Our first date with dinner and a movie.
Our endless pillow talk and his dedication to getting to know everything about me.
All his sweet texts and messages the weekend I got sick.
The way he danced with me at The Steamroom.
How he didn’t finish his set the night of the charity gala and how he got us a room just so we could sleep together.
His patience with me and no sexual pressure.
Our fight and finding Sami at his house.
His recent persistence to talk to me and forgive him.
The quotes, the songs, the poems.
The call this afternoon confirming I’ll meet him next week to talk.
I finish and there is shock on all their faces. I don’t expect Abbi and Ella to say anything because I broke down a serious soft side about their brother, but Abbi surprises me. “Rave, he’s crazy about you. I know he hurt you, but he hasn’t shown this level of emotion since our mom died. I know you only dated a few weeks, but he’s been watching you since you moved in months ago. He crushed on you for weeks before he came over for dinner.
“Now that I know all this, I see the signs. He would message us or call to see what we had going on at the house. He would ask if we wanted to all get together for drinks. He asked if you were dating. You had just moved in and I was determined to keep you apart, but now I know he had his sights on you before you even knew it.”
“That’s all sweet and sappy, but let’s gets back to the dance floor. He got you off in front of a whole room of people and you still haven’t slept with him?”
I swat at Charlie. I told her the whole story and all she focuses on is the raunchy and risqué parts.
“I’m just thinking for that alone you should forgive him.” No one else says anything.
“I know I need to talk to him and find out what happened. I miss him.”
Harper is always the voice of reason. “Well, it’s settled. You’ll meet him next week and talk it out. Then you can forgive him and go back to the incredible, steamy foreplay. And then you can text us the details so we know what we’re missing.”
The whole room bursts into laughter. Ella looks disgusted, “No offence, Rave, but I’m not the least bit interested in your foreplay.”
“Wasn’t planning on sharing any more details; this was a one-time thing.”
Someone’s phone dings with a text message. Abbi reaches for her phone and opens it. Van Morrison’s “Someone Like You” comes from her speaker. “Um, Raven there’s a message for you to walk outside.”
The music continues playing through her phone as I walk onto the front porch. I gasp in shock. Our front yard is filled with hundreds of lit sparklers lighting up one by one. When the last one is lit, the message spells Forgive Me Please.
I break into tears. I look around, but don’t see Declan anywhere. “Abbi, is he still here?”
“I don’t know.”
A shadow comes around the side of the house. “I’m still here.”
I jump down off the porch and run straight to him. He bends down to pick me up and my legs wrap around him.
“You came back?”
“I never left. I’ve been busy here for the last few hours.”
A few tears continue to fall down my cheeks. He reaches to swipe them away. “I know we need to talk and I need to give you a full explanation. But for now, can I kiss you and show you just how much you mean to me?”
I whisper softly, “Yes.”
He leans into me and places his lips against mine with hesitance. I tighten my arms around his neck and pull him in harder. He’s trying to go slow and sweet, but I need something deeper. I suck on his lips and then plunge my tongue back in his mouth with passion. I want him to know I’ve missed him too without words. Our mouths are fused together and neither of us wants to stop, but I need to breathe. As I slow the kiss, I remember we’re not alone.