by CJ Azevedo
Ava- Good Morning Dec! Sleep well?
Declan- Yup. Could have been better if a certain someone would stop being so damn stubborn
Ava- Don’t start.
Declan- Haha. Ok. I have a fight in NY this Friday. Wanna go?
I still see him a couple times a week down at Max’s and he’s been trying to get me to go to a fight. I refuse. I have no desire to see him intentionally hurt himself. Now New York? I would absolutely love to go, but of course I can’t. No way, no how.
Ava- Yeah, I have absolutely nothing going on.
Declan- All right smartass. I fly out tomorrow so I’ll come to Max’s tonight.
Ava- See you then, have a good day.
Declan- You too Sunshine.
Declan is quickly becoming a very important person in my life. It’s hard to deny it when I wake up looking forward to his morning texts and can’t wait to crawl into bed at night for our evening chats. There’s still so much that I keep from him and it’s not fair to him; this I know. But when I talk to him and when he and his friends come into the bar, I feel like a 22 year old should feel. I feel young and carefree and I actually feel like a fun person. When Declan isn’t around, I feel like a 40 year old who can barely keep her head above water trying to keep food on the table and money in the bank. I’m afraid if I tell him everything that my life actually entails, he’ll run very far away and I won’t have my friend anymore.
I’ve never had an issue juggling friends and a social life. Before my future and fate were decided for me, I just had Jax. Now, aside from Max’s family, I have Jax and Declan’s daily phone calls and texts to keep up with on top of my busy schedule. For the most part, it’s not a big deal. My nighttime phone calls from Jax have drastically diminished since Declan has unofficially claimed that time as his own. Surprisingly enough, Jax hasn’t complained; it hasn’t even been a discussion.
I wasn’t planning on Declan coming into the bar tonight and normally that wouldn’t be a problem, but tonight it really is. Another thing that I’ve kept from him is that today is my birthday. I don’t like to celebrate my birthday. It’s just another reminder that one more year has passed and I’m still struggling to live my day to day. Max’s family has learned to tone down the celebration per my wishes, but they still do the gift thing and dinner if we can make it work. I don’t want Declan to find out about it and go crazy with some grand Declan gesture.
Jackson, my ex-boyfriend turned best friend, is the only person that completely refuses to follow my anti-birthday rule. He goes all out every year. Luckily, this year he’s unable to come back home for any type of celebrating he would normally do, so I shouldn’t have any problem keeping my birthday a secret from Declan.
* * * * * *
After a full day of classes, I am back at the bar and two hours into my shift. Max, Marsha, Dustin, and Marla (my roommate and Max’s daughter) left a small pile of presents for me on the break room table. Nobody said anything to me all day but I’m not at all surprised by their thoughtful gifts. Marla got me a pair of True Religion jeans and a new top. Dustin got me a bottle of Juicy Couture perfume and Max and Marsha bought me a beautiful Michael Kors rose gold watch with Swarovski crystals. The gifts are too much, but I’ve learned over the last couple years that their gifts are non-negotiable—they love me and want to spoil me and no amount of complaining changes their ways. I slip on my new watch and spritz myself with the perfume Dustin gave me then start my shift.
Luca, Greyden, Keegan and Declan stroll into the bar and my night starts to feel even lighter. That is until I see the girls walk in behind them—the same girls from the first night I met them, including the girl that was (and is) all over Declan. I believe her name is Rachel.
Instead of grabbing a table, they all come up to the bar and sit down on the stools. The small girl that was with Greyden last time wraps her arms around him from behind and he pretty much ignores her. Declan shakes off Barbie and chooses the stool at the end of the bar—directly across from me. He reaches over and taps my nose with his index finger.
“Hey, Sunshine,” he says as he adjusts his stool closer to the bar. He’s wearing a grey hat, lip and eyebrow rings in place. He has a black t-shirt with some brand name and tribal art across the chest. His dark jeans are topped with a belt that has his signature chunky silver buckle resting below the hem of his shirt. He’s just freakin’ hot.
