Page 99 of Eternal

Worry fills her gaze as she watches Kole. And when her stare moves to Declan, she starts biting the inside of her cheek.

“How are you feeling about this weekend?” I ask her. “You and Declan still haven’t talked about everything, have you? And now you’re signing up for a whole weekend together.”

Violet breaks her stare on Declan, twisting a string around her finger. “I’m nervous and trying not to think too much about it. I don’t think Declan wants anything to do with me.”

“If it makes you feel better, Declan doesn’t want anything to do with most people.”

“Unless they’re you.” She smirks.

I roll my eyes, ignoring her comment. “It’ll be fine, don’t worry. Besides, I’ll be there if anything happens.”

“That’s the only reason I agreed,” Violet admits. “Well… that and Kole wouldn’t have it when I offered to stay behind at the dorm.”

“Are you surprised?”

“No.”

Her entire face lights up with the reminder of his possessiveness, and at least she doesn’t seem to mind.

“I’m sure this weekend will be fine.” I try to reassure both of us with my comment. “And if it makes you feel better, I don’t think Declan wantsnothingto do with you. He’s probably just working through it himself. Finding out you have a sibling you didn’t know about must be a lotto process for both of you. And his father’s always been his role model, so I think it’s affecting him for a couple of reasons.”

“I get that. I can’t imagine what it must be like to find out your father has this whole secret family you never knew about.” She frowns. “Not that I was a part of Ian Pierce’s life or anything. But still, he knew about me and kept me a secret. Declan’s probably having a worse time with it than I am, so I shouldn’t complain.”

“You can’t compare the two.” I squeeze her hand. “What you’re both feeling is valid, and Ian Pierce is an asshole for making this mess.”

I watch Declan from across the parking lot, wondering if that’s why he’s been so distracted lately. Whether I like Ian Pierce or not, Declan has always respected his father. From what I could tell, he wanted to be just like him.

I can’t imagine how challenging it would be for him to discover his father harbored such a massive secret for all these years. Declan had a sister he knew nothing about. Blood family—when I know how important that is to him.

“That brings up the other side of this.” I look at Violet. “How are you feeling knowing your dad will be there this weekend?”

“He’s not my dad.” Violet frowns. “We share blood, but he’s never been a father to me.”

Her voice cracks, and I’m sure she wishes it didn’t hurt, but I sense it does.

“I should have asked Declan to talk Kole out of this,” I say. “It’s too much too soon for everyone.”

“I think he needs Kole.” Violet presses her lips in a tight smile. “Don’t worry about me. Besides, the four of us have our own cabin at the lake, right? We’ll just avoid them and have our own fun.”

“Whatever you say.”

I can’t remember the last time I did anything just for fun. Where I wasn’t worried that everything would inevitably fall apart. If that’s the goal of this weekend, I hope I don’t mess it up.

I catch gazes with Declan for a split second, and he winks at me across the parking lot.

It’s small. Fleeting. By the time I process it, he’s already turned back to his conversation with Kole.

But that wink comforts me.

“No, you go ask them.” A voice comes from behind the car, and I glance through the rear windshield to see two girls standing in the parking lot, watching Declan and Kole.

With where we’re sitting in Kole’s car, they don’t see us as they openly gawk at our men.

Our men.

The more I think of Declan as mine, the more it takes root. And the more he waters these vines, the more I’m convinced I’ll never be able to weed them out.

“They’re busy,” the blonde girl says to her dark-haired friend.

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