia took a deep breath in. “God, you’re right. I wish I didn’t care what I looked like.”

Is that an insult?

Declan waved the spatula. “You’re assuming men don’t like a little meat on a woman’s bones.”

Thank you, Declan.

“Last I checked, you seemed to like these bones just fine,” Julia quipped.

Ugh. Barf.

Declan didn’t respond and resumed flipping the toast and tending to Julia’s annoying veggie omelet on the opposite burner.

He plated everything, and the three of us sat at the kitchen table together. Declan had bought my favorite orange juice with heavy pulp and poured it into wine glasses for me and him. Julia opted for water, since the orange juice apparently had too much sugar.

With his mouth full, Declan turned to me and asked, “How’s the toast?”

“Delicious. Thank you.”

He smiled in a way that looked like a silent apology.

“So, Declan tells me you’re dating a doctor from work?” Julia asked.

I wiped syrup off the side of my mouth. “Yes. It’s still new.”

“That’s exciting.”

I shrugged. “I don’t get excited about anything so early. It would be dumb to do so. I’m looking for more than just someone to screw.”

“But you’re young. Why do you need to settle down?” she asked, seeming confused.

“It’s not so much about settling down as it is being with someone who only has eyes for me. That’s important to me.”

Declan’s eyes snagged with mine for a moment before he returned to his French toast.

After several minutes of eating in silence, Julia broke the ice again.

She rubbed her belly. “That omelet was so good. It reminded me of something I’d get at home. I miss all my healthy food places in California. I can’t wait to get back.”

Declan’s eyes narrowed. “You can get healthy food here.”

“Yeah, but it’s not the same. You can’t find a smoothie place on every corner here. It’s a challenge to find an all-organic restaurant. It’s not just that, either. I guess I just miss home, in general. The sunshine. The fresh air. The Pacific Ocean. And obviously my family.”

Declan nodded. “I miss my family, too. But I love Chicago.” He glanced at me. “There’s a lot I appreciate about this city.”

“It’s not bad, I guess,” she said. “I’m just ready to go.”

She’s ready to go and take Declan with her.

“I want to get a dog, too,” Julia added. “I was just about to get one before we got this assignment. So, the first thing I’m gonna do when I get home is get a dog.”

“And what if you get another out-of-town assignment?” I asked.

She shrugged. “My sister can watch it.”

I lifted an eyebrow. “Your sister would be down with that?”

“I know she’ll do it.”

Julia was an entitled brat. Or maybe it just seemed that way since I generally hated her for getting to fool around with the man I was crushing on hard.

“My sister loves animals as much as I do.”

I looked down at her designer boots, which I happened to know had real fur.

“If you love animals, you should consider not wearing fur. An animal died for those boots.”

She looked down at her feet. “I suppose you’re right. Hadn’t really thought about it.”

“Yeah, just something to consider,” I said, shoveling another bite of toast into my mouth.

Declan smirked and attempted to change the slightly hostile tone of the night.

“Anyone up for a post-dinner cocktail? I bought this margarita mix the other day I want to try.”

I could definitely go for a little alcohol right about now.

Julia licked her lips. “Mmmm… That sounds delicious.”

This from the girl who’s sworn off carbs? Yeah, that made sense. I guess margaritas don’t count.

The next part of the night was perhaps the worst. Julia was all over Declan as he stood at the counter making our drinks. She wrapped her arms around his waist and just hung on him.

He managed to break free long enough to hand me my drink. “Here you go, Mollz. Just how you like it, with extra salt.”

“Thank you.”

I took a sip of the slushy, frozen margarita. It had the perfect amount of sweetness to complement the lime. But as much as this drink rocked, I was done being an audience to Julia rubbing herself all over my man.

Shit.

What?

My man?

That was such a random and inappropriate thought.

But yet I’d had it.

Yeah, definitely time for you to be out, Molly.

I lifted my glass in a salute. “You know what? I think I’m gonna take this to my room, if that’s okay. I’m feeling kind of tired. Hopefully the alcohol will just knock me out altogether.”

Declan’s expression dampened. “Okay. If you want another one, let me know. There’s plenty still in the blender.”

“Will do. Thanks.” I smiled. “’Night, Julia.”

“’Night, Molly.”

I flashed Declan one more smile before I walked to my room.

Letting out a long sigh of relief as my bedroom door closed, I turned on some Hulu and downed the rest of my drink.

I dozed off a few times, in and out of sleep. The final time I woke up, I noticed I no longer heard the muffled sounds of their talking.

I’d also missed a text about fifteen minutes ago from Declan.

Declan: You still awake?

I typed.

Molly: Yeah.

Declan: Are you decent?

Molly: Yes.

A few seconds later, he knocked on my door.

“Come in.”

CHAPTER 16

Declan

“Hey.” Molly sat up in bed, leaning her back against the headboard. “Julia leave?”

I nodded. “Is it okay if I sit down?”

Molly pulled up her legs and wrapped her arms around her knees to make room for me.

“Yeah, of course.”

Sitting at the bottom of her bed, I was tempted to tell her why I’d seemed off when she walked in earlier tonight. The last