Page 35 of Wicked Devotions
Declan rounds the stairs with a worried look on his face. “We can’t find Harp?—”
Emerson runs into his back as he stops immediately.
“Thank fuck.” Declan’s body relaxes. “We were worried when we came upstairs and saw your door wide open.”
“Sorry.” Guilt surges through me as I see the worry in their faces. “I heard a noise up here and came to check it out.”
“You could try knocking next time.” Cy says as he turns back to his canvas. “You scared the fuck out of her.”
“I should get back to my work.” I slip past them and start down the stairs. “Good night.”
After another restlessnight I know the first place I need to go is the coffee shop on campus. Someone bumps into me as I’m standing in line and studying the menu trying to figure out what is going to pack the biggest punch. I move to the left but don’t say anything or take my headphones off.
“Earth to Harper!” I look over and see Saylor with a big smile on her face.
“Sorry.” I pull the headphones off and drop them into my bag. “I was zoning out while I decide on what to get.”
“I could tell,” she says with a laugh. “Long night? I hope the boys are being respectful.”
“They are. It’s all my own stuff.”
She gives me a sympathetic look as we move forward in the line. “I know we just met, but if you ever need to talk to someone, I’m here. I’m not going to judge you or anything.”
“Thank you. That means a lot.”
I order my iced coffee offering silent thanks for the student charge option at Trinity. We chat for a few more minutes taking advantage of Declan standing in the corner talking to a few guys from the soccer team. I feel his eyes linger on me as I listen to Saylor explain how she and Lou met at this coffee shop last year. We say our goodbyes and make loose plans to have a girls’ night soon.
Declan laughs at something one of his teammates says as I turn and walk over to him. He introduces me to the guys before they leave. I memorize their names like I was taught to, it’s automatic atthis point. Dad always said it was the easiest way to show respect to people of importance.
I shake thoughts of him free from my mind. I wish there was a magic pill I could take to erase him from my memories. Before I got in line, I told Declan I wanted to run something by him, and now that it’s just us, I’m starting to get nervous.
“What did you want to talk about?” he asks.
Of course he remembers. Now or never, I guess.
“I reached out to Amanda at the stables about getting a part-time job. She said they were looking to hire another hand, and because I have years of experience with horses, she offered me the position.”
“No.”
“What do you mean no?” I cross my arms and dig my feet in. “I didn’t realize you were in charge of my life choices.”
“You don’t need to work. Dad can give you whatever you need.”
“I know, and I appreciate it so much, but I’d really like to be able to start saving up for when I’m on my own.”
“Money won’t ever be a problem for you. You should focus on classes.”
“Cillian shouldn’t be responsible for funding my life when he just entered it ten minutes ago.”
“He doesn’t mind. We have more money than we could spend in ten lifetimes.”
“Good for you.” I roll my eyes.
“Why are you being so stubborn about this?” He glowers down at me, his green eyes dark and stormy.
Is he serious? Can he not see why I’d want to carve some independence out here?
“Because I don’t ever want to be reliant on a man again. I don’t want to give someone a chance to hang anything over my head to force me to do what they want. I don’t want to answer to anyone but myself.”