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54
Taking what I want and kicking her out.
Not out of my office, but out of my fucking heart.
“I can’t believe I’m having this conversation about my baby cousin,” Jenner said.
“Jenner, I recall a similar conversation when you finally admitted to me that you loved my daughter. Do you think that was easy for me?”
Was Walter really on my side?
Never in a million fucking years had I thought that would happen.
But more importantly, the things I was feeling for Hannah, was that love?
Jesus, I couldn’t wrap my head around any of this.
“I’m about to marry your daughter,” Jenner said. “Let’s keep you on this side of the fence, Walter.”
“Look, I’m not the relationship type,” I quickly voiced. “Marriage, kids-those aren’t words in my vocabulary. Jenner knows that. So, there’s no reason we should even be discussing this.”
Walter set his glass down. “I’m not so sure about that.”
The cowboy moved his arm, gaining my attention, and I saw him take out his wallet. Hannah shook her head like she was turning down his offer.
“What would you do if we weren’t here?” Walter asked. “Or at least, if Jenner wasn’t here.”
He wanted honesty.
The anger in my chest was making that an easy question. So were the three scotches I’d had at dinner and the vodka rocks I’d polished off at this table.
“I’d probably walk up to the cowboy and threaten his life if he didn’t take his hand off her and walk the hell away.”
“What’s stopping you, Declan?”
I looked at Jenner. “You.”
“I say, threaten the bastard’s life,” Walter said.
“Fuck,” I groaned.
The table turned quiet.
“I love that girl like a sister,” Jenner admitted. “I don’t want her future jeopardized in any way. I don’t want her to lose focus. Law school is hard enough. When you add in an internship and bar prepping and then taking the bar, it takes a toll on a person.”
“I know,” I told him. “Don’t forget; I went through it too.”
He clasped his hands, his thumbs circling, finally stilling. “My dream for her is to be with a nice guy. Someone who’s not going to treat her like shit. Who’s going to be patient and understanding. Who hasn’t dated all of LA-like the two of us.”
“Don’t you think I wanted that for my daughter, Jenner?”
I was starting to really love that man.
Jenner rolled his eyes at Walter. “Jesus.”
“Son, wouldn’t you say most of your friends are like you and Declan? Men who have slept their way through Hollywood until they found the one-”
“I didn’t say I found the one,” I interrupted. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
“You didn’t,” Walter agreed. “But something tells me you know it’s true, whether you’ll admit it or not.”
Hannah was unlike any woman I’d ever met. I had known that the moment she started speaking at the mock trial. So different, so unique, so fucking irresistible that I’d kissed her at the bar.
I craved her body.
I yearned for her attention.
I made up fake scenarios to haul her ass into the office just so I could spend more time with her.
But was I looking for a commitment?
Did I even know what that meant?
What that would look like?
Communication wasn’t a strength. I didn’t know how the hell to be a boyfriend.
What I knew, what I was absolutely positive of, was that I couldn’t stand the thought of another man taking what was mine.
Of losing her.
Of not being with her again.
There was no question; I wanted her.
And I knew, even if I wanted to admit it to Walter or not, that those emotions went deeper.
Far deeper.
I looked at Walter. “You might have a point.”
Jenner’s expression changed. “What does Hannah want?”
I took a breath before I said, “Me.”
“Then, my friend”-he clasped my shoulder-“you’ve got some work cut out for you, and you know what a hothead Dominick can be at times, so good fucking luck with that.”
“Don’t worry, Jenner’s been in your shoes. He has plenty of tips to give you,” Walter said.
“Again? Really?” Jenner challenged his soon-to-be father-in-law.
As Hannah carried our drinks to the table, Walter looked at me and winked. “It’s a good thing he knows that I love him like a son.” He twirled the ice around in his glass. “Declan, Dominick might be hotheaded, but I assure you, he’s not a hard-ass, like me. That one”-he nodded toward Jenner-“had it much worse than you will.”
EIGHTEEN
HANNAH
FORD
How’s it going?
ME
I think I impressed Walter. He actually gave me a compliment, and according to Jenner, that’s a miracle.
FORD
Jenner’s right. Walter’s not the kind of guy to give a single word of praise. That means you killed it. Proud of you.
Do I dare ask how things are going with Declan?
ME
Ugh. One minute I think he loves-ish me, and the next, I think he wants to murder me. Like tonight, when I was talking to a cowboy at the bar.
FORD
Trying to make him jealous?From NôvelDrama.Org.
ME
LOL.
Maaaybe.
FORD
The love-hate thing is called a relationship, by the way.
ME
If he heard you say that, he’d probably die.
FORD
Then, change his opinion … if you want to, that is.
ME
I do. I just don’t know how.
FORD
By being you-the girl Declan is wild about.
ME
You don’t know that. Besides, the more time I spend with him, the more lost I become. I don’t speak man language-you guys are beyond confusing-and he’s giving me whiplash.
FORD
Hannah, you speak Declan.
ME
Ugh, I’m going to bed. Maybe some of this will make sense in the morning.
I
set the phone on the nightstand and climbed into bed, trying to find the energy to text Oaklyn, knowing we’d have the same conversation I’d just had with Ford, except it would be far more detailed. But with each second that passed, I sank farther into the bed, my head buried in the fluffy pillows, losing my motivation.