Page 37 of The Ex Next Door
Amy simply nodded. “I’ll do better next time. I hate that he must be so unhappy with his life.”
“It’s not up to you. Even his friends couldn’t stop him,” Declan said.
“Y’all, I gotta go.” Debbie took one last bite of the onion ring on the appetizer platter he’d served them. “My old man is waitin’ up for me.”
“Have fun.” Declan waved.
“I should go, too.” Amy stood a few minutes later.
“Hang on.” Declan covered her hand with his own. “I’ll walk you out.”
“All right. I may as well wait for you.”
She waited while he cleaned up the area, put the tray in the kitchen and said good-night to some of the staff in the back.
He held open the door so Amy could walk out first. “Maybe I should follow you home. Unless you were going somewhere else first?”
“No, but what are you worried about? Do you really think Paul is out here waiting for me?”
“Just playing it safe.” He scanned the almost empty parking lot, which Amy had to admit made her feel better.
There were a few stragglers, as the lot was shared with the boardwalk, which stayed open later than normal in the summertime. But almost everyone would be headed home now. She wondered if David and Naomi were sleeping or if Rob had let them stay up too late. Since she’d had to work, they’d checked in with her earlier and both sounded happy. They’d gone swimming at the complex pool and later mini-golf. It was good, she reminded herself, that her kids were okay and not homesick. She didn’t want to raise children who were incapable of functioning without her.
At least the silver-bright quarter moon felt like a comfort to her soul.
Because if nothing else, she and her children were sleeping under the same moon tonight.
Chapter Twelve
Declan had been watching from behind the bar much of the night as Paul got more handsy with every drink. Declan’s fists clenched as that hand of Paul’s just got lower and lower until it sat nearly on Amy’s behind. Eventually, Declan started watering down his drinks and to hell with policy. Next he put a parasol in his scotch on the rocks just to mess with him but Amy must have taken it out. Amy, obviously new to this kind of manhandling, didn’t know what to do. Plus, apparently this genius was a former coworker of Rob’s who was half in love with Amy. That didn’t surprise Declan, nor could he blame the man. What surprised him was how quickly everything disintegrated and Declan wound up assuming bouncer duties for the evening.
Tonight’s after-work coaching session hadn’t helped Amy the way it had Debbie. All Debbie needed was acknowledgment that people were, in general, cheap. But Debbie had been waitressing for decades and she didn’t feel guilty about a damn thing.
As he followed the taillights of Amy’s sedan into town, he considered that tomorrow he’d be mowing her lawn again. It was also the night his father had invited both of them over for dinner. She was missing the kids, so this would be a perfect distraction. Finn and Michelle would be there and theywere always good for a laugh or two. He just had to make sure he got her there tomorrow and that she wouldn’t make up some lame excuse.
Plus, he wanted to spend time with her, which he didn’t care to analyze too closely.
They were old friends and neighbors so it wouldn’t be awkward around his parents, who’d always adored Amy.
He’d become way too sentimental the night before, admitting more than he had cared to. The last thing he needed was for Amy to remember what they’d once meant to each other. He wasn’t ready to open up to such vulnerable and tender spots. There was no point.
Amy was standing outside her car admiring the sky when he pulled into his driveway seconds after her.
“Thanks for following me home.”
“Turns out, it was on my way,” he said with a smirk.
“I hope you don’t somehow feel responsible for me.”
The words surprised him. He remembered how this had all started with his father, and a challenge and opportunity to help someone in need. But he’d never seen Amy ashelpless. She was amazing, actually, raising her kids and working while studying for her teacher certifications. Honestly, Amy made Declan feel like he was standing still and she was a whirlwind passing through. This was a big deal for someone like him who’d worked half his life to leave everyone else in the dust.
“Why would you think that?”
“Since we moved in, you always seem to be around.”
“Um, I live here?” He put a hand on his chest. “And no offense, but I was here first.”
She bit on her lower lip, holding back a smile. “I know that. First, you helped us move in.”
