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“Maybe not yet, but I bet if you weren’t so closed off from everyone you’d see that you could be.”
“On that note, I better get these things home and feed Leo.”
“Ah, avoidance. Classic Gallagher move.” She lightened the rebuke by patting his cheek. “Don’t stay away too long, you hear? Like you said, he doesn’t have much time.”
His mother dropped her hand and went around to take her cart handle with a smile. “I’m making Christmas Eve dinner if you and Holly would like to join us.”
Declan returned her smile. “Shepherd’s pie?”
“It wouldn’t be Christmas Eve without it.”
“I’ll see if I can make it.”
“You do that. In the meantime, think about what I’ve said.”
“I will. Thanks, Mom.”
“I love you, Declan.” She didn’t wait for him to say it back, but turned her cart down the first aisle and disappeared out of sight.
I love you, too.
Declan made it up front and through the checkout without losing it, fighting back the sting in his eyes. The sun setting had cast a warm glow over the quiet Sunday afternoon as he pulled out of the parking lot and headed left towards Holly’s. He expected she’d probably beat him there, and when he pulled into the driveway the garage door was up, revealing her car inside. Declan pulled in beside hers and after gathering up the bags of groceries from his back seat, he pressed the button to close the garage door as he went through the utility door and into the house.
“Hello,” he called.
“Hi!” Her voice echoed from across the house. “I’d get up to help you carry stuff, but I’m being pinned down by an adorable dude with whiskers.”
“It’s not Santa, is it? ’Cause I don’t really need those nightmares,” he said, grinning when he heard her burst of laughter. When he rounded the corner into the kitchen, he didn’t see her, and set the groceries down on the counter to head down the hallway. She was stretched out across the love seat in the living room, with Leo perched on her chest making biscuits.
“I see how it is. I’m gone for a few hours and you replace me with her?” Declan said. Leo gave him heavy-lidded eyes before turning back to Holly, bumping her chin with his head.
“Why do you say her like that, as if you can’t believe it? I’m awesome!”
“But that’s my cat. I saved him from certain death, and even though I’m standing here he isn’t leaping into my arms to pay me the proper respect.”
Holly clucked her tongue, rubbing Leo’s ears. “Do you hear all that belly-aching? So dramatic!”
“I’ll show you dramatic,” Declan growled playfully, picking Leo up and tossing him over his shoulder.
“Hey! Thief! I was getting kitty love!” She jumped up from the love seat, chasing him down the hallway as he carried Leo into the dining room.
“Not anymore. This is my cat and there will be no trying to steal him away from me.”
Suddenly, something hard and sharp hit his butt with a burning whack. He turned around, staring down at her hunched, laughing form. “Did you just smack my ass?”
“Absolutely, and I’ll do it again if you don’t give up the kitty.” She held up her hand, eyes narrowed, and Declan snorted.
“I thought we agreed no benefits?” he asked, slowly bending down to drop Leo on the floor.
“I wouldn’t consider that a benefit.”
“Not into spanking, huh? That’s okay…turnabout is fair play.”
Holly’s eyes widened and her hands went behind her, as if covering her posterior would save her if he really wanted to smack her butt.
“Not now, but soon. You’ll be distracted and I’ll come in like a ninja and get my revenge.” Declan walked away from her and washed his hands. “Right now, I have a meal to prepare.”
“Then why did you take Leo?”
