32. Lily #2
Would he ?
His hand is still as bare as mine, but he hasn’t mentioned the rings since the day he snatched mine from my hand.
My mind roils with everything I could—and should—say.
How I might turn him down without ruining our night, what words to use to gently remind him that we’re not married, without extinguishing the excited light in his eyes.
He flicks the box open, revealing a set of diamond earrings. They sparkle brightly when the light hits them, and disappointment settles in my gut, taking me by surprise.
“Oh.” I paint a smile on my face, tucking the feeling away to bring back out and analyze later when I’m alone. “Declan, they’re gorgeous, but you didn’t need to?—”
“I think I did,” he says, watching as I take my earrings out and put the new ones in.
“I love them,” I tell him softly, and mean it.
Footsteps warn us of Sasha’s approach, and Declan lets my wrist go, moving to my side and turning to face her.
She lets out a low whistle. “Get a look at the two of you.” She lifts her hand, her phone dangling from her fingers. “I want some pictures, so snuggle in close.”
“Really?” I glare at her, but Declan does as ordered, sliding his arm around me and tugging me firmly into his side.
“Yep,” she says cheerfully. “It’s not every day that you go on a second first date. We need to commemorate this.”
After more poses and pictures than I can track, we finally escape her clutches, her call of, “Stay classy! Don’t do anything I would do!” following us as we head for the black town car idling at the curb.
Declan opens my door for me, making sure my dress is firmly in the car before shutting the door, and then climbing in on the other side. As the car moves, I can feel his eyes fastened to my face, and when it doesn’t abate after several minutes, I huff. “Are you even blinking?”
“I’m worried you’ll disappear if I do.” He leans over the middle seat, his hand feeling clammy against my skin when he grabs mine. “Lily, you are truly breathtaking. ”
“It’s this dress,” I say. “It’s stunning.”
He makes a noise of disagreement. “It isn’t the dress.” He waits until I lift my head, his piercing stare seeming to see right through me. “Thank you again for coming with me tonight.”
With Sasha’s warning ringing in my ears, I confess in a rush, “I’m worried about tonight.
” I take a deep breath to slow my racing heart.
“I don’t know if I’m doing the right thing, and I’m…
” I look up, noting his furrowed brows and clenched jaw.
“I’m scared about letting you back in, and everything being the same as it was. ” A slight shrug. “Or worse.”
“Lil—”
“I didn’t want to say anything, but Sasha told me I’m shit at communicating.”
“Did she?”
“Well, not in so many words, but I’m just—” I suck air in through my teeth. “Please, don’t prove me wrong for giving you this chance.”
He doesn’t take his eyes off me, his expression solemn.
“Lily, I’d rather tear my own heart out than hurt you again.
” He leans even further into my space, his seatbelt stretching against his torso, and presses a kiss to the corner of my mouth.
“Thank you for being honest with me. Your bravery is just another one of the things I love about you.”
My eyes start to burn, and I quickly turn away, looking out the window as I try to lock down my wayward emotions.
The next twenty minutes pass in a comfortable silence, our hands still entangled. When the driver pulls up outside the hotel where the gala is being held, I can see that the path to the stairs is cordoned off, reporters lining each side.
“Don’t get out,” Declan tells our driver, and then he’s gone, the door shutting behind him as he rounds the car. He opens my door with a flourish, leaning down to offer me his hand. I don’t hesitate, my palm sliding against his as I let him help me out.
As soon as I clear the car, the reporters converge, shouting questions about our marriage and annulment, about Declan’s father, about everything .
I feel like I’m trapped in a bubble, hearing it all from a distance as Declan wraps an arm around me, his large body shielding me from the worst of it.
He pushes us past them to get inside, his hold on me is firm and protective.
Warmth swells in my chest as we step through the doors, the clamor behind us fading, and I realize, even while I’m not sure where we go from here, I’m feeling hope.
We head into the ballroom, the enormous chandelier immediately drawing my eye, before I gaze around at the glamorous setup.
Tables line the outer edges of the room, leaving a large space in the middle where several couples are already swaying to the live instrumental music.
Declan snags us two champagne flutes from a passing server, pressing one into my hand.
“Thank you,” I murmur, eyes roving around the room, searching for familiar faces, and gauging how many curious stares are focused on me with my ex -husband. A shiver races down my spine when I think about Silvia, and how far her lies might’ve spread.
“Lily,” Declan says, and I look up, finding him watching me with concern. “It’ll be okay.”
“Of course it will,” I say, but his worry doesn’t ease. Before he can press the issue, Dad and Julie are there. He’s dressed in a classic black suit, complete with a bowtie, while Julie’s wearing a forest-green gown that makes her eyes pop, her expression overwhelmed.
“Lily. Declan,” my dad greets happily, leaning forward to press a kiss to my cheek before shaking Declan’s hand. “Good to see you two here.” His eyes bounce between us meaningfully.
“Dad,” I murmur, my tension lessening in the company of friendly faces. I move away from Declan’s hold, despite his scowl, and hug Julie, whispering in her ear, “You look amazing.”
