“Stop fucking stalking me,” I yell, shoving him in the chest, my voice revealing a lack of sobriety I hadn’t noticed until now.
“Back away from my girlfriend,” Adam’s voice intervenes, a protective edge to his tone. I turn, and there’s Adam, walking up to us.
“She could use some water,” Declan says through gritted teeth before walking away.
Adam’s arms wrap around me, holding me in a tight hug. “What was that?” he asks, concerned.
“The ghost of Christmas past,” I mutter, muffled against his chest.
He laughs. “Let’s go home.”
46
Sunday, July 10th
Declan Kruk’s name flashing on my phone pulls me from the comfort of the news headlines I was skimming through. Slipping out of bed quietly to not wake Dani, I make my way to the patio.
“Sorry about last night,” he says as I answer. “What happened with Sorin leaves a lot to unpack.”
There’s something about his connection with Dani that I can’t quite shake off. I still feel like I don’t know everything.
“You wouldn’t be stupid enough to try to come between me and my girlfriend, right?” I press, asserting a reminder that she’s mine and no one else’s.
“For context,” he says, firm. “The last time she was at that party, she wasn’t in a good place. Seeing her drunk …” he hesitates. I can’t deny the obvious concern in his voice. “It brought back too many memories of when she was wasting away with Sorin.”
“And why do you care so much about her well-being?” His last statement cemented what I’d assumed. He likes her—enough to really care about her.
“With her dad and everything, I don’t want it to become an issue.”
Her dad?The fact that Declan knows more about her in this way stings my pride.
I deflect, focusing on the present. “Who cares if she has a couple of drinks. I spend more time with her than anyone else, and she isn’t a drunk if that’s what you’re getting at.”
“She was doing so well with her fashion line, and now she’s back at home.” He takes a deep breath before saying, “All the triggers around her. You don’t get it. You couldn’t get it. It’s not good for her.” There’s silence between us before Declan says, “Adam, think about the way I was raised,” he continues. “Think about the life I went through. Kids like Dani and me rarely break out of the life they were born into. Her getting out, making her own path … I don’t think you understand how impressive she is, especially given her circumstances.”
“I wouldn’t be dating her if I wasn’t impressed by her.”
Declan hesitates before saying, “She can’t stay here—in Wisconsin.”
Despite my reservations, I can’t ignore his concern for her. He and I are aligned on this matter. She needs to get back to Chicago.
I shift the conversation toward something more tangible, more within my control. “She’ll be back in the city before summer ends. I’m working on introducing her to clients and helping her build her book. Cryptoball could throw her a bone.”
“Done. The media is increasingly turning against crypto. I think we could use a more strategic approach for Summit.”
I’ve been so wrapped up with Dani I forgot about the biggest annual circle jerk in the private equity world. “We need herfor Summit,” I agree. “I think five thousand to help craft our keynote is fair.”
“Approved.”
“We’ll catch you at the airport then.”
As I end the call and head back inside, I’m pleased by this two-for-one special I’ve negotiated. Dani will make some needed money, and seeing Dani and Declan working together, under my oversight, will answer my questions about their connection.
“Morning, beautiful.” I gently brush a strand of her hair behind her ear.
“Coffee,” she groans.
“I’ll make coffee, and we need to talk about last night.” She pulls the covers over her head. “I’m not mad at you,” I reassure. “So what if you had a little too much to drink.” Dani groans under the sheets. “I want to talk about Declan. I have an idea there.”