Page 77 of The Complication
I clicked my tongue at him but couldn’t argue. He was right. I wasn’t great about watching what I said around Joy, and that was going to get me in trouble one day.
Turning my attention to Molly, I resumed what I was trying to say. “Declan is amazing. He’s brilliant, kind, and so fucking patient. But most importantly, he loves our daughter. He’s done such wonderful things to make sure she’s happy, healthy, and safe. And I’m so sorry that you never got the chance to meet him. You were right. I should have grown a set and asked him out months ago. Then maybe I would have been better prepared…or…hell…” My voice broke, and the first tear slipped down my cheek.
Declan pulled his hand free, but before I could register what was happening, Declan was pulling me tightly into his arms. I laid my head on his shoulder, my tears soaking into his shirt while my body trembled. It felt like I would never stop crying over Molly, but the pain almost felt manageable with Declan holding me. It was as if all the pieces weren’t going to fall off me and be lost because he was there to catch them.
After a few minutes, I drew in another ragged breath and stepped out of Declan’s embrace to wipe my face.
“Sorry about that,” I murmured, not sure who I was talking to that time. Smiling at her gravestone, I felt a little better, as if some of the weight on my heart was lifted. “I wanted to bring him by, because it’s important to me thatyou meet. I would like for him to be a big part of my life and Joy’s life.” Still smiling, I gazed up at Declan, who was looking teary as well. “And that means understanding that Molly is still a big part of my and Joy’s life.”
“Of course. I understand.”
Pressing my fingers to my lips, I blew Molly a kiss. “Stay out of trouble, girlfriend. We’ll all be back soon for a longer visit. I need to get home before the roast in the oven burns.”
Declan wrapped an arm around my waist as we walked to the car. He paused as we reached the driver’s door, his hand tightening on my hip. “Would you like me to drive?”
I shook my head. “No, I’m good now. Helped to clear the cobwebs.”
He didn’t ask anything else as he moved to the passenger side and climbed into the car.
The drive to my temporary apartment took only fifteen minutes, thanks to the lighter weekend traffic. I bit my lip as I covertly watched Declan as we walked up to my building. He was looking everything over with a very critical eye. The building wasn’t bad at all. It was in a nice, quiet neighborhood, and the complex was gated, which helped create a feeling of security. He said nothing until I approached a door on the first floor.
“I thought it was safer to be up on the third floor,” he stated.
“It is, but have you ever tried to carry a baby, stroller, and groceries up to the third floor? Ain’t happening. Besides, after the fire at my old place, I’d rather be on the first floor.”
Declan grunted and nodded. It was on the tip of my tongue to point out that it wasn’t my plan to stay here for long, but I thought that would muddy the waters. There were a lot of things we needed to discuss tonight.
As I opened the door, the rich, heavy scent of cooked meat wafted out and my stomach growled. At least I thought it was my stomach. The happy hum that came from Declan behind me left me thinking it could have been his stomach, too.
“That smells wonderful. Could you?—”
“Don’t you dare ask me to give the recipe to Chef Donovan! He would never forgive you.”
A tug drew my gaze around to find that Declan had pinched a tiny piece of my polo shirt and tugged like a child trying to get my attention. “Could you maybe make dinner again for me sometime?”
Be strong. Don’t melt. Be strong. I’ve got to be strong.
I repeated the mantra in my head, but it was getting fucking hard to stay strong. Everything inside me screamed to turn, shove him against the wall, and kiss the ever-loving shit out of him because he wasn’t just tugging on my shirt. That perfect man was tugging on my heart.
The words “I’ll cook dinner for you anytime you want” nearly tumbled from my lips as I opened my mouth, but I caught myself at the last second and changed it to “We’ll see.”
I led Declan in and directed him to the living room, which I’d cleared of unfolded laundry, baby toys, and other random chaos, making it looking like nice and clean for once.
“Just wait here. I need to check on the roast. Dinner should be ready in about thirty minutes,” I called out as I hurried into the kitchen.
As Declan sat, I ran off to look at the roast, which I knew was perfectly fine. I’d needed a moment to calm the butterflies in my stomach before I moved forward with the next part of my devious plan. Dinner was my last-ditch effort to win Declan.Yes, I was relying on that old chestnut about quickest ways and stomachs. Sue me!
With my fluttering nerves as settled as they were going to be, I darted into my bedroom and grabbed three canvases that had finished drying today. “Would you like to see some new art that I’ve been working on?” I called out as I wove my way to the living room.
“Of course.”
I sent him a nervous smile. “It’s different from the mural, but kind of like the paintings I’ve done for you and your friends.” I leaned two of them against my leg and turned the first one toward Declan. “This one is of when we first got together.”
Declan rose to his feet, his eyes wide as he took in the colorful depiction of him pinning me to the wall. We were naked, and there was a look of ecstasy on my face while he pressed a tender kiss to my shoulder. While our bodies hid it, the implication was clear that he was driving deep inside me.
“Oh…wow…” Declan breathed.
“You like it?”