She frets with one of the wide straps of her dress, her eyes harried. “Thank you.” She looks over at my dad, checking he’s engaged in his conversation with Declan before whispering, “I don’t belong here, and I think we all know it.”
“Why wouldn’t you?”
She scoffs lightly. “Come off it, girlie. I’m a housekeeper, for goodness sake. Not Cinderella. This is—” She clamps her teeth down on her lower lip, staring around the room like a deer in the headlights of oncoming traffic. “I’m so far out of my element, you should just start calling me Alice.”
I make a small sound of amusement, turning to stand at her side, bumping my hip against hers. “You’re fine. These are just people with deep pockets, not evil queens looking to lop off heads.”
“You’re not helping,” she complains, using her hand to fan her face. Another server passes and I grab a flute for Julie.
She takes it, even as she protests, “I shouldn’t. I need to keep my wits about me.”
“Just drink it,” I admonish her. “It’ll help settle your nerves.”
The look she slides at me is so doubtful, I can’t stop the grin curling my lips. She sips her drink anyway, her eyes widening in surprise.
“Oh, that’s nice. If this is what the other half is drinking, I should’ve locked down your father a long time ago.”
I’m not sure she meant to say that out loud, and a laugh escapes me. Dad appears at her other shoulder, eyebrows almost in his hairline.
“Locked me down, did you?” he murmurs, and then leans forward to whisper something in her ear that has her cheeks going hot. I look away, not needing to see my father getting his flirt on. Weird .
An arm slides around me again as Declan leans down, lips brushing my ear.
“My mother is beckoning us over, looking very insistent. Join me?” I appreciate that he’s asking, and when I follow his stare, I see Abigail and Darcy standing by themselves.
His mother is in a deep-blue gown, waving an enthusiastic arm, while Darcy stands at her side, looking bored, dressed in a glittery black pantsuit.
We leave Dad and Julie with plans to meet at our designated table later for dinner, before Declan links our arms, leading me across the room.
“I’m surprised they came,” I say. “Especially with all the news about your—” he shoots me a dark look, and I correct myself, “About Donald.”
“Mom wants to carry on like nothing’s changed.
Darcy helps with that.” The happiness in his eyes dims, and I hate it, knowing he’s struggling with everything his father has done, and the far-reaching consequences for his family.
“I think she’s good at pretending the gossip doesn’t hurt, but so many of her friends have already shunned her, rescinding her invitations to regular get-togethers. ”
“She’s got you, as well as Nolan and Darcy,” I soothe him .
He makes a noncommittal sound as we reach them. Abigail draws me into a tight hug, her enthusiastic greeting loud. “Lily! It’s so good to see you!”
“Mom,” Darcy mutters. “Can you chill out? If you don’t, I swear I’m going to slip a valium in your drink.”
Abigail pulls back enough to shoot her daughter an appalled look.
“Did you just threaten to drug me?” She looks at Declan, eyes wide.
“She did, didn’t she? She threatened to spike my drink.
Where on earth did I go wrong to have such horrible children?
One of them is basically a ghost, the other ignores all of my calls and now this!
” She lets out a haughty sniff, but her eyes are amused, especially when both Declan and Darcy groan.
“Now, Lily, this is why I need you around. My children are clearly heathens.”
I shake my head, giving Darcy a small smile. “I think Darcy’s pretty awesome, and I don’t think she’d actually follow through on that threat. Nolan, though? He should be worried. Darcy would definitely smother him with a pillow if he pushed her far enough.”
Darcy sends me a smile back. “He’d deserve it too,” she mumbles, the smile fading back into something more neutral. “How long do we need to stay?”
“As long as we need to,” Abigail says primly.
“Could you be any more vague?”
Wanting to head off the bickering, I look around, wondering, “Where is Nolan?”
“He promised he’d come,” Abigail says, “but I’m expecting a message at any moment telling me he’s come down with a deadly illness.
” She grips my hands. “Lily, how have you been? I haven’t seen you since that day in the park.
” She smiles warmly at me, and I guess we’re pretending that the annulment didn’t happen. “We need to catch up more often.”
There’s tension around her eyes and Declan’s earlier words replay in my head, sympathy welling in my chest. “I’m good, Abigail. And that sounds nice. Maybe we could get lunch one day soon.”
Her expression brightens like a lightbulb has just turned on. Declan’s hand tightens around my ribs, and I peek up at him. He’s staring back at me, brown eyes shining with gratitude .
“I’d love that so much!” Abigail trills, but then she looks at Declan. “I’d actually like to have a chat with you before they call us for dinner, Declan.” She looks at me with a soft smile. “Do you mind?”
Declan looks at me too, brow flicked up in question, and I shake my head. “I’ll be fine here with Darcy.”
He reaches out, brushing his fingers over my cheek. “Okay. Come find me if you need me. I won’t be far.”
I’m not sure what pushes me to do it, whether it’s the setting, the mood, or just him, but I hook my hand around his neck and drag his head to mine, pressing my lips against his surprised mouth in a soft kiss.
Before he can even think of reciprocating, I pull away and turn to Darcy.
“Now, we’ve got some catching up to do.”