Page 43 of Shuttered Hearts

But the emotional part of my brain is terrified about what I will discover if I do. And I’m not ready to deal with the high probability I’ve been living a life I am not happy with. So, avoidance is my best friend, and Declan offers me the perfect distraction.

Right now, I have a great guy texting me, and I want to focus on that.

It’s okay. Ava needed to get home and settled.

I can’t imagine how long of a day it was for her.

Declan

I know you’re right, but selfishly, I wish I could have kissed you again before I left.

I smile down at my phone, setting it down so I can finish getting ready for bed. Something else I won’t lie about is how much I like kissing Declan. That man knows how to kiss. I’m not going to think about how he became so good at it, but I am definitely going to continue benefiting from it.

Thinking back to last night has my toes curling, and all we did was kiss. He made me feel so safe in his arms—so wanted. Things I honestly don’t know if I’ve ever felt with anyone else before.

My phone beeps again from where I left it.

Declan

Did I scare you?

No. I’m just in the middle of getting ready for bed.

Give me two more minutes.

I set my phone back down, ignoring when I hear another text notification, and finish getting ready. It goes off two more times before I climb under the covers and pick up my phone.

Declan

And now I’m picturing you naked.

Sorry, that might have been too much.

Also, not sorry because I’m not going to lie to you.

First, I won’t lie to you either.

Second, is it lying if you're simply keeping those thoughts to yourself?

Declan

Probably not, but I also don’t want you to question if I want you.

Because you should never doubt how much I want you.

So …

We’re having this conversation now?

Instead of a notification informing me of a text from Declan, I get a FaceTime request from him.

I’m smiling when I answer. “Needed proof I’m not naked?”

He laughs. “No, I just wanted to see your face.”

“That’s cheesy.”

He shrugs. “Maybe, but it’s the truth.”

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