Page 32 of The Ex Next Door
“Yes, and it works well. It’s a confidence booster. It shows when someone is feeling insecure that the partner will do anything to ease that feeling.”
“I’m guessing you already have your demand.”
She motioned between them. “If this is going to work between us, you need to stop talking to Amy.”
Declan was too stunned to speak for a moment.
“I work with her. Of course I can’t stop talking to her!”
“You’re right. That does have to do with your career. I guess there’s no other solution but to say I’m going to ask that you not help David. The two of you are going to be thrown together too much. I don’t like it. This is something I’m asking you to do to reassure me that you want to be with me.”
Declan was doubting he did want to be with Samantha with every passing minute.
“This is really how you want to use your unreasonable demand? Your one chance and this is it? I can’t help Amy’skid?”
“It has nothing to do with him. I’m sure he’s a good kid, but you and Amy have history. I’m sorry, but he will probably do fine without you.”
“This iscompletelyunreasonable.”
“Which is the point.”
“No.”
“No, it’s not thepoint?”
“No, I’m not going to do what you’ve asked. The idea is crazy anyway. If you have to make that kind of demand, something is already wrong.”
“Exactly. You’re not all in, Declan. Admit it.”
She was right, of course, but at this point he couldn’t be blamed for wanting out.
“It shouldn’t be this hard.” He shook his head.
Maybe he should give up on finding a relationship for now. Focus on his goals, like his father kept hammering away at him to do. Though bartending was a good fit for him, he acknowledged it wasn’t a career. He couldn’t raise a family on his salary. Once, he’d had lofty goals. The major leagues. The World Series. Maybe his father was right and he’d quit too soon. But probably not. Declan’s gift was knowing when it was time to go.
When he’d given everything he had in him.
“Samantha, I’m sorry, but this isn’t going to work.”
Chapter Eleven
“Stop it. You’re being ridiculous.” Amy wiped the last tear away as she took the turn into Charming. “Okay, big-girl panties. I can do this.”
She’d been weeping since driving away from her babies and the apartment they’d be staying in with Rob for the next week. At least the drive to Houston after baseball practice had been wonderful, with David talking about how much fun he’d had. Being knocked to the ground and getting up again, he’d said, meant he had what it took to play baseball.
“That’s what Declan said.”
He later recounted the story in great detail to Rob and Naomi, beaming the whole time.
Then came the time when she had to leave Rob’s bachelor pad and make the drive back home to Charming. Alone.
“Bye, Mommy! See you soon. Don’t worry about us,” Naomi said. “I’ll take care of Daddy.”
On the one hand, her chest ballooned with pride. On the other, she wanted to tell Naomi it wasn’t her job to take care of her man-child father.
“See ya next week, Ames!” Rob waved. “I’ll have them call youevery night.”
The shake of his head and scolding tone in his voice said, “Iknowhow you are.”