“Hey, how was your day?” I ask with a big smile as I look to Rachel, who is standing behind Declan just to the right. If she leans in about three inches, she could easily rub the tip of her too pointy nose just beneath his right earlobe. I’m irritated and she looks like she wants to kill me.
“Not too bad. I took Macie to lunch and she said to tell you ‘hi.’”
Rachel reaches up with her left hand to caress the hair on the back of his neck. I have no claim to him but I still want to break her fingers. Declan startles a bit and turns quickly to see who’s touching him. I’m finding it difficult to hide my malicious laugh, but somehow I manage. It’s obvious that he doesn’t want her doing that any more than I do.
“What do you want to drink tonight, Dec?” I ask as he deftly removes her hand from his neck.
“Declan and I will have two Sierra Nevada’s,” Rachel states boldly, still standing behind Dec.
“I believe I asked Declan, and he’s perfectly capable of answering for himself, don’t you think?” Oh, I’m so pissed.
Declan starts to say something, but Rachel isn’t smart enough to shut up.
“Well, I’m the one that answered you,” she says in the snottiest tone I think I’ve ever heard, “so, if you don’t mind, we’ll take our beers now.” Her face is turning red and I’m pretty sure she just stomped her hooker heel on the ground.
I notice the other guys laughing under their breath and Rachel’s friend is looking a little worried. So I open my mouth. “Maybe it’d be a good idea for you to shut your slut hole and do what you do best…stand there and try to look pretty while you hope Declan notices you.” I never ever should have said that, but as soon as my lips parted, I just couldn’t hold it in. My hands tightly grip the edge of the bar while I stare her down. I have no idea what Declan is doing or thinking and I don’t even care. I can’t bear to look at him. I can’t look away from her. I hate the idea of this girl even being in the same room as him and there’s nothing I can do about it. I guess starting a stupid fight over a technicality is the only option I have and apparently I’m taking it.
“You know what?” Rachel yells as she takes one step closer to the end of the bar to get closer to me.
I’m ready for her. I’ve never been in a physical altercation and right now, my 23rd birthday, seems like as good a time as any. I quickly run through fights I’ve seen in the movies but it all seems too dramatic. I brace myself, preparing for a fist to come at me and pray that when my arm swings back it actually makes contact. But before she gets any other words out or steps any closer, Declan pushes away from under the bar and turns toward Rachel.
“Oooookay, c’mon, Rachel,” he says calmly as he ushers her out of the bar. I notice that his hands are gripping her waist in his effort to get her outside and away from me; that probably would have bothered me five minutes ago. Right now my blood is pumping furiously and I’m too busy trying to relax my nerves to give much thought to it or to the fact that he took her out instead of staying in with me.
She’s still cussing me out when they reach the door, but I’m too wound up to know what she’s saying. Her friend kisses Greyden on the cheek and chases after her.
“Ugh! What is with you guys dating these little hookers? They’re stupid! Completely unintelligent and rude!” I go off on a little rant of my own, furiously wiping down the bar. All three of the guys left laugh hard at me and I can’t seem to care.
Declan comes back in with a little smirk on his face and without the two girls, walking right around the back of the bar and hugging me. “Are you all right, Sunshine?” The amused tone he
says it in clearly means he enjoyed the little show.
“Yes,” I mumble, giving him a quick squeeze.
He pulls back a bit and lifts my chin up with two of his fingers so he can see my eyes. He cocks his head to the side and smiles broadly. “Want to tell me what that was about?”
No, I don’t want to tell him what that was about! I don’t want to tell him that he has done exactly what he said he would do—he got to me. Now I can’t handle the sight of anyone other than me touching him or staking some kind of claim in any way. Clearly, I can’t totally lie about my feelings, since I made no effort of hiding them when I was ready to go to blows with Rachel over ordering his beer for him!
But I can try.
“No” I say, quietly meeting his gaze with contempt of my own.
“A-va,” he croons endearingly, a knowing smile gracing his too perfect lips.
