Page 111 of Eternal

“Why’s he here?”

“He’s doing me a favor.” Declan steps back. “Give me a second, okay?”

Declan pulls the earbud from his ear and pops it into mine, drowning out all other sounds with the music.

I watch as he leaves me by the water, making his way over to the three men standing at a distance. And when they talk, Declan’s gaze occasionally drifts to me.

I don’t know if the shiver that runs through me is from the breeze, Declan’s gaze, or something ominous I sense on the horizon, but it cools me to the bone.

After a while, the four men move closer, and I try to ignore that it makes my skin itch when they close in. Declan takes my hand, rubbing the back with his thumb, but I keep my attention on the lake and the music.

But when Declan squeezes my hand, tapping the back of it, I pull an earbud out.

“Yes?” I look at Declan.

His jaw clenches, and his grip on my hand tightens.

“We all set?” he asks, reaching to cup my cheek.

I open my mouth to ask what he’s talking about when Jacob answers, “We’re good.”

“What’s going on?” I ask Declan.

“I made some arrangements for us in Paris. One of them being an apartment for us to stay in while we’re there.”

“Us?” Confusion laces my tone. “You want me to live with you when we’re in Paris for the summer?”

“You’re my girlfriend. Where else would you live?”

His eyebrows pinch like he can’t imagine why I would even question it. I understand, given his assurances, that this is real. Still, a small part of me resists, thinking this is all fleeting and, at some point, I’ll wake up.

But as I stare up into Declan’s eyes, digesting what he said, it sinks in. “You really want this?”

He nods. “Of course I do.”

“Okay.”

Declan steps back the second I agree, not looking as happy as I would expect him to, considering the fact that he’s the one who came up with this plan. He’s torn, and I don’t know why.

“Jacob needs us to sign something then.” Declan glances at the papers in Jacob’s hands.

“Right now?” It seems like a strange time to sign a lease. “That’s why he’s here?”

“It’s an aggressive market. If we don’t move now, we might not get something close to the studio.

Jacob hands me a pen, and the paper is already folded to the signature lines. I sign first, and then Declan. And when he hands the paper back to Jacob, I wonder how my father will react to this.

I’ve heard my father talking. He’s still hoping that Declan will get tired of me and give up on us so he can go back to his plans of me marrying Jase. But so long as we’re living together for the summer, that isn’t happening anytime soon.

At least, I hope not.

“We’ll get it filed.” Jacob tucks the paper in his back pocket. “Remember the deal. I expect you to deliver.”

“It’s already in the works.” Declan nods. “She’ll be there.”

Jacob nods, and he walks away, with Maddox and Asher following him.

“Deliver what?” I ask when Declan steals both my earbuds and tucks them in his pocket. “Or who?”

---