Page 60 of The Ex Next Door
“Why not? They’re part of our lives.”
“I know, but… Everything I’ve read about dating as a single mom warns against talking too much about the kids.” She patted her lips with the napkin. “I’m just learning my way around all this.”
“It’s different with us.”
She met his eyes and smiled. “True, we didn’t swipe right for each other.”
He was grateful for that. Thankful she’d moved in nextdoor instead of across town where eventually she would have started dating again via app. He would have never had a second chance with Amy.
“I bet this isn’t the way you’d pictured your life going.”
She probably viewed her divorce as a failure, and having seen his brother go through it, Declan understood the emotions behind it.
“Not at all. After all, from the beginning, I’d originally pictured my life with you.”
It wasn’t what he’d expected to hear, but those words deeply gratified him.
“We took a left turn somewhere and lost our way.”
“I can’t regret my past because I have David and Naomi. There’s no world in which I don’t want them to be exactly who they are, and that means Rob as their father. But yeah, I do wonder what might have happened if you and I had children. If we had been married instead. Would we still be together? Would we be going through a divorce right now?”
“We were too young.”
“I know. I don’t think we would have made it. Not then.”
“And that would have killed me.”
“Oh, Declan.” She reached to cup his jaw. “You were always so perfect for me.”
The words landed like a gift.
“Well, miss.” Declan stood and offered her his hand. “It’s time for the dance portion of the evening.”
“There’s no music.” But she glanced around as if she half expected a band to suddenly appear from below deck.
“Ha!” Declan reached for his phone and scrolled to his app. “Wrong again.”
The music began to play, a playlist he’d accumulated of every sappy love song known to man. Call him sentimental, but he knew Amy. She loved this stuff. The first song wasLionel Richie’s “Truly,” and if he was going to pick a song that perfectly described his feelings, this would be the one. Declan felt every word of the lovesick man singing to his true love. He didn’t know how it had happened, how he’d fallen in love so quickly but it seemed there was a cellular memory in his heart surrounding Amy. There’d never been anyone else like her, and he could say that now because he’d experienced this.
They swayed together to the music, holding each other, laughing when Declan decided to spin and dip Amy and she nearly lost her balance. He caught her easily.
Just like Lionel said, there was really no other love like hers. She’d always brought out the best in him. There had never been anyone like Amy for him and he didn’t think anything could be more perfect than this night.
* * *
“Thank you for a lovely evening,” Amy said to Noah and Tee after they’d returned portside.
“Thanks, buddy,” Declan said. “I owe you one.”
The evening was idyllic. Declan had pulled out all the stops, creating flawless moments. She was stunned at his thoughtfulness to every detail. As they walked to his truck, she was on such a high that she almost feared she’d wake up. How could this be happening to her? Her, no-frills Amy Holloway, ordinary and plain. Wife and mother of two. Declan looked at her as if he saw someone else. A different woman. The woman he apparently saw was some kind of goddess.
“I can’t imagine a more perfect evening,” she said. “You really outdid yourself.”
“It was important. You deserve it, Amy. You do so much for everyone else and rarely think about yourself.”
“You’re sweet. I do think about myself, though.”
“Not enough.” He opened the passenger door for her.
