Chapter Twelve – Declan
Declan
My mother’s eyes bounced between me and Harper, and it felt like forever before I finally cleared my throat and spoke.
“Hey, Mom. Fancy seeing you here. I didn’t think you liked this sort of thing.”
Her confused expression turned to annoyance. “Why wouldn’t I like trivia night?”
I shrugged. “I just don’t see you getting into…you know, fun stuff, and just going out, and…”
Harper poked my side, causing my words to drift off.
Folding her arms over her chest, my mother looked highly offended. “I’ll have you know, I help with trivia night. Viola and I are on the board for the city that plans these events, and we approached Liam Turner about doing some fun things here at the restaurant and bar.”
“You came up with trivia night?” I asked, nearly laughing out loud.
With a sniff and a jut of her chin, my mother replied, “Do you think I’m that dull of a person?”
“Of course he doesn’t,” Harper interjected.
That was a big mistake because now my mother’s undivided attention was on Harper. “And why are you here with Declan instead of Sean?”
“I take it Sean hasn’t spoken to you this evening?” Harper asked.
“No. I haven’t seen him since those two got into a fight earlier—and now I know why.”
Harper held up her hands. “No, Maddie, you have it all wrong. Sean was supposed to end this charade by telling you the truth.”
Pinching her brows in confusion, she asked, “The truth about what?”
Harper looked at me, and I nodded. It was time to end this bullshit since it was clear my brother was too chicken to do it himself.
“Maddie, can we talk outside for a moment?” Harper asked.
Despite looking unhappy, Mom nodded. “I suppose that would be fine since the games haven’t started yet.”
I motioned for my mother to go first. She walked out onto the terrace and toward an area with a few empty tables. At least our talk would be relatively private since almost everyone was inside for trivia night.
Turning abruptly on her heel, Mom glared at us. “So? What’s the meaning of this? Are you cheating on Sean with his brother?!”
“ What? ” Harper exclaimed, as I quickly stepped between them. The last thing any of us needed was a scene.
“Mom, cool your jets for a second, will you.”
Her glare turned to me. “Cool my jets?”
Before I could say anything, Harper ripped the Band-Aid off.
“Sean’s been lying to you. We’re not dating. He asked me to pretend to date him again so you’d get off his back about dating Crystal, who’s more like a sister to him than anything. He likes Caroline , which is why he broke up with me in the first place. Because he’s in love with her. But she’s dating someone, so that’s another reason he wanted to fake-date me. He was hoping to make her jealous.”
My mother stood there, slowly blinking, as she stared at Harper, who’d word-vomited everything so fast, I’d be surprised if my mother understood half of what was said.
“What do you mean, so I’d get off his back?”
Harper’s brows shot up, and I sighed.
“Mom, don’t pretend you haven’t been pushing Sean to be with Crystal literally for years. It’s all you and Viola ever talked about. How cute it would be if they dated, married, and had kids. They’re just friends—and that’s all they’ll ever be.”
Clearing her throat, she said, “I don’t know about pushing him.”
“Maddie, you did it even when we were actually dating. I thought it was because you hated me, but Sean assured me it was simply because you’ve always wanted to see him with Crystal.”
My mother looked away, but even in the dim lighting out here, I could still see the blush on her face. “I have always liked you, Harper. I’m sorry if I made you feel like I didn’t. But I guess I can admit that I might’ve been a bit…picky, when it came to Sean and who he dated.”
“Picky?” Harper repeated with a laugh.
I subtly shook my head, and she instantly closed her mouth and looked away.
“Mom, you’ve been overbearing. And it doesn’t help that Sean cannot, for whatever reason, stand up to you and tell you no. To the point that he resorted to talking Harper into fake-dating him.”
“When did this happen?” she asked, pointing between me and Harper.
“I’ve always liked Harper, but she was too young for me in high school, and I knew I was leaving for the military. I didn’t want her to wait around or change her life to accommodate my career choices. Then when Sean asked her out, I figured maybe we weren’t meant to be.” I glanced at Harper. “But when I came home, the attraction was still there. Stronger than ever.”
“And you feel nothing for Sean?” Mom asked Harper.
“Nothing. I only agreed to his plan because he said he’d buy me season tickets to the Giants when I told him that would be the only way I’d ever date him again, pretend or otherwise. To be honest, I never dreamed he’d actually do it, but I guess he really wanted you off…um…he wanted…well… You know.”
Mom’s eyes went wide and her mouth fell open. Then she snapped it shut and slowly shook her head as she grabbed the nearest chair and sat down. Other people were starting to make their way out onto the rooftop, sitting at nearby tables and sofas.
