Page 139 of One Night Only
“Paul and I have been talking and from what he’s said—”
“Annie,” I interrupt as Declan pats Amir on the shoulder. “I love you and I know you only want what’s best for me. But this is something I have to figure out on my own.”
“We should leave her be,” Declan says, joining us. We. There is of course no possibility of the two of us not leaving together. Of not continuing where we left off.
“Goodbye, Sarah!” Mary calls as he shepherds me out the door. She’s already said it to me twice.
“Goodbye, Mrs. Murphy!”
“Call me Mary,” I hear her call faintly as Paul follows.
“So,” Paul says in the hallway. “Did you two…chat?”
“Maybe we’ll talk about this at a time when our mother hasn’t just been in a car accident,” Declan says.
“Right.” Paul clears his throat. “Well. I’ll call you if anything happens.”
“Please.”
Declan turns to go and I flinch as his hand goes automatically to the small of my back. He immediately drops it and I flush as Paul looks away.
“I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” Declan says to him, his voice tight and he heads to the stairs without touching me again. I follow him down one step behind, nodding my thanks as he holds the front door open for me.
“I’m glad your mom’s okay,” I say when neither of us move.
“She’s a tough one. Seems to like you.”
“That’s just the head injury.”
He smiles slightly, looking more than a little relieved I haven’t immediately started on him again. But I’m tired of fighting and I think he knows it.
His hand goes to the back of his neck, rubbing it as he closes his eyes against the afternoon sun. “Do you want something to drink?”
“Sure.”
“Do you want something to drink with me?” he clarifies.
“You can come too.”
“But no talking right?”
“And you have to stay five steps behind me.”
“Sounds fair.” He opens his eyes, meeting my gaze and something in my chest begins to hurt. “I know just the place.”
30
I sidestep a dog walker as we walk down an otherwise empty street. We’ve passed a few bars already, but none seem good enough for Declan, who only shakes his head when I point them out. Instead, we head east along Lafayette Avenue, past schools and churches and hipster cafés, before Declan takes a sharp turn, leading me down quieter, more residential streets filled with red brick buildings and thick green trees.
“You must be beat,” I say, after ten minutes of near silence between us. He hasn’t tried to make conversation once. As if content just to walk with me. “Between your flight and your mom and…”Us. I press my lips together, leaving the word unspoken. I could really use a drink.
“I’m okay.”
“Are you sure?”
He stops abruptly, turning to face me. “Are you trying to get out of this?”
“Of what?”
