“Give him this chance, Lily,” she whispers into my ear. “He’s changed, and so have you, so give him this chance to see if your new edges fit together.” She’s unusually solemn, her eyes blazing with sincerity when she leans back to catch my stare.
“Come with me,” I beg. “I can’t do this alone, not when I know everyone is already talking about me and she’ll be there. You can borrow something from my closet.”
“Lily,” she chides. “You’ve got this. Your dad and Julie are going, and Declan will be at your side. You aren’t going into this alone. You don’t need me.”
“I do,” I correct fiercely, just as another knock comes, harder this time.
“And if your night is the absolute worst,” she carries on, booping mynose like a weirdo, “you come back here later, we get drunk and troll random assholes on my dating apps.”
My phone chimes, right before the door rattles under the force of the next knock. I can’t help the small burst of amusement at his impatience.
“Okay.” I inhale deeply through my nose, straightening my back and checking that my neckline is where it’s supposed to be. “I can do this.”
“You can do this,” Sasha echoes firmly, giving me one last pat on the shoulder and refilling her wine. “Now, do it faster. Your couch and I have our own date planned.”
I fling a dark glare at her before heading to the door. I pause with my hand on the knob, settling my resolve, and when I swing it open, Declan’s right there, a relieved smile on his face. It falls away as he catches sight of me, his mouth dropping open as his eyes trail from the top of my head, all the way down to where my pink-painted toes are peeking out from the white heels. His brown eyes are intense, feeling like they’re leaving a blazing path of heat everywhere they touch.
“Lily,” he says on an exhale. “You look…beautiful.”
I return his appraisal, taking in the tailored slate-gray three-piece suit. The jacket clings to his broad shoulders, tapering at his waist. There’s a rose gold tie knotted at his throat, the shimmery material a perfect match for my dress, and I can’t stop the slow smile curling at my lips.
I clear my throat, aiming for a cool nonchalance. “You clean up nicely.”
His smile widens as he comes closer, ducking down to press a lingering kiss to my check, his cologne filling my lungs and making my head spin. “High praise from you, baby.”
There’s a slight sting when he calls me ‘baby’, my mind immediately trying to force me back to a time when he called another woman a different endearment. But the pain of it is distant as he stares at me, emotion shining from his eyes.
“I’ll be the envy of the night, having you on my arm.”
I bite back my pleased smile, stepping back to let him inside.
“I got you something.” I track the movement as he slides a hand intothe pocket of his slacks. He lifts out a small jewelry box, and my heartbeat whooshes in my ears, fast and unsteady.
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.”
