Page 51 of #Lovestrong

Declan

Once the press conference is over, my parents and Jazmin's mom join us at Grandma Mabel's. Lena's grandparents close early, so the ten of us put the tables together, cooked lots of food, and sat around talking and laughing for the last two hours now.

Lena and Jazmin talk and laugh, catching up on all the months they've missed together. I'm perfectly happy to sit next to her, just watching. I can watch her all day, content, and never have to say a word.

"I talked to your dad before coming out here," Jazmin says as she sits her drink on the table.

"Yeah?" Lena sits back in her chair and reaches over to grab my hand. It's impossible for me to hide the smile in my face.

"Yeah. He told me you decided to take that scholarship to University of Washington. Maybe we can be roommates."

Lena coughs like she's choking on air. "Wait, what?"

"Hey, you, Camilla, and I dreamed about going to that college since eighth grade."

"Oh my gosh, Jaz. I can't believe it." Lena reaches over and one-arm hugs her friend. "Declan, Candice, and Jackson are going there too."

"Ah, maybe Jackson," Jackson says, shaking his head. "That is still undetermined."

At the same time, Lena, Candice, and I say, "You'll get in." And the adults all laugh loudly.

My parents and Jazmin's mom help Lena's grandparents clear off the tables as we sit and keep chatting. Jazmin and Lena, it turns out, have known each other since Kindergarten. As they take turns relaying stories from their past, we all laugh. Especially when Jazmin tells the story of how she, Lena, and Camilla wanted to start a band when they were in seventh grade.

I'm still in shock at my father's announcement, and while I know he shows no sign of worry now, part of what's kept him in the Senate all these years was his avid fight for gun rights. Tonight's announcement is going to affect his career in ways I can't even imagine, but I trust my father and I know when he makes up his mind, he sticks to it. He never does anything that doesn't feel right or that he doesn't truly believe in.

By the time the adults come out of the kitchen, Lena is laying back against my chest, her eyes closed. I think we're all in a food coma mixed with the emotional exhaustion of tonight's events. I run my fingers up and down her arm, my lips pressed to the back of her head and my eyes closed. I love these moments, just the quiet, content moments of having her close to me, when everything else fades away and the background noise just stops.

"Declan," my mom says quietly, touching the back of my head.

I open my eyes and look up at her. "Yeah?"

"We should get going, honey. It's late. Plus, you guys have school tomorrow, and a football game."

"Okay. I'll meet you and dad at home." Shit, I completely forgot about the football game.

"Baby," I whisper in Lena’s ear before kissing the side of her neck. "I have to go."

She yawns and sits up as everyone else does the same. "Okay, hold on."

I rub my face as everyone says their goodbyes. Jazmin and her mom are flying back to Virginia first thing in the morning, but I'm happy she and Lena promise to stay in touch and fix their friendship. Candice hugs both Jazmin and Lena, and just before she and Jackson leave, Jazmin pulls out her phone and gets Candice's number.

Once the shop is empty, I stand and meet Lena at the front door. There are dark bags under her eyes and I know she's exhausted. Running my fingers through her hair, she closes her eyes and leans into my touch, making my pulse quicken.

"Get some sleep, baby. I'll pick you up in the morning, okay?"

"Okay," she says, opening her eyes again.

I stare at her for a minute, relishing in the shimmer of her green eyes in the dim lighting. She takes my breath away when she grabs the sides of my face and pulls me down, crashing her lips into mine and coaxing her tongue into my mouth. My arms go around her waist and she tilts her head, deepening the kiss and turning me on, effectively waking me up from the half-sleep I've been in.

When she finally pulls away from me, I actually curse under my breath. "Lena, you kill me when you kiss me like that."

She grins mischievously and everything in my body heats as she runs her hands under my shirt and then rakes her nails down my stomach. As she bites her lip and steps closer to me, I tangle my hands in her hair and kiss her again.

"I love you," I say against her lips, out of breath.

"I love you too," she says, resting her hands on my hips.

As she steps away from me and smiles, turning to open the door, I try to take a deep breath.

A cold shower before bed is now in my future.

But damn do I love this girl.