Page 33 of Stealing Forever

“This looks divine. I didn’t know you were a charcuterie guy.”

“I’m a grew up on Lunchables guy. That was the charcuterie of my generation. Although, I have to say, the pizza ones were way better than the meat and cheese ones.”

I pick up a piece of prosciutto, a slice of cheddar cheese, and a cracker, and layer it together like I used to back inmyLunchable days. “You’re right, but the pepperoni pizza ones. Not the double cheese.”

He grins, and I feel it radiate straight into my soul. “Obviously. I hope I didn’t interrupt an important conversation a few minutes ago?”

“Oh, no, you didn’t. I was just updating my sister on what happened. She was about ready to fly up here so I wouldn’t be alone.” I look down at my lap, and bite my lip, suddenly feeling shy in his presence. “But I told her I was staying here for the night.”

The weight of Declan’s silence sits heavy. Peeking up at him from beneath my lashes, I’m unsurprised to find him still staring at me. He does that a lot—stares at me. Mostly when he thinks I won’t notice, but I always do. It’s impossible not to when I can’t take my eyes off him ninety-nine percent of the time.

He opens his mouth like he’s about to say something, then stops himself, and runs his hand over his beard instead. “Are you close with your sister?”

Something in my gut tells me that’s not the question he was wanting to ask.

I study him as he picks up a few berries and a cube of white cheddar cheese. “Inseparable.”

“Who’s older?”

A smile immediately breaks out across my face. “Technically me, by eight minutes.”

“You’re a twin?” The look of shock on his face is priceless. It’s one I’ve seen many times over the years. Twins are far more common than people think, but for whatever reason wheneveryou tell people you are one, they act like it’s such a rarity. He mirrors my grin. “I can’t picture a carbon copy of you out there walking around.”

“Well, we’re actually fraternal, so we have different physical attributes. Hartley and I are opposites in so many ways, but identical in personality.” Grabbing my phone, I pull up one of my favorite photos of Hart and I, and lean over to show him. The photo was taken last summer at the county fair. Hartley’s blonde hair framed her face, her blue eyes sparkling as she stood cheek to cheek with me in that first photo. We’re both holding cotton candy in different poses, and as I flip through my phone, it switches like a flip book, changing the way we’re standing and holding the spun-sugar treat. “You’ll actually meet her on Thursday. Her boyfriend plays for the Rebels.”

“Really? Who is he?”

Clicking the side button on my phone, I darken the screen and set it down. “Owen Marsh.” The shocked look on Declan’s face returns. With a frown I ask, “I take it you know him?”

His features return to stony, and he builds himself a cracker sandwich before he shrugs. “Know of him.”

Hmm. Sounds a little ominous, but I decide not to press the issue. What he’s heard is none of my business—I’m sure it’s just baseball stuff.

“Family is so important,” Declan muses, leaning his elbow against the back of the couch. “You’re lucky you have a sibling. I grew up an only child.”

My jaw slackens, surprised he’s opening up to me, but I’ll take anything I can get from him. “I’d be lost without my sister. What was growing up as an only child like?”

His answer comes without hesitation. “Lonely.”

What do I say to that?

“I’m sorry,” are the two words that slip out, and I immediately regret them by the way his face twists.

“Don’t ever apologize for something you have nothing to do with, sweetheart.”

Sweetheart.There’s that nickname again.

“I just meant it in a factual way,” he continues. “We traveled and moved a lot, and I was constantly having to make new friends. If I’d had a sibling, it would have made things easier. It’s the reason I don’t want Sailor to be an only child.”

The question that’s been plaguing my mind flickers to the forefront again like a neon sign. This time, though, I ask it.

“What’s the deal with Sailor's mom?” I blurt, then mentally kick myself. That wasnotthe way to ask. “I’m sorry. If that’s too personal?—“

“How can it be too personal when you care for Sailor day in and day out? You should know about her mother.” Declan sighs deeply. “Addison left almost two years ago. We’d only been dating for a couple weeks when she got pregnant with Sail. We tried to make things work, but ultimately she decided her dream of becoming an actress was more important than being a mom. So she walked away. Left her engagement ring, her house key, and a note that said ‘I’m sorry. One day I hope both of you forgive me’, on the kitchen table.”

My hand covers my mouth in awe and annoyance, and as much as I shouldn’t be focusing on the wordsengagement ring, I can’t help but feel a spike of jealousy.

They were engaged—and she walked away from themboth. So many emotions are running through me right now but at the forefront is anger. “That’s horrible. I’m so sorry, Declan. You and Sailor don’t deserve that.”

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