Never Been Ready (Ready #2)(40)

I couldn't help it. I laughed. The sobs and laughs mingled together as we held each other in her kitchen.

She pulled back and looked at me with devilish green eyes. "So, what's up with you and Declan? Because what I saw last night was anything but casual."

I sighed as I sat back in my chair, resuming the demolishment of my muffin. "I have no f**king clue. One minute, we're super casual, and the next, we've blown past all other stages and landed on super intense. He makes me feel things I am too scared to admit. Loving him could complete me or destroy me. If I were to give myself to him and he left like Daniel, I don't think I'd ever recover."

"You know Declan is not Daniel, right?"

"No, he's not. He's a famous super-hot actor. That doesn't make it any better." I snorted.

"Daniel was a dillhole, plain and simple. When someone loves you, he stays —even when things get hard. When Ethan got sick and we all gathered together to take care of him, Daniel bailed. That shows you right there that he wasn't in it for the long haul. You can't assume Declan would do the same."

"You can't assume he wouldn't."

"Pessimistic much?" she asked.

"I like my glass half-empty, thank you very much."

"Well, I just don't want you to walk away from what could be the best thing of your life. Don't run away from love just because you've been hurt before."

"Love? I didn't say I loved him," I deflected. "Besides, isn't it a bit early for that?"

"Someone very wise once told me that there's no time restriction on love," she said with a wink.

"Very slick, using my own words against me. That's kind of evil."

"I learned from the best."

Chapter Twelve

~Declan~

I'd been driving by Leah's father's house every day for the last week, making sure he didn't come back. The bastard didn't even bother closing up the house. He'd just hit the road, leaving the house wide-open to anyone who might pass by, including me. I'd gone in yesterday just to make sure he wasn't still there. I was being paranoid, but before I told Leah, I wanted to be sure he was gone —for good.

Could I guarantee he would never come back? No. The smartest thing would have been to file charges and have him arrested, but after that night of holding a battered and bruised Leah in my arms, I knew she would never make it through a trial against her father. It would be too much. It would have been too public with too many people asking questions. She could barely open up to Clare and me. How could we ask her to open up to an entire courtroom about the events that had haunted her for the last twenty years? I knew she would, and I knew she could if needed. Leah could do anything. She was stronger than anyone I'd ever met, but if I could keep her from pain, I would, no matter what it cost.

When I was sure the house was empty and he wasn't coming back, I told Leah I had somewhere to take her, something to tell her. She looked at me nervously and nodded.

Shit, did she think I was breaking up with her? Could we technically break up? I didn't even know what to call our relationship. We'd never put a title on it. That needed to be fixed. She was mine, and that fact needed to be made public.

When we pulled up to the curb, her head snapped over to me, her eyes filled with panic. "What are we doing here?"

Placing my hand on hers, I wove our fingers together before saying, "Do you trust me?"

She silently nodded, and I brought our joined hands to my lips before kissing each of her fingers.

"Then, you have nothing to worry about. Come on."

We made our way up the driveway, hand in hand, my heart beating hard in my chest.

What if this wasn't what she wanted? What if, in some small recess of her heart, she loved this man, and I'd just sent him away?

Sweat broke out across my brow, and I suddenly began second-guessing my decision, hoping I hadn't just destroyed the one good thing that had come my way before it'd even had a chance to start. We reached the front door, and I took a step forward. I grabbed the handle and ushered us in. I'd had a cleaning crew come in a few days after he left. I didn't want her to come back to a dingy house. There were enough memories here without the stench of alcohol and stale food to add to the mix. Pine-Sol and Windex now perfumed the air instead.

"What the hell? You cleaned?"

"No...well, yes. But that's not why we're here."

We walked through the kitchen and into the living room, the spot I assumed was where Leah's father usually was when she visited. When she didn't see him, she turned and looked at the vacant dinette and bar stools.

"Where is he?" she asked cautiously.

"Gone."

"Gone? What do you mean?"

"Well, he's not dead, if that's what you're wondering. At least, I don't think he is. But he's never coming back here, Leah. I made sure of that. You are free."

Tears brimmed her eyes, and she looked around the house again before circling back to me.

"But how? I don't understand. Are you sure? Did you do something illegal?" she asked, throwing out questions left and right.

"It doesn't matter how. Yes, I'm sure. And no, you're not getting rid of me that easily. No pending arrests," I said with a smirk.