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TWENTY

declan

I stand in front of Callahan Griffin’s house. Willa has been texting me all day, but I haven’t responded. I was angry with her at first, but that quickly changed to hurt. I know all about the people in that house. We’ve talked about them in detail since we were kids. I feel like I know them, and yet they don’t even know I exist.

I understand Willa’s reason. I really do, but I wish she had told me from that start, instead of making me feel like a fool that’s been living on the outside of her life all these years.

“Fuck it.”

I make my way to the front door before I can change my mind. My finger pressing on the doorbell before I tell it to. I can hear the bell echo through the house and the sound of voices instantly quiets. Seconds later, the door flies open.

“Happy Thanksgiving, Princess.”

“You came.” Her eyes are wide, and her lip wobbles.

“Of course I came.” I lean down and kiss the corner of her mouth. “Introduce me to everyone.” I throw my arm around her shoulders and lead her inside. I follow the sound of soft voices until I find the dining room.

The moment we enter the room, we’re greeted by silence. Cal is at the head of the table with Harlow to his right. Their daughter Cora is at the corner between them in her highchair. Jo is next to Harlow with a man who I’m guessing is Harlow’s dad from the red hair. There’s another man next to him and an older looking one at the other head of the table. I’m not sure how they fit in with this group. Maverick, Belle, and Kai are all to Cal’s left and have turned around in their seats to stare at me.

Willa clears her throat. “Everyone, this is Declan. My husband.”

Forks clang on plates, but everyone is still staring. Except Cora, who is shoving mashed potatoes into her mouth with her small fists. I look around at all the different expressions. Mostly, it’s shock. But Belle looks as hurt as I felt this morning, and Jo looks horrified. I catch the moment Cal realizes who I am.

“Holy shit. Declan Monroe is in my house!” he shouts and then immediately stands to shake my hand.

“Callahan,” Belle says. “Did you not hear what Willa just said?”

“That wasn’t a joke?” he asks Willa.

“Nope,” she says, holding up her left hand, wedding ring glittering in the light. Cal’s eyes widen so large, it would be comical if this wasn’t such an awkward situation.

“That reminds me,” I say, digging in the pocket of my jeans. “You forgot your engagement ring, Princess.” I pull out the six-karat oval diamond I bought for her. It came in while she was still on tour. It’s obnoxious and the most expensive thing I’ve ever purchased, but she was right when she said she was worth it. Willa gasps as I slide it onto her finger.

She throws her arms around my neck like she’s giving me a hug. “This thing is huge,” she whispers into my ear.

“It’s a skating rink. So you never forget who you’re married to,” I growl low in her ear before kissing her temple and standing back up. She pulls me to the two open seats next to Kai. She takes the one next to him as I sit on her other side.

“I can do that, Princess.” She’s loading up my plate with everything on the table. “Willa,” I say, grabbing her hand to stop her from trying to put even more turkey on my plate than the massive pile she already put there.

“You’re married to Declan Monroe,” Jo says to Willa.

“Yes. I am,” Willa responds. There’s a tension between the two women that must be pretty new. Willa always told me she likes Jo.

“The married man you’re with is Declan Monroe and not Gideon Banks,” Jo states.

I bark out a laugh. “Why would Willa be with Gideon? He’s married and so obsessed with his wife that I’m not sure he’s aware that other women exist.”

“Can someone please tell me what the fuck is going on right now?” Kai says, leaning around Willa to glare at me.

“Yeah, Princess. What’s going on right now?” I’m not going to help her with this. I want to say something that would out all her lies, to hurt her the way I’m hurting. But no matter how upset with her I am, I will never do anything to cause her pain.