Page 36 of #Lovestrong

Declan

Candice said I needed to give Lena some space. Let her come to me when she is ready, and not be too pushy. But it's been a week since she got that call from her friend's mom and she's had her grandparents take her to school every day. She barely talks at lunch or in study hall when we're together, and in seventh period, she sits in the back by herself.

I told my dad about what happened and he suggested inviting Lena to a quiet dinner with the family. I'm not thrilled about having her anywhere near my sister, but Mom suggested inviting Jackson and Candice, since they're friends with Lena too.

I texted Jackson this morning and now I'm driving to Lena's, hoping I can convince her to come. I miss her and I can't stand the thought of her retreating into her own head and trying to deal with this alone. It kills me that she closes herself off so much, and it only makes me want to love her more.

After parking the car, I head into the shop. It's almost time for the dinner rush and my parents said they'd have dinner ready in an hour, so I don't have much time to waste. There are a few tables with guests at them, but Mr. Gary is standing behind the counter, fixing the cakes in the display case.

I walk over and take a deep breath. "Hey, Mr. Gary."

He looks up at me and smiles, standing straight and resting his arms on the cake display's plastic guard. "Declan. Son, we were starting to think you weren't coming around no more. Ol’ Deb said if she didn't see you by the end of the weekend, she was going to ask Lena if y'all broke up."

"No, Sir. Is Lena here?"

Mr. Gary sighs deeply and beckons me to the end of the counter. "She’s back in the office doing paperwork for me. She's not doing real good."

"I know, Sir, and I'm sorry, but I can't go another day without seeing her."

He smiles widely at me and pats me on the back. "I used to be that way with Deb. She'd be gone for three minutes and I'd be heading back to her house just to see her again. You go ahead and go back. Tell her I said stop being a pain in my ass."

I chuckle as I head through the kitchen, stopping just long enough to give Mrs. Deb a hug and kiss on the cheek. Going down the hallway into the back of the shop, someone coughs and I know it's Lena. Peeking inside the office, she's sitting at a desk with an old computer and calculator on the desk, sifting through an armful of papers.

"Knock, knock," I say softly, stepping just inside the door.

To my surprise, she smiles widely at me, but her eyes are tired. She has bags under them, and her usually smooth hair is a tad on the frizzy side. Lena hasn't been sleeping.

"Hey, babe. Why didn't you text me?" Her voice is weak and way too strained. It makes sharp pains shoot through my chest.

"You've barely answered my texts in almost a week, baby."

She hangs her head and sniffles. "Sorry."

I can't stop the sigh that pushes from my lungs as I walk over, take her papers, set them on the desk, and sink down to my knees. "Baby, I don't want you to apologize. I want you to let me be here for you."

She glances up at me and nods her head before reaching out to grab the front of my shirt and pull me to her. Her arms go around my chest and she squeezes me so hard, it's almost uncomfortable. With her face nuzzled into my neck, I cradle the back of her head and breathe easy for the first time in days.

Damn, I missed her.

"Will you come to dinner tonight," I whisper against her hair. "My parents want you to. Jackson and Candice are coming. Please?"

She sits up and wipes under her eyes as she nods. "Of course. I'd love to."

I kiss her lips softly and she sighs as if that's exactly what she was waiting for. "We have to be there in an hour. Want me to help you finish this stuff up?"

"Yes," she says louder than she should, pasting a smile on her face.

Well, at least she's trying.