Page 67 of This Feeling

“Yes!” I said, with probably a bit more excitement than needed. Not that the hostess noticed. She could barely pull her eyes off of Declan.

“I see our friends over there,” I said, pointing to Brystol. She was sitting at a table with a guy I didn’t know, along with Aurora, Cadie, and Kian. Or maybe Aurora was sitting with the guy? I wasn’t sure.

“Great,” the hostess said, bringing my attention back to her. “Have a fun night!”

“We will,” Declan said, as he took my hand again, and we started to make our way through the tables.

My focus was on my friends, and not the other patrons around us, so when I heard both my name and Declan’s being called, it took me a moment to realize it.

Declan, on the other hand, let out a low groan. When I looked at him, he gave me an apologetic smile.

“Guess I was wrong about my mother being here.”

I was positive my eyes nearly popped out of my head. “You’re kidding, right?”

“Declan? Harper? What are you two doing here? And why are you holding hands?”

We both turned slowly to see Maddie, Declan’s mother, standing there with her hands on her hips and a perplexed look on her face.

“Shit,” Declan and I said at the same time.

Declan

My mother’s eyes bounced between me and Harper, and it felt like forever before I finally cleared my throat and spoke.

“Hey, Mom. Fancy seeing you here. I didn’t think you liked this sort of thing.”

Her confused expression turned to annoyance. “Why wouldn’t I like trivia night?”

I shrugged. “I just don’t see you getting into…you know, fun stuff, and just going out, and…”

Harper poked my side, causing my words to drift off.

Folding her arms over her chest, my mother looked highly offended. “I’ll have you know, Ihelpwith trivia night. Viola and I are on the board for the city that plans these events, and we approached Liam Turner about doing some fun things here at the restaurant and bar.”

“You came up with trivia night?” I asked, nearly laughing out loud.

With a sniff and a jut of her chin, my mother replied, “Do you think I’m that dull of a person?”

“Of course he doesn’t,” Harper interjected.

That was a big mistake because now my mother’s undivided attention was on Harper. “And why areyouhere with Declan instead of Sean?”

“I take it Sean hasn’t spoken to you this evening?” Harper asked.

“No. I haven’t seen him since those two got into a fight earlier—and now I know why.”

Harper held up her hands. “No, Maddie, you have it all wrong. Sean was supposed to end this charade by telling you the truth.”

Pinching her brows in confusion, she asked, “The truth about what?”

Harper looked at me, and I nodded. It was time to end this bullshit since it was clear my brother was too chicken to do it himself.

“Maddie, can we talk outside for a moment?” Harper asked.

Despite looking unhappy, Mom nodded. “I suppose that would be fine since the games haven’t started yet.”

I motioned for my mother to go first. She walked out onto the terrace and toward an area with a few empty tables. At least our talk would be relatively private since almost everyone was inside for trivia night.

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