Page 47 of Shuttered Hearts

“Do you know how long you’re staying?” Declan asks as he picks at his lunch.

“Well, I’ve got a little over a month saved up. So I was thinking about staying through the new year.”

Declan stiffens beside me, and I instantly place my hand on his back, offering my support. “Ava.” He closes his eyes briefly before opening them and looking at his sister across the table. “Iknow you don’t want to talk about it, and I want to respect that, but I need you to give me something to stop me from worrying.”

She fiddles with her lunch for a minute, then lifts her head to look at Declan. “I was fired from the firm.”

“What?” Declan breaths out.

“That’s all I’m going to say on it. I’m not sure I’m upset about it. Practicing law hasn’t made me happy for a while now.” She glances over at me before looking back at Declan. “I just need a little time to figure it all out. I promise, when I’m ready, I’ll tell you everything.”

Declan takes a deep breath before responding. “Okay. You’re welcome to stay as long as you want.”

“Thank you.” She looks back at me. “I know you’re still in the same general field, but you did technically change careers. Would you recommend it?”

“Ava!” Declan exclaims, but I laugh.

“You know what? I absolutely would. Sometimes, being forced to change one aspect of your life leads to a domino effect of wonderful things falling into it.” I smile at her, and she smiles right back.

twenty-three

DECLAN

I walkinto The Diner a little later than normal Thursday night, but I find Quinn immediately. She’s sitting at the same booth she’s always in, with her laptop open in front of her, completely focused on whatever she’s working on.

We haven’t been able to find time for just the two of us since Monday morning, and I have been craving it, almost desperate for it. Being in The Diner will likely have us under a microscope, especially after the harvest festival, but I don’t care. It will be good to just sit with her, with no rush for us to get back to something else.

Ineedthis. I need time with her. I pushed for us to be more, knowing she might not be staying, knowing I’m already falling for her.

I can’t give up more of myself, not after everything I went through with Melissa. But these feelings I have for Quinn are so much more than I’ve ever felt before. We understand each other on a level I never thought possible, and I’m not willing to give that up. Not yet. Not while I can be with her, not while I feel thislevel of happiness, even if it is only for a little while. She’s slowly causing my closed-off heart to open, at least for her.

I take a moment to study her. Her hair is thrown up in a messy knot on her head like she needed to get it out of her face so she could focus. I can’t help but smile at the look of concentration as I make my way over to her.

I slide into the booth across from her. “Hey. Did you already order?” She jumps, and I laugh. “Sorry.”

“No, I was waiting for you. Give me a second to do one more thing, and then I’ll put my computer away.” Her eyes go right back to the screen, not even waiting for me to respond.

I smile and watch her while she finishes up. She takes longer than a second, but I don’t mind.

“Hey, Declan, can I get you anything?” Rose asks, approaching the side of our table.

“I’ll take a water for now.” She gives me a quick nod and moves away. My gaze shifts back to Quinn.

“Sorry.” She shuts her laptop a few minutes later. “I didn’t want to forget what I was doing.” She puts her computer away and looks at me, a large smile growing on her face. I love that I cause her to smile like that. “Hey,” she says quietly.

“Hey.” I smile back. “Excited about what you’re working on?” I ask, placing my hand on the table, palm up.

She puts her hand in mine, and her smile grows even more. “Yeah. I got some amazing pictures at the festival, and I’m having so much fun playing around with them.”

“Good.” I look down at our hands. I turn her hand over in mine and begin drawing imaginary shapes on her palm.

“Everything okay with Ava?”

“Not really, but there’s no change either.” I shrug, still focusing on her hand in mine. “I’m trying to give her some space and let her figure it out. She’ll come to me when she’s ready.”

“You’re a good big brother.”

I give her a small smile. “I try.”

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