Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 79553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Huh? What? Oh, shit! In my excitement, I included pictures of Declan with me.
Me: Please don’t say anything to anyone. We’re just friends. Nothing is going on. I needed to get away, and he was already going away. He surprised me with a trip here for my birthday.
Mom: I’m not judging, and I’ll keep it to myself. Declan is a good man, and I’m glad you’re with him. At least now I know you’re safe and not alone on your birthday.
Me: Thank you, and yes, I am. Love you!
Mom: Love you more. Have a wonderful birthday. When you get back, we’re having a belated birthday spa day.
Me: Sounds good!
“My mom knows I’m with you.” Declan’s brows rise to his forehead. “I sent her pictures with you in them by mistake. She promised not to tell anyone. She’s glad I’m with you. It makes her feel better, knowing I’m not alone, especially on my birthday.” I’m sure she’ll tell my dad since she doesn’t keep secrets from him, but she’ll make sure he doesn’t say anything to anyone.
Declan nods in understanding, then changes the subject. “You ready to go have lunch at the Mystic Grill?”
“Hell yes!”
“Oh, jeez… Seriously?” I scroll through the comments, wishing I never would’ve opened the app in the first place. I knew what would be waiting for me, but no matter how thick of skin I have, I’m never fully prepared for the nastiness that is social media.
Like an idiot, I read a particularly hurtful comment and choke up, letting my emotions get the better of me. When I glance in the mirror and see my eyes are red and filled with tears threatening to spill over, I swipe out of the app and throw my phone onto the counter, not wanting to let that shit ruin the amazing day Declan and I’ve had.
“What’s wrong?” Declan’s baritone voice has me spinning around, my hand clutching my chest. “Way to sneak up on a woman.” I glare. “Next time, knock.”
“Door was open.” He shrugs, leaning his shoulder against the doorjamb. “What’s wrong?”
“Noth—”
“Nope, try again,” he says, not even letting me finish my lie.
“I went on Insta.”
“And?”
“And since I haven’t made an official announcement about Kyle and me, he did the honors.” I grab my phone and pull the image back up, showing it to Declan. It’s a ripped-up picture of our wedding announcement with the caption: Only give your heart to an ice princess if you want her to jab an ice pick through it.
“He’s an asshole.” Declan hands my phone back to me. “And you don’t owe anyone an explanation. It’s your personal business.”
“That I made public by picking the career I did. I need to post something, but I’ve been putting it off.”
“I stand by my previous statement,” he says, gripping the curve of one of my hips and pulling me toward him. He plucks the phone out of my hand and holds the side button down until it prompts to turn off, then he swipes it off and drops it back onto the counter. “When you’re ready, if you choose to, then you make a post. But you don’t owe anyone anything. Just because you sing music doesn’t mean you’re required to post about every personal detail of your life. The guys and I don’t post shit. Aside from the overdose speculation, nobody knows what happened to Gage or where he is. Let them fucking speculate. It just makes them want you even more.”
“Guys do that shit, and they’re labeled as mysterious. Women do it, and they’re frigid bitches.”
“Fuck them,” he says, lifting me into his arms. I wrap my legs around his waist and hold on as he walks us over to the bed. It’s late, close to midnight, and I was in the bathroom taking a shower and getting my pajamas on. We spent the day in Covington, eating ice cream at the local place where the cast of TVD used to eat it and having dinner here at the B&B, complete with a cake for my birthday. Afterward, we explored more of the property since we leave first thing tomorrow to head to Oklahoma. For what? I have no idea.
With me in his arms, Declan climbs onto the bed, stopping once my head gently hits the pillow. “You’re so damn beautiful,” he says softly, moving several strands of hair out of my face. “And not just on the outside, but on the inside too.” He palms my cheek, and instinctually, I lean into his touch. “Anybody who matters knows that you ending the engagement was for a good reason, and anybody who doesn’t know that doesn’t matter.”
I get what he’s saying, and I love how he sees me, the way he never judges me. “But—”
“No buts,” he says, cutting me off. “I’m tired of listening to you second-guess every damn decision because you don’t see yourself the way I do. You’re not a frigid bitch or an ice princess. You’re a warm, loving woman who almost married a man you weren’t in love with because you were hoping you’d feel something for him so you wouldn’t hurt him. Because you care about others.