Forever After Read online

  “Oh?”

  “Yeah. She’s been trying to get pregnant or have me disinherited so when Granddad and Pops die she gets the money.”

  “I see.”

  “Yeah, so I don’t give a shit what she says. I love you, Sarah.”

  “What about the fact we’ve only known each other a few months?” The whirlwind romance bugged me a little. I wasn’t a spur-of-the- moment person. I weighed the consequences. Since meeting Declan, though, I had been throwing caution to the wind and saying fuck the consequences.

  “Pops married Mom after they had been together for two months. He married the wicked witch after six weeks. Nobody in the family can say anything negative about it.”

  “Wow, he doesn’t waste time, does he?”

  “He always says you know when you know.”

  “And you’re sure you know?”

  “I’m one hundred percent positive.” He grabbed my hand and pressed his lips to the top of it.

  “Now what do we do?”

  “First, we move you out of that tiny-ass apartment.”

  “What’s wrong with my home?” I frowned at him.

  “It’s a hole.”

  “I like my hole.” I pouted.

  “You don’t want to live with me?”

  “Only if Bob can come.”

  “Where else would he go?”

  “Do you want to keep anything here?” Declan grimaced at my old floral couch.

  “What’s wrong with my stuff?”

  “It looks like my grandma’s living room.” He laughed.

  “Well, it was my grandmother’s living room set.”

  He arched his eyebrows at me and pursed his lips. I looked around the cramped room and realized I didn’t want any of it. It was a time for change. I needed to put my past behind me, grandma’s furniture included, especially since it was my post breakup furniture.

  “Do you want to keep it?” Declan asked, almost grimacing.

  I chuckled and shook my head.

  “Thank God. No offense to Grandma, but the furniture is very 1970’s.”

  “Yeah, yeah. I guess this is all I’m taking.” I put the last box by the door. “Are we moving too fast?”

  “Our entire relationship has been fast,” he said with a chuckle. “Why not jump in head first.”

  “My lease isn’t up here for another two months.”

  “We’ll pay to break it. Maybe they’ll let you go since you’re leaving the furniture.”

  “Perhaps.” I sat on the couch.

  “What’s wrong?” He sat next to me.

  “I’m just saying good-bye. Bob and I spent many a night sitting here watching movies and eating ice cream.”

  “You and Bob can still sit on a couch eating ice cream. It’ll be a nicer couch with a bigger T.V. and I hope you’ll make room for me.”

  I picked Bob up and sat back on the couch. “What do you think, Bob? Can we make room for Declan in our ice-cream-eating nights?”

  The fat cat purred in response.

  “Bob says yes.”

  “Good.” Declan leaned over and put his remarkable lips on mine. “I’ll have movers come over for your stuff.”

  I nodded while trying to shove Bob back into his carrier. He meowed his unhappiness and bit my thumb in the process.

  “Bob. Go in the carrier.”

  “Why not just carry him?” Declan took the cat from me.

  “I guess I can,” I replied, taking him back.

  I cradled the cat in my arms as we left the apartment for the last time. I knocked on the landlord’s door and handed him the keys.

  “What’s this?” he asked, snatching them out of my hands.

  “My keys. I’m moving out!”

  “Your lease ain’t up,” he snapped, spittle landing on my forehead and nose.

  “I know. I’m still moving out.”

  “There’s a fee for breaking lease.”

  “That’s fine, sir, I’m willing to pay.” Declan stepped up beside me.

  “And who are you?”

  “Declan Press. I’m Miss Evers fiancé.” He extended his hand.

  The fat, smelly man sniffed and wiped his sweaty hand across his shirt before shaking Declan’s.

  Ew.

  “It’s two hundred for each month the lease is broken plus rent.”

  “What? You want sixteen hundred dollars to cut the lease by to months?” I asked, shocked.

  “That’s my price,” the landlord snapped yet again. He was such an asshole.

  “That is completely unreasonable! It took me forever just to get you to fix anything when it would break. Why should I pay you double what I was paying in rent to break lease two…”

  Declan cut me off before I could finish. “That is very unreasonable. I’ll have my lawyers go over the lease then come out to inspect the apartment and facilities. We’ll see how much it’s worth.”

  “If I ain’t afraid of your lawyer girlfriend, why would I be afraid of your lawyers?” The landlord sneered.

  “She’s still new to being a lawyer. Mine have been at it for decades. I promise you they will make your life hell and probably find something here to make you pay everyone here restitution for having such a shitty apartment.”

  The man leaned against the doorjamb for a few long moments. He scratched his belly and sniffed a couple of times before finally answering.

  “All right.” He grabbed the keys and went back into his apartment, slamming the door in our faces.

  “He’s a pleasant man,” Declan muttered, shaking his head.

  “He’s great,” I grumbled back.

  “All right, let’s go home! I have a surprise for you.”

