Page 40 of The Captain's Curfew

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Logan

Declan picks the worst possible bar.

It’s not that it’s crowded or loud or even inconvenient.It’s just...public.

Too many witnesses.Too many opportunities for this to turn into something it shouldn’t.Like a scene.Like a fight.

I get there ten minutes early and sit at the bar with a glass of water, watching the door like I’m waiting for a bomb to go off.

Declan walks in right on time.Black jacket, jeans, jaw set like he’s already halfway to pissed off.

He spots me instantly and makes his way over.Slides onto the stool beside mine and orders a beer.

Then we sit.

Silence.

Tension so thick I could slice it with my skate blade.

Finally, he takes a sip of his drink and says, "How long?"

"Few weeks."

He nods slowly."And before that?"

I meet his eyes."I’ve had feelings for her longer than I care to admit."

His jaw tightens."So this isn’t just some...thing."

"No.It’s not a thing.It’s real."

Declan exhales hard and sets his beer down.He looks toward the wall of sports memorabilia like he’s searching for answers in old jerseys and signed photos."You know, I always wondered if something like this would happen."

"Then why didn’t you warn me?"

He snorts."Because I didn’t think you’d actually be dumb enough to go there."

I can’t help the small laugh that escapes."Yeah, well.Here we are."

He looks back at me, expression unreadable."She’s not like other girls, Logan."

"I know."

"She gets attached.She feels everything.If you hurt her?—"

"I know," I repeat, firmly this time.

Silence stretches again.

Finally, Declan sighs."Does she make you happy?"

I nod."She makes everything better."

He studies me for a long second."Then don’t screw it up."

Relief floods through me so fast my shoulders sag under the weight of it."I won’t."

He raises his beer."Then we’re good."

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