Page 10 of Temporarily in Love

Declan told me I had to.

What the heck? What did that even mean?

Before I could ask, I saw something move out of the corner of my eye. I looked up and saw the man in question walking toward us with a baby in his arms. Did Declan have a kid?

My ovaries melted at the sight of him holding the baby to his chest as he tried to get her to stop fussing. There was a time I imagined a future with Declan where we’d have the big wedding and settle down with kids of our own. Maybe it was because my body wanted a baby, but seeing him holding one did something primal to me.

Gemma’s eyes lit up when she saw Declan and the baby. “Aw, gimme her!”

Declan handed over the baby. “She’s being cranky right now.”

“Just like her dad!” Gemma said as she bounced the baby in her arms. “Huh, Peanut? You know you missed Auntie Gemma.”

I realized the baby was Nolan’s baby, not Declan’s. A part of me breathed a sigh of relief. But that was unfair. I broke up with Declan years ago.

“Hey, Mrs. Sullivan. Did Gemma help you out?” Declan asked my mom, pointedly ignoring me.

“Yes, thanks so much. You looked good with that baby in your arms. When are you gonna have one of your own?” Mom asked.

“Mom,” I hissed.

Declan laughed. “Not anytime soon.”

Why did I perk up at that? I shouldn’t care. But I did. I cared so much.

I met Declan’s eyes, but it was like he looked through me. He had a pair of plastic frames on his face and was freshly clean-shaven, just the way I liked. He wore a neatly pressed polo shirt and jeans that looked brand new. He was so neat and put together. My type of man had clearly never changed.

“Hey, Lila,” he said to me with an edge of strained politeness.

“Hi, Declan. Long time no see.”

His jaw ticked in annoyance. “Yeah, well, that was your choice.” He turned to Gemma. “Can you watch her for a bit? Nolan wasn’t supposed to come in until later, but they had an issue with one of the tanks, and he needed to sort it out. I got shit to do.”

Gemma nodded. “Of course. She’s my niece too.”

He spun on his heel and walked off into the back.

I cringed.

“Oh, woof. He’s usually not like that,” Gemma said.

I looked down at my lap. “It’s okay. I deserve it.”

Mom gave my arm a little squeeze. “Come on girlie, let’s go talk to your dad about all this. Thanks so much, Gemma.”

“No problem,” Gemma said as we walked off.

I wasn’t thinking about the suggestions Gemma gave us. Instead, my mind was on the venom in Declan’s voice. He had every right to hate me after I broke up with him. It had been the right decision, but I wished I hadn’t hurt him so badly. Instead of taking the coward’s way out, I should have been honest with him. Losing my best friend had been the hardest thing I ever went through. I couldn’t imagine what it had been like for him, so I deserved every ounce of his hatred.

I walked out of the brewery with my mom and mulled it all over. Before we went back to the bar, she put a hand on the door to stop me. “Lila, tell me the truth.”

“About what?”

She pinned me with that ‘mom look.’ The kind she gave you when she knew you were lying. “Do you still have feelings for Declan?”

I grimaced.

“Lila Catherine!”