  Chapter 17

  “Okay, so the surprise is more for Bob,” Declan said as I took a seat on the oversized sofa in the family room. Bob sat next to me twitching his tail erratically. It would take him a bit of time to get used to our new home.

  “A surprise for Bob?” I arched my eyebrows at the man, trying to think of what kind of a surprise you would get for a cat.

  “Yes, Bob.” He grabbed a fairly large box from behind the sofa.

  “What could you have gotten for a cat?”

  “You’ll see.” He turned to the cat and called to him, “Come here, Bob.”

  I watched as my fluffy cat jumped off the couch and sauntered over to Declan. He sniffed at the box and plopped his butt down in front of it. Declan opened the top and the box moved. Bob jumped up and eyed it curiously. He tentatively padded to it, sniffing, and trying to figure out what was so different about it. Declan laughed and reached inside. He produced a cute, fluffy kitten.

  “Bob, meet your new brother.”

  “You got a kitten?” My eyes widened in surprise and awe while staring at the adorable kitten.

  Bob sat in front of the tiny fluff ball, seeming confused as to what he was supposed to do with it. He looked at me, back at the kitten, at Declan, then back at the kitten.

  “What’s his name?”

  “He doesn’t have one yet,” Declan replied.

  “Joe.”

  “Joe?”

  “Yes,” I stated.

  “What is with you and old man names for your cats?”

  “I like them, and he looks like a Joe.”

  Bob reached out his paw and smacked the baby in the head. It teetered and fell over, mewing as it went. Bob leaned over and sniffed at the stranger. He reached out and bopped the little guy on the head again.

  “Bob! Be nice!”

  The kitten got up to its feet and arched his back. He ran sideways at the larger cat, smacking his tail. Bob twitched his tail and wrapped it around his body glaring at t
he kitten.

  “Do you think they like each other?” Declan sat back, watching the two cats bop each other.

  “I have no idea. Maybe. They seem to have the same personality.”

  We continued watching the two for a bit as they play fought and rolled around on the floor. The kitten yawned and Bob just curled up around him. Soon the cats were sound asleep together.

  I guess they do like each other.

  My phone suddenly began to ring. I grabbed it and saw Liza’s face on the screen.

  “Hello?”

  “You left and didn’t say good-bye?” the woman shrieked on the other end.

  “I didn’t leave.”

  “What? Sam said—”

  “I was going to leave. Declan caught me before I could. I’m not going anywhere.”

  “So you’re not going to work for your uncle in California?” she asked, puzzled.

  “No. I’m staying at Williams’s law firm.”

  “Really?” She sniffed.

  “Yes, really.”

  “Good. Because if you left and didn’t tell anyone else, I was going to be very upset.”

  “I know, and I’m sorry that I was being so brash by leaving. I love you guys.”

  “You better. Are we still all one for Saturday?”

  “Same place, same time,” I assured her.

  I put the phone down and went back to Declan who was still watching the cats sleep.

  “You didn’t tell anyone you were leaving?”

  “No.”

  “Did you quit your job?”

  “Well no. I was going to call tomorrow.”

  “Wouldn’t they notice you weren’t there?” He wrapped his arms around my waist and lifted me into his lap.

  “Probably.”

  “Did you think through running away?” He nuzzled my neck and rested his head on my shoulder.

  I kissed the top of Declan’s head. “No, not really. I was upset, hurt, and didn’t want to be in the same state as you. So California was about as far as I could go and know I had a job.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “For what? I’m the one who went a little overboard.”

  “I should have been truthful with you from the beginning.”

  “Yes, you should have. But I didn’t have to just fly off the handle.” I snuggled up against him, running my hands up and down his back.

  “Where do you want to have the wedding?” He changed the subject.

  “I don’t know.”

  “What about the Soldiers and Sailors Hall? Granddad got married there. It would be amazing.”

  “Yes, our wedding will be amazing.”

  Chapter 18

  “Married? What do you mean married?” Sam asked as we sat at our usual table in Olive or Twist.

  “He proposed. I said yes.”

  “What about the whole inheritance thing?” Meredith swished her martini around the glass.

  “We’re doing it the day after he turns twenty-eight. The deadline will be past.”

  “Do you trust him?” Liza furrowed her brow.

  “Not fully, but that’s something I have to work on.” I paused before taking a long sip of my wine.

  Sam took a swig from her Seven and Seven. “Shouldn’t you work on it beforehand?”

  “So where is it?” Veronica ignored Sam. She was the only one who was excited that Declan and I were back together.

  “Soldiers and Sailors.”

  “That place is beautiful!” she exclaimed while clapping her hands together.

  “It is.”

  “Is the ceremony and reception there?” Sam tried to seem disinterested in the wedding, but I could tell she was excited.

  “Yeah.”

  “Are you inviting them?” Liza lowered her voice.

  “Hell no!” I said a little too loud. A few people from other tables turned to look at us.

  The girls laughed lightly before sipping their drinks.

