Page 17 of Slammed Into Inferno

Over the last two months since Elise’s wedding, my feelings for Declan are getting stronger, which should scare me at how fast I am falling for him, it feels right. At the wedding, he got along so well with my family, and they ask about him all the time. He and my brother already exchanged numbers with only a meeting once. They talk more to each other than I talk to my brother. I don’t think Eddie even had Jake’s number nor want to have it. I think Eddie only tolerated him for me. Seeing Declan getting along with my family and wanting to have a relationship with them made my feelings for him grow even more.

I want to tell him how I am falling in love with him, I am not entirely sure how to say it and part of me thinks it is too early, I mean we have been dating for about four months and the first month was us meeting. I am not even sure he feels the same way about me, and I do not want to say‘I think I am falling for you’to have him not feel the same way. If he does not feel the same, it would crush me more than walking in on Jake. The more I think back to my relationship with Jake, the more I should have seen the signs of leaving him. Being with Declan has made me see myself-worth, that I matter, and I need to voice what I am feeling. Part of me thinks he might feel the same way I do; I simply need to tell him. I know I do because I am about ready to burst.

* * *

Shortly after Elise’s wedding, Declan asked if I would like to come to a family dinner one night to meet his family. It seemed only fitting as he met mine and our relationship is moving in the right direction and becoming more serious. At least it feels that way. I am overly nervous to meet his family as Jake never brought me around enough to get to know his more. Declan is very close with his family as I am with mine, plus we both come from decent size families. I hope they like me, and I like them.

As I am getting dressed to meet Declan’s family, my phone rings and Declan is calling me. Looking at the time, I still had another forty-five minutes until he was due to pick me up.

“Hey, baby,” I say softly as I answer the phone.

He sighs, “Hi, babe.”

I cannot shake this feeling as something is wrong, “Um, is everything okay? Are you going to be running late or do you need me to meet at your place instead?” Asking with concern in my voice.

“Evie, baby I am sorry, I just got called into the station for shift. Fucking bullshit! The lieutenant on shift, got injured badly on the call they were out on, he fell off the fucking roof. Fuck, it was a bad one too. He is fucking lucky though. I go in and fill in for his shift then I have mine too starting in the morning. I am so fucking sorry baby. I was so excited for you to meet my family tonight as I know they are going to love you,” he tells me with a soft tone.

Holding back tears as I do not want him to hear me cry on the phone, “Oh, um okay. Maybe another time babe.”

Declan sighs and curses, “No it is not okay, baby. I will make this up to you I promise.”

Nodding thinking, he can see me, “Sure, baby. Have a good shift.”

“Thank you, baby. I will call you when I have some downtime. Night, Evie,” he tells me.

“Night,” I respond softy.

I hang up the phone and the tears fall down my face. Thank goodness I had not done my makeup yet as my face would be even more of a mess. All those insecurities are bubbling up to the surface again as his work comes first. After all those years with Jake always putting our relationship on the back burner and never putting us first is coming right back at me. Looking at myself in the mirror, I see someone who is not worthy of love. I cry even harder.

* * *

“Are either one of you working tomorrow? I feel like we have been working so much and I need of a girl’s night. Plus, Declan is working a double shift,” I ask Sophia and Grace as we are sitting at the nurses station dressed in our princess outfits. It was ‘Princess and Frog’ day on our floor. You’re welcome nurses as I planned this one.

They speak in unison. “NO and YES!”

“Wait, are we second to your hot firefighter boyfriend? Because I mean DAMN…. GET IT GIRL.” Sophia sign songs to me.

“NO! I was only stating he was working a double shift. Wait, you think I have been spending too much time with him and not you guys?” Asking with some hesitation.

“No girl, I am only giving you shit. You should spend all your time with the sex goddess.” I get a wink from Sophia.

“I agree with Soph on this, but yeah, we miss you. You are still building this relationship with Declan. From what you told us about Jake, it was about him and not you. Declan looks at you like no one in the room who matters. It’s hot,” Grace gushes.

Blushing, “No he does not.”

Grace and Sophia say in unison, “Yes, he does!”

I mean, it could mean what I think it means, right? The girls and I had a blast during our girl’s night, and I will say it was much needed. Plus, the free entertainment of watching Sophia flirting her way through the bar was priceless. I swear this girl has no shame and it is amazing to watch. If I had a tiny piece of her confidence, I would be golden. Sitting on my couch relaxing re-watching Gilmore Girls because why not? The show is funny, and I am team Logan. I used to be team Jess, but Logan came out of nowhere and does care for Rory. Right when Logan and Rory are understanding what they are feeling for one another, my phone ringing, and I did not notice the number and I pounder if I should answer or not.

I picked up on the sixth ring. “Hello?”

“Is this Evie Cooperson?” The other person at the end of the phone asked with a deep raspy voice laced with panic.

“Yes. Who is this?” I asked in a stern voice because I have not have a clue who this person was. They sound panicked.

“Oh, I am sorry. Uh, my name is Tyler and I work with Declan. He, um, there was an accident during our shift while out on a fire call. They took him to Mass General about twenty minutes ago,” Tyler tells me.

I cut him off before he finished the rest of his sentence. “What-what do you mean there was an accident?! Is he okay? Oh, my god!” I am trying to hold back the tears building up to as I am trying to hold back from releasing.

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