Page 102 of Indulge
I want to rip my own heart out just to stop these feelings.
I said I’d give her space, let her figure it out.
That I wanted to try.
Declan exhales slowly. “Your wedding’s soon, Reg. Please tell me she hasn’t done another Bella special and run away.”
“No. She wouldn’t dare.”
“Well, what’s the issue then?”
“I did the one thing I promised myself I’d never do. And so did Rowan.”
Declan closes his eyes. He gets it. After everything he went through to be with Charlotte—he gets it.
“I don’t know what to do,” I admit, dragging a hand through my hair. “If I keep trying with her, I’ll lose my brother. If I let her go, I can’t marry her. The alliance is fucked.”
“Not even a marriage on paper?”
“No. I can’t fucking stand there knowing what I could’ve had and tie her to me when she doesn’t want me.”
He sighs, stepping forward.
“And if Rowan marries her?”
“Then you’ll all lose me. I can’t stay here and watch that. Maybe that’s for the best.”
Declan’s eyes harden.
“Reggie, I’ve seen you at your worst, and you’ve seen me at mine. You’re family. You and Rowan both. This isn’t getting in the way of that. It’s clear you both have eyes for her—hell, it’s more than lust. I get it, I really fucking do. But this alliance is yours. Marry Bella. You don’t have to lose your brother—he has to understand.”
I shake my head.
“And Bella? What about her? Because that isn’t one-sided. She needs him as much as she needs me. Maybe more.”
He claps a hand to my shoulder.
“Then you and Rowan make it work. Figure it out.” He pauses. “Ideally in the next two weeks. Take her to Phoenix. She wants in on the business, right? She’s feisty—take her.”
I scratch at the stubble along my jaw, exhaling a humorless laugh.
Maybe that fantasy she had wouldn’t wreck us.
Maybe what’s destroying everything is that we’re tearing her in two.
“Declan…” I huff out a small laugh. “Never thought you’d be the one giving me relationship advice, but thanks.”
He chuckles.
“I’m happily married with two kids, of course I get relationships, I’ve hit expert level.”
“Yeah…” I smirk. “Let’s not talk about how you found love.”
He grins. His wife tried to kill him… twice.
“I like my love story. It’s different.”
My cell rings and I take it out of my jacket in case it’s Bella. Instead I roll my eyes at Lyla’s name flashing on the screen.
