Page 70 of Wild Ever After
“I thought…” My sentence trails off as he carries me into the bathroom and sets me down, then turns on the water.
“I thought we could take a quick shower before bed. We’re a mess.”
“Oh.”
Declan steps in and adjusts the water, then reaches a hand out to me.
It feels amazing. Even more so when he wraps his arms around me and lets me lean the bulk of my weight on him. I can’t bring myself to look at him as I say, “I don’t want to go back to my room.”
He tips my chin up with a finger, then brushes his thumb against my cheek. “Good. Shower with me, then sleep in my bed tonight?”
I nod, and the smile that I get in return makes my stomach dip.
25
MINE, BUDDY
DECLAN
The following Saturday,I wake up in my bed alone for the first time in a couple of weeks. Not a fan.
Usually, Jade sleeps in well past my alarm, but the bed is cold, and I can’t hear any movement in the house.
I get up and take a quick shower, then head downstairs. Today I need to finish a few odds and ends around the house. It’s mostly done. I’m waiting on a couple of things for the upstairs bathroom, and I still want to switch out the cabinets in the kitchen, but summer is winding down and I need to start putting all my focus on training and getting ready for the upcoming season.
While I eat a bowl of cereal and down a protein shake, I keep expecting Jade to turn up. Maybe she’s working? She didn’t mention it last night, but then again, we’ve done a lot less talking and a whole lot more making out this week.
I have two texts. One from Maverick, a group text reminding us all that his one-year anniversary party is tonight. He and Dakota did a Vegas quickie wedding last year, so Mav is going all out on the anniversary party. Should be fun.
The second text is from Ash, saying he and Leo are skipping our usual morning run. I fire back a response, letting him know I think they’re both slackers and then head out.
I only get as far as the driveway when I spot Jade’s red Volkswagen coming up the street. I pause and wait for her to pull in. She refuses to park in the garage. I have yet to figure out how to force her into it. Maybe shoveling herself out from under a few feet of snow this winter will do the trick.
Who am I kidding? That’s going to be me. I like doing shit like that for Jade. She always looks at me in awe over the simplest considerations.
She’s sporting an ear-to-ear grin, which I find myself replicating until I notice the truck pulling in behind her. Jade hops out of her car and heads toward the guy parking behind her.What the hell?
A young guy gets out and looks at her in a way that makes me want to pummel him.
“What do you think?” Jade asks, and it takes a second for me to realize she’s talking to me.
“What?”
“The chair.” She points as the guy pulls down the tailgate and climbs up into the bed of his truck. My gaze jumps from the chair to the guy unhooking the straps and stealing glances at Jade.
“I found it at a little thrift store. It’s in practically new condition.”
“Where do you want it?” he asks her.
“Living room,” she says at the same time I finally snap out of it.
“I got it.” I step forward and take the chair from him. It’s a puke-green, velvet-upholstered accent chair with a round back. It’s heavy as fuck and smells musty as hell.
I try not to breathe as I lift it down from the truck. “You paid money for this?”
“She got a great deal on it.” The dude jumps to the ground and continues to beam at Jade.
“Who are you?” I ask him.
