Page 20 of Slammed Into Inferno

It has been the longest three weeks since I told Declan how I could not be with him anymore and, to be honest, it has been harder than I thought. Sometimes you need to let someone go if you truly love them, I was in love with him. Asking myself if I made the right choice or am I being dramatic? I have lost count on how many times I have hovered over calling or texting him. Thinking about my relationship with Jake and how long I put up with someone who put their work before our relationship and how it affected me. It carried over to my relationship with Declan. The entire purpose for moving to Boston was to work on myself and to find myself. I still do not even know who Evie is. And when I do figure it out, will I even like her?

* * *

Since my sister’s wedding, I have taken much of my PTO, my brother and his family are coming to visit me today, so I should be excited to see them. The plan was for Declan to spend the day with us too so he could get to know them better and for him and my brother to fall more in love with each other. I wonder if they have still talked since our breakup. It would surprise me if they don’t, if they still do it’s because Declan is not someone to cut them off because they broke up with their sister, right? At least I do not think so.

I arrived at North Station right on time as their train is arriving from Portland, Maine. Not even paying attention as I am scrolling on my phone and telling myself not to text him. God, I want to tell him how sorry I am and to see how he is recovering. Lost in my thoughts, and I catch movement out of the corner of my eye and Nolan is running full force towards me.

I notice in time for him to jump on me yelling, “AUNTIE EVIE!!! I MISSED YOU!” I smile and try to gather myself as I almost wiped out in the middle of North Station.

“Missed you too, buddy. Jesus you’re heavy! What the heck are they feeding you? Good God!” I laugh at him, trying to untangle him from my body.

Next thing I know is Rose running up too yelling, “AUNTIE EVIE! AUNTIE EVIE!” This time I was ready for the invasion. I spin her around, which makes her laugh, “Missed you too, my favorite girl,” I kiss her head.

My brother- and sister-in-law walk up next, and we say our hellos and at least they do not jump on me. Thank goodness, because then I would wipe out in North Station, especially if my brother jumped on me, as he is two hundred and eighty pounds.

“Auntie, where is my main man Declan?” Nolan asks as he is surveying around, as if he thinks he is going to jump out and scare him. I was hoping no one would notice Declan’s lack of appearance, only Nolan would ask me where he was. Sure, kid, keep turning the knife. I cannot blame them, as I have not said a word to anyone in my family yet about how we have broken up. Let’s say I avoid the topic at all costs when we speak.

Before I can even say a word, my brother says, “Umm, I think Declan had to work and won’t be able to join us today. I will tell him how you missed him today and I am sure it bum him out, too.”

I am staring at my brother at a loss for words because either he is lying to help me out or he has been talking to Declan. McKayla leans over to me and whispers to which I can only hear and says, “If you are wondering if they still talk, yes, they do. He told Eddie he had to work today; however, I am sensing there is more to the story. Am I right?”

She looks at me and I only simply nod, and I am fighting back tears. Instead of drawing attention to us she grabs my hand and gives a tight squeeze letting me know she is here.

My brother claps his hands together and says, “Let’s go, ya filthy animals, we do not have all day!”

We all played tourist today, and it was a delightful distraction from my broken heart. We are ending the day at Boston Common and letting the kids run around. Sitting down after walking around the entire city all day is when my brother decides this is the perfect time to ask me where Declan is. “So, I did not want to ask in front the kids since they are fond of Dec, I take it he is not working today.”

I let out a big sigh and holding back the tears, I clear my throat and keep my eyes straight. “Uh, I mean he could be, I am not sure since we broke up three weeks ago.” McKayla reaches over to grab my hand.

Eddie shifts towards me more. “What happened Evie? At the wedding, it seemed it was moving in the right direction, and he was crazy about you. I mean hell, every single time at the wedding when someone mentioned your name, his whole fucking perfect face would light up.”