  “The whore and the dick are not invited to my wedding.”

  “Has Declan met them?” Veronica inquired.

  “God no. He hasn’t met anyone in my dysfunctional family. Yet.”

  “What do you think he’s going to do when he meets them?” Meredith tried to suppress a giggle.

  “Run back to Ireland without me.” I laughed. “I honestly don’t plan on having him meet my sister and the ex. There’s no reason either of them need to be involved in our lives.”

  “Have you picked bridesmaids?” Liza chewed her bottom lip. Her eyes twinkled. She loved getting dressed up in fancy clothes and being the center of attention. Being a bridesmaid at Declan Press’s wedding would get her plenty of attention.

  “Yes.”

  “Oh.” She looked down and pouted.

  “I haven’t asked yet, though.”

  “Why not?”

  “I haven’t seen them till now.” I smiled. “Who else would I ask besides you guys?”

  They all squealed and giggled. When our waitress came around we ordered the wedding cake martinis and toasted to my pending nuptials.

  “So when is the big day?” Sam sat back in her chair.

  “Three months.”

  “What?” She looked at me, bug-eyed.

  “Three months. February twenty-first.”

  “How do you plan on throwing together the wedding of the century in three months?” Veronica exclaimed.

  “With help from the most amazing friends in the entire world.”

  “Sarah, I don’t think we can do it in three months!”

  “We can, Sam,” I told her. “The Soldiers and Sailors hall is already booked. We did that this afternoon.”

  “What about the cake?”

  “We have an appointment tomorrow afternoon.” I smiled, thrilled to go cake tasting.

  “Caterer?”

  “Done. All we have to do is find dresses. I need help picking out colors, and that’s it.”

  “All right. Let’s pull off this stupendous wedding in absolutely no time.” She shook her head.

  “I love you guys!”

  “Just know I look awful in purple.”

  I laughed heartily. “Sam, you look fine in purple. You look awful in yellow.”

  “I look horrible in yellow, too. How’s blue? Or silver. I look stunning in silver.”

  I smiled and hugged my friend. I was on cloud nine. Things were perfect once again and nothing could destroy my mood.

  “Since I like to plan things,” Liza started while digging through her bag, “I found this while at the store.”

  She dumped at least ten different bridal magazines on the table between us. The five of us began laughing hysterically. She really was well prepared.

  She bit her lip and opened one of the magazines. “I even labeled some of the gowns in order of ugliness.”

  “Liza, you are too much.” Veronica shook her head.

  “So you’re not going to make us wear ugly bridesmaid dresses are you?” Meredith crinkled her nose.

  “No, I won’t make you guys look completely hideous.” I winked wickedly.

  “Where’s the honeymoon?” Veronica asked next.

  “We’re stopping in Ireland first to visit with Declan’s family that won’t be able to make it here for the wedding, and then we’re heading to St. Croix for two weeks.”

  Samantha let out a long and low whistle. “Two weeks? Wow, that is some honeymoon!”

  “I know. I can’t wait.”

  “Is Williams giving you the time off?” Meredith asked.

  “He better.” I hadn’t thought about what if I did not get the time off.

  “I can’t believe
you’re getting married!”

  “I know, Sam. Me, either,” I said quietly.

  “Are you okay with getting married so quickly?”

  “Yeah. I mean, sometimes I think we’re moving way too fast, other times I can’t wait,” I explained while playing with the enormous engagement ring Declan had given me.

  “That’s an impressive ring.” Meredith reached out for my hand.

  “Yes it is. It’s more than what I’m used to. What if I’m a bad wife? I don’t know how to be a wife. My last relationship ended with my sister marrying my boyfriend.” I sighed.

  “You’ll be fine, and forget the whore. She got some second-rate loser who’s probably cheating on her.” Veronica hugged me.

  “Probably.”

  I couldn’t help but let the nagging fact that Declan was my first relationship of any sort since the whole fiasco with my sister and her husband. The thought of the two of them together still made me shudder. Picturing them fucking made me want to vomit. I hated them so much for what they did to me.

  Chapter 19

  I stood in the bridal suite waiting for the ceremony to begin, trying to decide if I wanted to run away or not.

  “Are you okay?” Sam handed me a glass of champagne.

  I gladly accepted the drink and chugged it. “Yeah,” I replied, patting my stomach.

  “You look beautiful.” Veronica hugged me tightly.

  “You guys look amazing, too.” I looked at my four best friends in their dark purple bridesmaid dresses.

  I turned to look at myself in the mirror. The gown was soft taffeta. My mother put her pearl chocker on me as my something borrowed. It was a beautiful family heirloom. Beneath the sweetheart neckline of the gown was a draped bodice, which accentuated my rather perky breasts. The ball gown had a semi-cathedral train covered in tulle, glitter, and the amethysts I’d asked the seamstress to sew in.

  “You look beautiful!” My mother wiped away a tear.