Page 75 of Final Goodbye
“Never been more serious in my life. Your stuff has already accumulated here so why not go get the rest so you can officially call this house a home?”
“I know we like to do things ass backwards, but if I say yes, does this mean I’m officially your girlfriend?” I know we have had our moment of pretending to date and then it turned moreserious but somewhere in the midst of it all, we never put an official title on things.
“Little do you know, Paige, I was never pretending. I’ve considered you my girlfriend this whole time. I told you I was just waiting for you to catch up. You caught up yet?”
“I think I’m finally caught up.” I licked my lips and slowly began to lower myself to my knees.
It was about time I showedmy boyfriendjust how much I loved him.
Work wasdead and it wasn’t really necessary to have both me and Sophie clocked in. But when I told her she could get out of here and have the rest of the evening off, she refused.
“It feels like I haven’t seen you in forever. Since you’ve been so busy sucking face with your new boyfriend, we haven’t been able to have any kind of girl time outside of work.” Sophie glared at Declan, who was sitting at the bar, trying to pretend he wasn’t checking me out.
She wasn’t wrong. I haven’t had an ounce of down time since I moved back here. And most of my time was spent here at work or at Declan’s house.
Or I guess I should sayour house.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, leave me out of this. I’m just an innocent bystander in all of this.” Declan raised his hands in the air, surrendering.
“Well, you may need to get used to sharing your girl with me. Girl time is good for your mental health you know,” Sophie bantered back with a pouty look on her face and crossed arms.
“That’s exactly why I was going to offer for you to come over to our place after work tonight. I can set up a whole girl’s night for you two. Wine, charcuterie boards, whatever you ladies want. I’ll hole up in another room and keep myself busy while you two get in some much-needed girl time. I’m sure Paige has a lot to fill you in on.” Declan leaned back against his bar stool, sipping on his Coors Light oblivious to the fact that he didn’t just offer up the sweetest idea in the world.
“You’d do that?” Tears formed in my eyes at the gesture.
“Anything for you, baby girl. I can even set up and leave the house, go hang with Myles and leave you two with the place to yourselves.” I opened my mouth to respond when Sophie chimed in.
“Wait a minute.Our place?” Sophie asked, her jaw dropping as she looked between the two of us.
“Like I said, I’m sure you two have plenty to catch up on.” Declan winked with a smug grin on his face.
After Declan came to the rescue and essentially planned a whole girl’s night for me and Sophie, I was able to convince her to clock out and go home. That we would catch up after work with some fine wine, meat and cheese.
When I walked into the house after work, Declan was waiting on the couch with the fireplace lit. I dropped my purse, tore off my coat and headed straight for him. Before he could stand up off the couch and get a word in, I pushed him back down—mybody over his as I slammed my lips against his and kissed him like it had been weeks since we last saw each other.
After a long passionate moment, Declan pulled his lips from mine. “Fuck, baby girl, you’re going to get me all worked up. Isn’t Sophie coming over?”
“Yeah, she’s on her way. But I just needed to thank you and show you how much I appreciate you first.”
“I want you to know how much I’d appreciate it if you could greet me like that every time you come home from work. But what are you thanking me for exactly?”He couldn’t be serious.
“Seriously? For setting this whole thing up for me and Sophie tonight. I think it might be the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me.”
“Sweeter than breaking your ex-boyfriends’ nose?” Declan teased.
“That was the sexiest, not the sweetest.” He let out a chuckle.
“It’s really not a big deal, baby. As much as I want you all to myself, I want you to have other people in your life that you can confide in. I’m glad you’ve met Sophie; I think she’s the kind of person you’d want in your corner.” He tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear and gave me a gentle kiss on the lips.
“All I ever wanted in life was someone who treats me right, some close girlfriends and to be closer with my family. You’ve made me completely forget that I’ve ever had a life that wasn’t here in Alpine Peak. Because of you, I have all of those things here and I couldn’t imagine ever leaving again. I love you, Declan. So much.” His blue eyes studied mine, looking back and forth as he gripped my waist firmly in his hands.
“I love you too, Paige. But I’ll never take the credit for you bonding with Sophie or growing closer with your family. That was all you. This is your home too. Have whoever you want over. Do anything you would normally do at your house, just join me in bed every night and eat a few meals with me.”
I was in a dark place returning to Alpine Peak. I came back home with zero expectations. But Declan gave me my smile back. It didn’t take much but he turned that darkness into light. I may not have thought I was going anywhere, and I didn’t have it all figured out. But with Declan by my side, I felt more comfortable than ever. Like I finally belonged here.
I belonged here with him.
My thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. Sophie was here.
