Page 73 of His to Love
“Awesome name,” a blonde chirped next to me. She held out her hand. “I’m Suzanne. Ignore Paige, she’s not as insane as she looks, just friendly.”
I laughed along with the rest of them and took a sip of my drink. I was quickly introduced to Chelsea and Camden, both of them sitting across the table from me and just as welcoming as Suzanne and Paige.
“Come on,” Paige said when Charlie appeared behind me with my stool. “Have a seat. We come here all the time, and Chelsea and Camden practically grew up in this town, so they know everyone and everything.” She turned to the table and finally took a breath. “Blue just moved here from Colorado and is moving into an apartment this weekend.”
“The Hills?” Chelsea asked.
“Yes,” I answered, somewhat hesitantly.
As if she understood, she smiled. “Everyone new to the area moves there. They’re great places from what I’ve heard and seen.”
For the next several minutes, while I waited for my burger, I was peppered with questions about everything possible in my life. As the conversation continued around me, I was flooded with a sense of warmth even amidst the confusion stemming from being pulled into a conversation with women who seemed to have been friends forever.
For the last ten years, I’d stuck to myself and Eleanor, and taking online classes in college didn’t exactly give me a great social life. Plus, there weren’t many people my age near where we lived. Yet these women had no problems pulling me into their fold, making me feel warm and welcome. And even if it was just for the night, if we didn’t become great friends, I welcomed what they provided.
A hush fell over the table, and Camden’s mouth dropped open as a shadow fell behind me. Next to me, Suzanne whispered, “Damn he’s fine.”
Across the table, Chelsea giggled into her hand.
“Hi, Declan,” Paige said, in what I was thinking was her general cheerful tone.
“Your burger,” he rumbled, and set my burger onto the table in front of me. It was massive and smelled delicious.
I turned to look at him over my shoulder and grinned. “Thanks, Declan.”
“Anything for you.”
“What about us?” Suzanne chirped.
He feigned a scowl. “Your husband know you’re here again?”
“Oh, yeah,” Suzanne drawled and winked. “You know how he feels about you.”
Declan shook his head and rolled his eyes. He seemed exasperated by these women, and who could blame him? They were a lot to take in.
“Need anything else, Blue?” he asked and glanced around the table. “A quiet place to eat? A gun to shoot yourself in the head?”
The women laughed. I snorted and shook my head. “I think I’m good.”
“Take care then and tell Ty to give me a ring.”
“Will do.” I grinned as he walked away. Then I laughed to myself as Paige and Suzanne both placed their elbows on the table, chin in their palms and with stars in their eyes, watched as Declan sauntered away from the table and back into the kitchen.
“Damn, he’s so hot,” Paige whispered wistfully.
Suzanne raised her margarita glass high in the air. “Amen, sister.”
Chelsea and Camden both shook their heads, laughing and playing along.
I took a bite of my burger, hiding the largest grin I’d ever worn in my life.
—
“I come with gifts.” Tyson grinned and held up his hands. One held a bottle of white wine and the other a plastic bag. I assumed it contained my ice cream.
“Damn, I’m glad to you see you,” I whispered, my eyes on the treat currently calling my name. I opened the door and let Tyson through, shutting it behind him.
“I’m glad to be here.”