I know I have to tell him something; I feel my shoulders drop and sigh loudly. “I didn’t like it, Dec,” I whispered in hopes that his friends, who are watching us closely, won’t hear me.
Declan smirks his stupid sexy smirk and nods once. “All right.” He kisses me on the top of my head before sitting back down. “Can I get that Sierra Nevada now?” He’s all smiles and irritates me all over again.
“No. Pick something else.”
They all laugh loudly and start to revisit the verbal argument while Dec keeps his gaze on me. He chuckles along with them and I just roll my eyes while secretly being thankful that he came back to me instead of leaving with Rachel.
“Just do four Coronas then,” Declan says as Greyden and Luca act out the stupid fight. I can’t help but laugh.
After about another hour, Dustin and Max come in unexpectedly. They talk to the guys and a few other people sitting around at the tables, neither one of them are doing anything productive, which confuses me because that’s not normal. As I’m pondering their reason for being here, Declan’s phone rings and he smiles as he shoves it at me and tells me it’s his cousin and needs me to answer it. Completely confused, I answer it.
“Hello?”
Declan is looking at me intently with another huge smile on his face. I have no idea what he’s up to and suddenly I feel slightly panicked at what will be coming to me from the other end of this conversation.
“Um, hello. Who is this? I’m looking for Declan,” a seductive, manly voice replies on the other end.
“This is Ava. Just a second, Declan’s right—”
“Ava?! Ava Ava? Huh, you are real. This is Declan’s cousin, Talon. How are you, sweetheart?”
“What? Um, I’m good, thanks. You?” I ask out of formality, but I have no idea what’s going on right now. I look to Declan for an explanation but he’s just looking smug.
“The way Declan speaks of you, I thought for sure you were a figment of his imagination,” Talon explains teasingly.
“Nope, completely real as far as I’m aware.” I try my best to glare at Declan, who winks as he drinks his beer, though I’m dancing and panicking on the inside—he’s been talking about me.
Talon chuckles on the end and doesn’t seem to be in a rush to get off the phone. “So I hear you’re working on getting a PhD in psychology and you’re just about finished with grad school? That’s impressive, Ava.”
“Thank you. I still have a ways to go but I got a head start on my college courses while I was still in high school so I was able to obtain my BA fairly young.”
“You should be very proud, Ava. I hope you stick around Declan so you can sort out the way his head works once you’re licensed. I swear there’s something wrong upstairs when that boy willingly gets the crap beat out of him.”
Oh, this is too good. I don’t know what Dec was trying to accomplish by putting me on the phone, but having someone in my corner (pun intended) is too good to pass up. I look to Declan again and he must see something in my eyes, because he gives me a questioning nod.
“Ahh, so there is someone other than myself that thinks he’s completely and certifiably insane for his career choice. I mean, who gets a degree in Finance and chooses to get his lights knocked out instead of having a nice, respectable career?”
Declan stands and reaches for his phone but I step back out of his reach as if he knows exactly what his cousin is saying. His brows are drawn together and his eyes are narrowed at me—he’s annoyed. Seems like his plan may have backfired.
Talon laughs lightheartedly. “I like you very much, Ava. I hope to get to meet you soon. You aren’t able to come with him to New York tomorrow?”
Wow. Declan must speak of me often to his cousin. I’m not entirely sure how I feel about that. Actually, I know exactly how I feel about it; I’m just not willing to accept it yet.
“No, unfortunately I can’t. I hope to meet you soon too, Talon, it was nice speaking with you.”
“You too, Ava, take care.”
I hand Declan back his phone and he steps into the hall to talk to Talon. I take care of a couple patrons and am cleaning up the bar when Max walks up and tells me to go get my things and go home.
“I’m not going home, Max. Why are you here anyway? It’s only 7:30.”
“Because it’s your birthday and I’m not going to let you work all night. Now stop arguing and go home.”
I can’t believe he just announced that it’s my birthday.
“It’s your birthday???” Greyden asks loudly.
