Surrendering (Surrender 1)

“You really think so? We’ve been talking a lot lately and he doesn’t seem the playboy I thought he was.”

“It only takes one girl, sis. Look at Declan with Raven. He did a complete one-eighty when he met her and I’m pretty sure she’ll be our sister one day.” Ella adds.

“That’s true. I guess I’m going to see if Jimi’s ready to step up, or if he still wants to keep playing games.”

I totally ignore the ‘sister’ comment from Ella. “Abbi, you’re gorgeous, smart, fun, and an incredible friend. Jimi has taken notice and I think the games end tonight.”

We raise our glasses in cheers as Will enters.

“Well, hello ladies, aren’t you all visions of beauty? I’m one lucky bastard.” He looks at us all but winks toward Ella.

Ella turns pink at his compliment. Yep, I need to conduct some matchmaking among my friends tonight. Jimi and Will need a little push in the right direction.

I offer Will a Cosmo, but he declines since he’s working, which is great because he can be our designated driver.

All our phones ding at once with text notifications.

Declan: I’m sending this message to all of you- someone call me back ASAP!!!!

Abbi decides to call him back and she puts him on speaker when he answers.

“Where are you?” He ba

rks into the phone.

“What the hell, Dec? We’re at the house having a martini. By the way, you’re on speakerphone.”

“Thank fuck I caught you. We have a huge problem. Blake’s a fucking moron and messed up his guitar. It’s a long story, but I need one of y’all to go into my house and get my extra one. Abbi, you know which one it is in my office. I can’t leave and you three have a key to my place. Then I need you to get here soon because he still needs to warm up.”

“K, we’ll finish here and be there soon.”

“Throw ‘em back and get moving. I’ll buy you a fucking round once you get here.” He hangs up.

“Okay, ladies, you heard the man; suck ‘em down and let’s go.”

We grab our bags, set the alarm, and head out. I purposely put Ella in the front seat and tell her to give the directions to Declan’s house to Will. When we pull up, Abbi jumps out to get the guitar and I make an excuse about having to go to the bathroom. I want to leave them alone for a few minutes.

When we get to the front door, Abbi fumbles with the door for several minutes. I step in and take her keys. “Jesus, Abbi, did one Cosmo get you drunk?”

I turn the lock and push the door open a little too forcefully because it slams back into the wall. Abbi starts giggling behind me, “Let’s not tell Declan I put a dent in his wall.”

“Okay, RJ, but I have a feeling he’ll figure it out.” When I find the light switch and flip it up, the whole room erupts.

“SURPRISE!”

I’m in complete shock. A few flashes go off around me. The room is filled with all my friends. I hold onto the doorframe to steady myself. Kendall, Charlie, and Harper get to me first, engulfing me in a group hug. I’m quickly led into the room where I’m greeted with a bear hug from Robbie and kisses on the cheek from all the other guys. I finally find my voice when I see Declan across the room. He’s leaning against the wall with his arms folded across his chest and smiling at me.

“What’s going on? How?”

He grabs me by my waist and pulls me to him tightly. “Surprise, Sparkle.”

“You did this for me? How did you do it?”

“With a lot of help and weeks of planning.”

I look around and see Abbi, Ella, and Will laughing at me from the doorway.

“Y’all knew? How did I let this slide by?”