Page 81 of Boss of Attraction
He looked at me. “We rode over together. Maybe it’s best if I go with her.”
Morgan stomped to the door, not waiting to see if he would follow.
“Okay.” There wasn’t really anything else to say. The holiday had already been ruined, and it was probably a good idea if everyone took some time to cool off. “I’ll call you later.”
Ryan nodded, and then they left.
Later that evening, I still hadn’t heard from my kids, so I texted Morgan:
I hope you’re okay. Can we talk soon?
Twenty minutes later, I’d still gotten no response from her and decided I should check in with Ryan:
Hey! I texted your sister, but haven’t heard back. How was she after you left?
Thankfully, I didn’t have to wait long for his reply:
She was pretty upset. I think she needs time to cool off before you guys talk things out
What about you?
I’m not upset. I just want you to be careful. I don’t know what Declan’s intentions are, and I don’t want you to get hurt. But I also understand you can make your own decisions
I trust him, but I don’t know how to make a relationship with him work if you guys don’t
Maybe you need some time to think about things too
Maybe he was right. It felt as though I was in the middle, and I didn’t want to be forced to pick sides. Deep down, I knew Declan was with me for the right reasons, and a part of me believed that was all that should matter. But the idea that my relationship with him could drive a wedge between me and my kids broke my heart. We had been through a lot as a family, and the one thing that had gotten us through the hard times was supporting each other. I didn’t want to lose them now.
Yeah, you’re probably right. Can we get together soon though? I feel bad that Christmas was ruined
I’d like that
After I stopped texting with Ryan, I couldn’t stop thinking about Declan. I hadn’t heard from him, but I wasn’t surprised. He’d been upset when he left, and who could blame him? It had to have been humiliating to have those accusations thrown at him.
Wanting to check on him and apologize for how things had gone, I sent him a text.
25
DECLAN
I trudgedup the stairs to my apartment, my mind still reeling from the confrontation at Sean’s condo. I fought back tears because I couldn’t shake the feeling he was going to end things with me. Why would he want to be with someone his children didn’t like or trust? I never once did or said anything that would lead anyone to believe I was after his money because that was so far from reality and had never crossed my mind. Yet, that was what they wanted to believe.
Unlocking the door, I pushed it open and was greeted by the smells of my mother’s cooking. Every year, she’d arrive and get straight to making Christmas dinner of cornbread stuffing, green beans, mashed potatoes, and ham. Sadly, the thought of eating it made me sick to my stomach, and I knew it wasn’t because of her actual cooking—which was delicious—but because of the turmoil playing over and over in my head.
Mom and Sam were sitting on the couch, nestled under cozy blankets, and watching a Christmas movie. As soon as they saw me, a look of concern graced their faces.
“Declan, what’s wrong?” Mom asked as she stood.
“Hi, Mom.” We engulfed each other in a hug. How did I explain what went down? I hated that this was how we were seeing each other after several weeks, but I couldn’t have predicted how the morning was going to go.
“Did something happen with Sean?” Sam asked.
I nodded as I stepped back from my mom. “His kids freaked out about us dating.”
“Oh, honey, what did they say?” Mom squeezed my hand.
Taking a deep breath, I plopped on the couch next to Sam. “They accused me of dating him just for his money.”