“Max.” I sigh his name because that’s all I can do about it. I see Declan turn and look at me with questioning eyes. I smile but he just shakes his head.
“Ava Sterling, get your fine ass over here.”
Jackson. Oh shit, Jackson’s here. Before I spin around to find him, I look one more time to Declan, who’s looking at Jackson with his eyebrows slightly raised in curiosity as he continues to listen to Talon on his phone. I haven’t explained Jax to Declan yet. This is not good. I might possibly have gotten away with keeping my relationship with Jax a secret from Declan until this very moment if I hadn’t made such a spectacle about Rachel. I just screwed myself.
I turn towards the door and Jackson is right in front of me, picking me up and twirling me around. As soon as he puts me down, his lips are on mine. This is a normal greeting from him. I don’t see him often, but he acts as though we’re a couple when we’re in the same town. I’ve never had any other guy around that I had to worry about this situation, so I’ve always just gone along with it. But now I’m extremely uncomfortable. I feel a ton of eyes on me, eight of which belong to Greyden, Luca, Keegan, and worst of all, Declan.
“Happy Birthday, baby!” Jackson says as he pulls back but keeps me wrapped in his arms.
“Jackson, what are you doing here? I thought you couldn’t get out of work!” I ask quietly, feeling very uneasy. Jackson’s face makes me feel horrible for my reaction. He drove seven plus hours to surprise me and I ask what he’s doing here? Ugh, I’m a horrible person. I stand up on my tiptoes and give him a sweet kiss to try and relieve some of the guilt I just acquired. “I’m sorry Jax; I’m so happy you’re here. Thank you! You just surprised me is all…”
“That was the point, babe! Hurry up and get your things, I’m late and we have a reservation to get to.”
“Ok. I have some clothes Marla gave me so I can just change here real quick.”
I’m sure Jackson’s picked up on the fact that I’m acting really out of character. He leans in to whisper in my ear, “Is he here?”
I let tension drop from my shoulders and let out a relieved breath. I just nod my head.
He squeezes me tightly before whispering, “So will he beat the shit out of me if I grab your ass?”
Chapter 7
Declan
I watch numbly as some guy claims Ava. There isn’t much I can do about it. I rushed Talon off the phone just in time to see her reach up to kiss him. I have no idea who he is, and she’s so never as much as mentioned a close friend that she would be kissing right now. I was already pissed that I didn�
��t know today’s her birthday and then to have this prick come in and sweep her off her damn feet… let’s just say I’m using every technique I’ve ever learned to calm the hell down.
“Who the f—” I stop myself and take another breath before rephrasing and continuing. “Who is that?” I’m gritting my teeth, seething and speaking to no one in particular.
Dustin is standing close enough to hear me so he speaks up. “That’s Jackson,” he says as if I should know the name.
Considering I talk to Ava several times a day every single day of the week, it looks like I probably should know who this dude is. Just like I should have known it was her birthday.
“Who the fuck is Jackson?” Greyden asks for me, since I’m obviously still trying to work out the scene in front of me.
Jackson whispers in her ear and she silently nods. He shares a big smile with her before leaning in and whispering again, this time looking right at me. He might just be looking at our group in general and not singling out me, but he is definitely checking all of us out. Before he can pull back from Ava, she laughs and pushes him back.
“Ava hasn’t explained Jax to you, Declan?” Dustin asks incredulously.
“Nope.” He isn’t making her case any better. I can’t take my eyes off of them.
“You should probably wait for her to explain. I won’t do it any justice.”
Just then, the happy couple starts toward us. I’ve finally calmed myself down, for the time being, at least. If she brings him over here and continues kissing him, it’s going to take a whole hell of a lot more than my breathing techniques to keep me off the fucker. As for right now, if she wants to keep me as insignificant enough to not explain someone to me that is apparently very close to her, then I won’t give her the satisfaction of getting all worked up over it. I’ll keep my face blank. I quickly signal to Max for another beer to assist with that particular expression.