Page 8 of The Ex Next Door (Charming, Texas #8)

Declan had been working here for three years now, ever since shortly after the new owners took over and brought it back from the brink of financial ruin.

They were great guys, too, three former navy SEALs, and Declan respected the hell out of them.

His cousin was a SEAL and Declan knew all too well how much dedication was involved.

When Cole decided he wanted to spend less time behind the bar and more time as a silent partner, the hours increased for Declan.

It was now his full-time job. Despite the fact he had a degree in physical education, the one year he spent doing the work bored him so much he moved on.

Every now and then, he got asked to coach, usually by his own father.

But more often, the parent of a child interested in baseball thought Declan could perhaps offer “a few pointers.” He always refused politely.

They didn’t want to hear what he had to say. What he would tell them wouldn’t get them to the top of any team’s roster. Because what Declan would say wouldn’t win any awards.

Do not make any one thing, whatever it might be, the center of your life.

Yes, that included baseball. Oh yeah, by the way, it also included football, basketball and soccer.

All sports. Want to be the best of the best?

Cream of the crop? Top of the heap? Then never mind what I said.

Make [insert sport here] the center of your life.

Morning, noon and night. Make all decisions based on the sport, including what you eat, where you’ll live and go to college, whom you’ll marry and when.

Then, once you reach the top, look around and notice all you’ve missed.

If you’re lucky, you’ll decide it was worth it.

“Hi, Dec,” said Zoey. She ran the boutique downtown and was a frequent guest at the Salty Dog since she became single again. “How’s it going?”

“Great, sweetheart. How ’bout you? What can I get ya?”

There was a crowd behind her and she’d been lucky to grab a seat when someone vacated it.

“Just a diet soda, please.”

“Comin’ right up.” He poured from the dispenser and set the iced tumbler in front of her with a napkin. “You meetin’ someone new here tonight?”

It seemed to be her modus operandi. Often, she’d get Declan to size up her dates by using his spidey senses to determine if the guy was a player.

He’d told her repeatedly he didn’t have such powers but she didn’t listen.

Apparently, he’d been right two out of the last three times and that was good enough for her.

She nodded. “We both swiped right.”

That’s how Declan met Samantha, so he didn’t exactly judge. It was difficult to meet people when almost everyone lived and worked behind a screen.

“Want me to check him out?” Declan winked.

“Yes, please.” Zoey sighed. “I’m getting so tired of dating. I wish I could fall in love like Twyla did.”

Twyla was her best friend, who ran the bookstore in town.

“Don’t worry, it’ll happen.”

“I hope you’re right. I have friends who are getting divorced and I haven’t even been married yet.”

Declan touched her hand, ever so briefly so she’d know it wasn’t a come-on, but a supportive pat. “You’re beautiful and the right man just hasn’t found you yet.”

“Aha!”

Both Zoey and Declan startled when Samantha pushed forward from the crowd. He hadn’t even seen her arrive.

“Hey, Sam. I didn’t see you there.”

“Of course not. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be flirting and making a date with Zoey!” Her blue eyes were bulging, her cheeks bright red.

“What?” Zoey turned, dark eyes wide. “Oh, no. He just—”

“Save it, sister. I know when two people are flirting with each other.”

Declan swallowed the irritation at this latest display of jealousy.

He’d been through this with Samantha on their last date, when she’d accused him of checking out every woman in the restaurant, including their waitress.

But he refused to avert his eyes and act like he was afraid to see the sun when simply talking to a woman standing right in front of him.

He and Samantha made up the next day with her sending him sweet texts with deep apologies and regret. Now this. She had obviously come here to spy on him.

“What were you guys talking about?” Samantha continued. “I heard you call her beautiful. Did he call you beautiful? Are you making a date? Do you know Declan and I are dating?”

The questions came so rapid-fire that Zoey blinked after each one.

“I was…he was just…”

“Zoey, you don’t have to explain a thing.” Declan spread his arms across the bar. “Sam, can I get you something? Otherwise, I have customers.”

“No, I’m leaving! And don’t call me.”

“Wait! I’m here to meet someone,” Zoey called out, then turned to Declan. “I’m so sorry. I ruined things for you. Let me talk to her.”

“Don’t even think about it. It’s her problem. Not yours.”

He went about his night, mixing cocktails, refilling beers and listening to sob stories.

Declan had become an expert at listening, which was a gift.

No one understood how incredibly difficult it was to listen without offering commentary.

One guy was going to ask his wife for a divorce because life was too short and he was miserable, which only made Declan think about Rob the Idiot.

Another lost his job, which earned him a free beer and plenty of sympathy from Declan.

Eventually Zoey’s date showed up, and Declan determined the guy wasn’t a player through the process of the size of his tips.

Also, he didn’t take his eyes off Zoey the entire time, obviously smitten.

She happily waved as they left together.

He was cleaning up for the night when the first of the texts from Samantha came. They arrived one after the other, rapid-fire, and he didn’t respond to a single one.

I’m so sorry, baby. Please forgive me. I lost my head tonight.

Text me when you get home. I want to apologize in person.

And then the one that really got to him:

It’s just that you’re so wonderful I can’t believe you’d want to be with me.

Far from inspiring his forgiveness, it only made him wonder what he’d done to make her feel that way.

Samantha was a gorgeous woman but so incredibly insecure it had become draining.

He didn’t know where that insecurity had come from, but understood it had nothing to do with him.

Maybe someone in her life hadn’t believed in her enough, possibly at a young age, and it affected all her adult relationships in the sense that she didn’t see herself as deserving, either.

Declan couldn’t relate. For all else his parents had ever done, they’d certainly instilled a sense of self-worth in both of their sons.

That, plus they had modeled a healthy kind of long-lasting love that while inspiring, was also deeply intimidating.

Declan wasn’t sure he could ever aspire to reach the goal and it had intimidated him for years.

Only once in his life had he had a long-term serious relationship.

Come to think of it, in his entire dating life, he could remember only one girl who’d trusted him without any doubts.

He wondered what Amy saw in him all those years ago and why she’d always believed in him.