“Well,” my mother said quietly, as she ran a hand along her hair, then smoothed down her shirt. “I guess tomorrow I’ll need to have a heart-to-heart with Sean. Meanwhile, I hope the two of you have a fun evening.”
Before I could say anything, she stood and headed back inside.
I looked at Harper. “I didn’t see all of that coming.”
Her hand flew up to her mouth to stifle a laugh. When she had it under control, she said, “Man, your mother was the last person I thought would be here.”
I laughed. “Same. Let’s get in before they start without us.”
Harper took my hand this time, and we maneuvered back inside and to the table.
“Sorry about that, guys,” Harper said, sliding onto a chair. “We had to talk to Declan’s mother.”
“Tell me the fake dating is over?” Brystol asked, a hopeful look in her eyes.
“Yes,” Harper replied. “It’s over, and I am free!”
“To go out on dates, I see,” Aurora added, with a wink in Declan’s direction.
“Are we late?” Gavin asked, as he approached the table with a stunning woman on his arm. Behind him were Evelyn and Denny.
Brystol stood and hugged Evelyn, then Denny, ignoring Gavin as usual.
“Hi, Evelyn, Denny!” Aurora said, hugging them both. “What’s going on, Gavin?” she asked, offering him a smile and peck on the cheek.
“Not much,” he replied.
Aurora turned to the guy I didn’t know. “Now seems like a good time to introduce everyone. Chuck, this is Declan Gallagher; he just returned from the Marines, and now serves as one of our police officers. Next to him is Harper Browning. She’s the daughter of our mayor, and she owns the floral shop on Main Street.”
Chuck smiled and reached out to shake my hand, then Harper’s. “Pleasure to meet you both.”
“This is Gavin. He’s also a police officer,” Aurora said, with a nod in Gavin’s direction. “I don’t know your date’s name…?”
Gavin pulled a chair out for said date. “Cindy.”
“Nice to meet you guys,” Chuck said, with more handshakes.
Aurora pointed and finished, “And this is Evelyn and Denny McCain.”
“Pleasure’s all mine,” Chuck said, as Evelyn and Denny both exchanged greetings with the man.
After everyone was seated, the waitress came and took drink and food orders.
“Okay, has anyone been to trivia night before?” Brystol asked.
Everyone shook their heads.
“Is the first question going to be, why doesn’t Brystol have a date?” Gavin asked with a smirk on his face.
“Fuck off, Gavin,” Brystol replied, while managing to maintain a sweet smile.
After getting the rules from Brystol, we broke up into two teams.
“I think having Bry and Gavin on opposite sides is a bad idea,” Harper whispered.
“Couldn’t agree with you more,” I replied.
The next few hours were spent eating, drinking, and laughing. Of course, we had to step in to keep Gavin and Brystol from killing one another on more than one occasion, but overall, it was a blast.
“That was so much fun!” Harper said as we walked back down Main Street toward the flower shop.
“It was lots of fun. Aurora handed us all our asses.”
Harper giggled. “She’s pretty good at trivia, isn’t she? And man, she takes it so seriously.”
I chuckled. “She does. And seriously, what in the hell is up with Brystol and Gavin? The sexual tension between the two of them is off the charts.”
“You think they’re attracted to each other?”
“Please. They couldn’t stop looking at each other when they didn’t think anyone else was watching. Why don’t they just sleep together and get it over with?”
“I don’t think Brystol likes Gavin that way. At least, I’ve never heard her utter a single nice thing about him.”
“Maybe not, but something’s going on there.”
Harper nodded. “That I can agree with. I wonder if Brystol’s given any more thought to being a surrogate for Evelyn and Denny.”
“Couldn’t say. That’s a pretty big thing to ask of someone.”
“Yeah, it is.”
We walked the last bit of distance in silence. When we got to the front of the flower shop, we turned and faced one another.
“I had a lot of fun tonight, Declan.”
“Me, too, Harp.”
She chewed nervously on her lower lip. “I don’t know about you, but I’m not ready for the night to end.”
I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face. “Neither am I.”
“Are you working tomorrow?” she asked.
“No.”
Even in the light from the streetlamp, I could see her cheeks turning red. “This will be really forward…but would you like to spend the night with me? The shop doesn’t open until nine tomorrow morning, so I don’t have to rush down super early.”
Taking her hands in mine, I smiled and drew her closer. “Why, Harper Browning, are you asking me for a sleepover?”
A nervous bubble of laughter slipped free. “Yes, I am.”
Placing my finger on her chin, I raised it so our eyes met. “I would love to stay the night with you. Let me run over to my place to pack a bag.”
“When you come back, make sure to use the alley door. I’ll keep it unlocked.”
“Are you worried about someone seeing me come to your place?”
She laughed. “After this evening, I’m pretty sure the whole town will know what happened. If they don’t already.”