He takes a minute before he says, “At Elise’s wedding, Jake cornered him in the men’s room before you and Declan left the wedding. Jake was running his mouth about you on how you are too much work, lazy, not motivated and your body is not attractive. Declan punched Jake so hard, his lip split open spilling blood all over his shirt. It was impressive how Declan got none on him. Again, douche canoe’s words, so do not punch me. Declan told him to fuck off and to never say a word or mention your name when he is around. And how Jake was not man enough to appreciate the woman in front him. And he is so thankful how badly he fucked up so you could find a real man who worships the ground you walk on. Again, those are Declan’s words…” He chuckles, “I mean, I guess you’re okay.”

Then I punch him in the arm. “Jesus Evie, I said no hitting! Ouch, that hurt,” he whines like a big baby rubbing his arm.

“What I am trying to say is Declan loves you and I think he knew it the night at the wedding. His eyes followed you all around that room when you were not next to him. So, what happened Evie?” Eddie asks me.

What Jake said to Declan hurts, just hearing what Declan said to him makes it hurt less. Woah, Jake was a piece of shit, and I was too blond to see any off it. Fuck him.

I turned toward my brother. “Declan did not mention any of the conversation to me. I asked him what happened, he told me he did not want to repeat what the asshole said to him. I did see when Declan came out of the restroom, he was a little disheveled and I did see Jake stumble out wiping blood off his busted face,” I tell my brother.

McKayla grabs my attention and says, “Evie, did you let what happened with Jake affect your relationship with Declan?”

I whip my head toward her, “Get out of my head Kay…yes, I did. He got injured badly but was lucky considering how bad the fire was that day. However, it was scary for me because this job he is going to put first. Jake put his work before me, and I did not want to be in another relationship where I felt second or even third. Yes, I know they are two different situations, I let my insecurities get the best of me and I have been beating myself up over it and I keep wondering if I am overreacting.” I pause, wiping my eyes as the tears fall. “I miss him so much.”

She smiles and says, “Remember when Eddie and I broke up in college?” I nod my head because I was thirteen when they broke up. She continues, “Your brother was busy with playing football, his classes, and on top of that he was the president of his fraternity. Did not help to add to a committed relationship which required his attention too. I understood he was busy. One night it became too much for him as he exploded on me saying how he could not do this anymore. He had too much on his plate and could not give me the attention he thought I needed. Now, remind you I did not ask your brother for time. Hell, I was fine hanging in his room at the frat to do homework or stay over. However, in his mind, he needed to give me more attention. I turned my heel and walked out. I told myself, if he loved me like he said, we would end up back together. It took some time and when I mean sometime, it was our senior year. After a year of waiting for your brother to get his shit together, I said ‘screw it, I won’t be young forever and it is a senior year of college’. I was at a party, and he showed up there.”

She smiles as she tells me about the rest of the story. Before she continues, she looks up at my brother, whose jaw is tight. You can tell he does not like this part. “I was having a good time with my girlfriends. I met a cute guy and spent the rest of the party with him. Now, your brother had many other cleat chasers trying to get his attention, no luck. When the guy I was with at the party lean into kiss me, your brother marched his ass over and dragged the guy outside. Let’s say there were words had and here we are all these years later. The moral to my story is sometimes it takes our minds a little to catch up with what our heart is feeling. If you love Declan and if he loves you, then you just have to let it happen.” She smiles at me as the tears keep falling down my face. My brother’s voice breaks my moment with McKayla.

“The guy had his hands all over you all night. He was an asshole,” he growls at his wife.

“Yes, babe, but who did I leave with and who am I with now?” McKayla sing songs.

“Let’s face it babe, you could not resist this,” he wiggles his brows and I have all I could be to not punch him again.

I hug them both and tell them thank you because they both gave me a lot to think about. We get the kids’ attention and walk back to the train station for them to go home. I am sad to see them leave, after talking with my brother- and sister-in-law and I am feeling better. Maybe there is hope for Declan and me to patch this up.

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