Page 220 of While You Were Trending

“That’s exactly when I should give up my dreams.”

“Declan.”

“You’re number one, Ginny. Nothing else matters. Just you. And I’ll repeat it as much as I need to until you believe me.”

“Stop making me cry more.”

I pull her close again.

Her fucking mother.

Ihateher fucking mother.

And I’m taking an inordinate amount of delight in knowing that the best revenge against a narcissistic rock of a human being is to ignore them.

She’ll spend the rest of her life thinking about us, and we’ll work through today and find closure and never think about her again.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” Ginny whispers against my chest.

“Nowhere else even exists.”

Flow barks once, clearly agreeing with me.

Ginny takes a shuddery breath, then asks the question that I know has also been on her mind. “Does Alex know?”

“Yes.” Or so his text messages say.

“And you—you’re—you’re okay?”

“I’ll call him later. But if he can’t accept you, if he can’t accept you and me—then I don’t care how long we’ve been friends. We’ll be done.”

“Declan.”

“Friends forgive, Ginny. Friends understand.I love you. You. The amazing woman that you are. That you’ve always been. You’re where I’m happy. You’re where I belong. You’re where I want to spend my life.”

“It’s so hard to want to be everything you deserve when I know the only thing you want is for me to be me.” She scoots against me, then lifts her head to meet my gaze, lifting a hand to brush my hair off my forehead. “All I want is you to be everything you are too. You’remynumber one.”

“I’d get it if I came after Mabel.”

“Declan Eugene Motherfucking Fox.”

I crack up.

Can’t help it.

“Eugene isn’t actually my middle name.”

“It is now.”

I snicker again, then pull her close and kiss her.

Her cheeks are wet. Her lips are dry. She tastes like coffee.

And mine.

She tastes likemine.

“Are you trying to kiss your way to my good side?” she murmurs against my mouth.