“Ah, yes, the gossip,” I said, as I took her hand in mine and we slipped into the small alley between the toy store and the flower shop.
As Harper went into her shop, I headed to my apartment and packed a small bag for the night. I wasn’t sure why my heart was racing in my chest. It wasn’t like this was my first time with a woman. I’d been with plenty of women, most of them one-night stands…but this was Harper.
Harper Browning. The one woman who’d had a starring role in my dreams for as long as I could remember.
After taking a few deep breaths, I grabbed my bag and started for the back door when my phone went off. It was late, so I assumed it was a Marine Corps buddy of mine. I groaned when I took my cell out and saw it was Sean.
“Shit.”
I pulled up the text and read it.
Sean: I need to talk to you when you get a chance.
Staring at the message, I debated whether I wanted to text him or wait until tomorrow. I decided that whatever he had to say could wait. I had Harper waiting for me, and nothing would delay this a second longer.
Ignoring the text, I threw the bag over my shoulder, locked the door, and made my way to Harper’s.
The door was indeed unlocked. I found myself looking around—and had to laugh. Harper had me paranoid now. After getting inside, I locked the door and headed up the steps, stopping at the door that led to Harper’s place.
I knocked, and she opened the door. “That was fast!”
“Well, the idea of a sleepover with you has me feeling…”
She raised a brow. “Feeling?”
Laughing, I replied, “Excited.”
Harper laughed as I put my bag on the floor next to the sofa. “Sean sent me a text that he needed to talk to me, by the way.”
Harper was heading to the kitchen, and she glanced back at me. “Do you think your mother called him already?”
I shrugged. “I’m not sure. Knowing my mother, she probably stopped by his place and laid into him for lying to her.”
“Oh, he’s going to be so mad at me,” she stated, taking down two wine glasses. “I did warn him, though, so he has no one to blame but himself.”
“Yeah, well, he can wait until tomorrow to talk to me. Tonight is all about us.”
Harper grinned. “I like the sound of that. Red or white wine?”
“Do you have anything already open?”
She bent down and looked into her wine refrigerator. “I’ve got a bottle of Merlot open.” She held it up. “Just enough for a couple glasses, I think.”
“Sounds good to me. Are you feeling snacky?”
Harper was about to pour a glass when she paused and looked at me. “Snacky?”
“Yeah, that club sandwich I ate at the bar isn’t holding me over.” The idea of being with Harper tonight was making me feel like a teenage boy about to have sex for the first time. I was nervous as fuck, and when I was anxious, I got hungry.
“Um, I’ve got a bunch of stuff in the fridge. I can put together a little snack tray for us. Then we can take it up to the roof if you want.”
“I’ll help make something.”
“Great!” Harper said, as she opened the refrigerator and started taking items out. “In that bottom drawer, there are some trays. Will you please grab one? Also, in the pantry, there should be some nuts.”
After finding a tray, I headed to the pantry, where Harper had every kind of nut you could think of. I grabbed cashews, almonds, and pistachios. I loved pistachios.
When I walked back into the kitchen, Harper had a plethora of food on the table.
“Man, when you snack, you really snack!”
She chuckled. “I like a good snack tray. Oh, pistachios! Good choice. I love them.”
My heart did a little kick in my chest. “A girl after my own heart.”
As we worked side by side building our snack tray, we talked about the evening. As much as I’d hated leaving the Marines, life was really starting to look good back here in Moose Village. I was home with my family, Harper and I were…well…I wasn’t sure what we were doing, but I liked where it was going. I was enjoying my job, and it was really nice to have friends who knew nothing about my previous career. Life felt…normal. It was pretty great.
“You grab the tray, and I’ll get another bottle of wine and the glasses.”
I did as Harper asked and started for the steps to head to the rooftop. I felt my phone buzz in my back pocket but ignored it. It was eleven at night, and the only people who would even think of reaching out this late were my buddies from the Marines. Unless…
Once I got out onto the roof, I set the tray down on the coffee table and pulled out my phone.
Sean: Dude, where are you? I’m at your place and you’re not answering the door.
“Fuck.”
“What did I miss?” Harper asked as she set the wine bottle and glasses down.
“Sean is down at my door, wanting to know where I am.”
“This late at night?”
I looked at my phone and back to Harper. “I’m going to ignore him.”
She shook her head. “Call him, Declan. You think you can put it out of your mind, but you’ll be thinking about it, and I want you here with me a hundred percent.”
Smiling, I reached out and pulled her to me. Cupping her face, I kissed her gently. When we broke apart, I sighed. “Let me call him.”
Hitting my brother’s number, it only rang once before he picked up.
“Where in the fuck have you been, Declan?”