Page 19 of Declan
“There you are, babe,” Royal said, appearing at my side and squeezing between me and Lumberjack. He cupped my nape before pressing a light kiss to my lips. I hoped I wouldn’t puke on him. Then, he turned to the guy. “Can I help you?”
“Nah, man. Just looking for the bathroom,” Lumberjack said before staggering off.
Not so tough once he was outnumbered.
“Thanks,” I said, slumping against Royal.
Pretending to be a couple had become our thing when one of us was being hit on and we didn’t want the attention. Once upon a time, I wouldn’t have minded fucking Royal, but after getting to know him, I valued our friendship way too damn much.
“Looks like I’m playing babysitter tonight,” Royal said with a laugh. “First B and now you. Damn youngsters can’t handle your alcohol.”
I snorted. “We aren’t much younger than you, pretty boy. But if you keep using words likeyoungsters, I might have to start callin’ you Grandpa.”
“Make room for me.” Brysen snuggled in between us, being the little attention whore that he was.
“Is he okay?” someone asked.
I froze. Iknewthat voice.
Royal turned and his eyes widened. “Holy shit.”
I couldn’t see anything at first because of the very-drunk Brysen hanging all over me, but when I looked over the top of his blond head, I gaped.
Declan stood like two feet away, wearing a baseball cap, a black shirt, and jeans. Just like Royal, he thought a hat would help disguise him. I’d stared at him for too many years to ever be fooled by it. It must’ve been working, though, because no one was screaming and hanging all over him.
“Hi,” I said before grinning and leaning my head against the wall. “I’m so drunk that I’m hallucinating.”
Brysen poked his head up and gave me a dead serious look. “Is that possible?” He then started giggling.
Royal sighed and walked over to Imaginary Declan.
“They’re both wasted, man,” I heard him say.
“Need my help?” Imaginary Declan asked.
Royal seemed taken aback by the offer, but didn’t refuse it.
“How is he talkin’ to Declan if Declan is imaginary?” I mumbled.
“He’s a ghost!” Brysen responded before giggle-snorting.
“Do you see what I have to deal with?” Royal shook his head.
Declan smiled and approached me. “Hey, Freckles.”
“Hey yourself, Spartan,” I responded, thinking of a name on the spot. Declan had plenty of muscles, and that Spartan movie he’d done was in my top five favorite man-candy movies.
Royal pulled Brysen away from me and nestled him against his side. The top of Brysen’s head only reached the base of Royal’s neck.
I started sliding down the wall, and Declan lunged forward, grabbing me. I stared up into his green eyes, feeling his hands on me…and it hit me that it was real.Hewas real. And hell, I was too drunk to be shy about it. Liquid courage or whatever. I wasn’t normally a shy person, but I’d been a blubbering fool around Declan ever since I’d met him.
To hell with that.
I ran a hand down his strong chest and bit my bottom lip. “Fuck, you’re so hot.”
His eyes went wide and he pressed his body closer, staring at my mouth before flickering a stare back to my eyes. He smelled so damn good, too. Some kind of expensive cologne and a spice that was all his.
“Let’s get you out of here,” he said, holding me close to his chest.
That was the last thing I remembered before puking on him.
