“He hasn’t hurt you has he?” The words tumbled out of my mouth.
Her lips parted and smacked closed. “Of course not. Listen, I’m not stupid. I wouldn’t stay with him if he laid his hands on me.”
I knew I was digging myself in the ground, but I had to ask. I’d been silent for over a year. I couldn’t stay silent any longer. “What about emotionally? Does he… yell?”
She huffed and bit her lip. “Sometimes. We’re working on it, okay?” She pulled away from me and went inside.
I took a deep breath before I went in behind her. When we got to the table, Faith shot us a concerned look. “You two okay?”
“Yes. I was helping Mags cover the wound on her face with makeup.” She hesitated before taking the seat next to Gerald who sat next to Declan.
“She’s a lifesaver.” I smiled before taking the seat in between Declan and Luca.
“How’re you feeling?” Luca asked, staring at the bandage.
I waved a hand back and forth in the air. “I’m fine. It’s sore, but I’ll live.”
“You look beautiful, Mags.” Declan put his arm around the back of my seat.
I swallowed hard before mumbling, “Thank you.”
Faith perked up in her seat. “So, have you all checked the itinerary for tomorrow?”
Asher chuckled. “I did what I could, guys. Tomorrow is your free day.”
“You call tomorrow a free day?” Luca rolled his eyes. “We eat together, play volleyball, and swim.”
Faith shot him daggers. “We’re going to bond whether you like it or not.”
He put his arms in the air as a sign of defeat and caught me staring at him. He sent me a sly wink, and I could feel the heat rising from the base of my neck to my cheeks.
I grabbed the glass of wine in front of me and took a few sips.
“Be careful, you don’t want to drink too much,” Declan whispered.
I snorted. “I can handle my alcohol.”
“It’s true, she can,” Luca interjected. “I’ve seen it myself.”
Declan grunted in reply before turning to Gerald and struck up a conversation about sailboats.
Luca leaned in close, his lips brushed against my ear. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare your date off.”
Heat pooled between my legs. “I—uh, it’s fine.”
He pulled away with a satisfied smirk. I caught Faith’s eyes on us, and she looked away when I met her gaze.
I shook my head and listened in on the conversation about sailboats for the rest of dinner. It unnerved me how well Declan and Gerald seemed to get along.
I grabbed my glass and downed the rest of the wine before requesting a refill. The conversation was stale, and I needed a pick-me-up. Declan was beginning to repulse me, and Luca fucking enraptured me. My body was turning against me.
Declan nudged me. “Do you really need another glass?”
I furrowed my eyebrows. “I only had one?”
He sighed and Gerald joined in. “Oh, my sweet cousin. Sorry dude, she’s kind of an alcoholic.”
My mouth dropped, and before I could respond someone else did.
“No, she’s not!” Eve quipped before casting her gaze downward once Gerald shot her a look.
“Eve’s right. Mags is far from an alcoholic. Besides, I’ve seen you at the bars. You have no room to talk, Gerry.” Luca leaned forward on his elbows.
“It’s Gerald!” He slapped a hand on the table.
Eve jumped, just like the rest of us. She stood up with her eyes blazing in embarrassment before she scampered away with no word.
Gerald stood up and glared in between Luca and I. “Anyone ever told Declan here how you and Luca know each other?”
Declan looked up at him with a quizzical expression. “They know each other? Isn’t Luca Faith’s cousin?”
“Yes. And your girlfriend’s fucked him twice. Too bad Luca never thought she was good enough to stick around for.” Gerald stormed off in Eve’s direction.
I flinched back at his words and grabbed my filled-to-the-rim wine glass, putting it to my lips and tilting my head back. I drank all of the wine and set the glass back down. “Should someone go check on Eve?”
“I’m sure Gerald has it under control.” Declan narrowed his eyes at my empty glass.
I fucking hope not.
I glanced at Faith who was clearing her throat. “This isn’t the kind of bonding I had in mind. Asher and I are going to check on Eve.” She gave me a concerned gaze. “Dinner is over.”
Asher and Faith got up and left the table. Jamie and her husband left as soon as they could.
I sat in between two men who were staring each other down, and I craved another glass of wine. I wasn’t an alcoholic by any means, but I wanted to get wasted right then. I focused on Declan. His shoulders were tense, and his gaze was unmoving from Luca’s.
“I should’ve told you about our past. I’m sorry about that. But, Gerald wasn’t totally wrong. Luca really doesn’t want me like that.” The earth rocked beneath me, and my mind drifted in and out like the tide outside. “So, there was no need to bring up the past.”
Though my vision wavered, there was one thing I was sure of, Luca didn’t want me, and it fucking sucked because no man has compared to him, including Declan.
Luca touched my thigh, and I turned toward him. Something flashed beneath the surface of his hardened expression. There was a sudden shift in the air but it was too late, and the emotion disappeared before I could identify it.
Declan stood up and ran a hand through his perfect hair, messing it up for once in his life. “It’s been a long day. We can talk about this tomorrow.”
“It’s only seven.” Luca got to his feet.
I stood beside my date—the man who was stable, the man who wanted me. “Declan’s right. I should get some rest. I feel like shit.”
His arm snaked around my waist
