Page 41 of #PhiThetaForever

I shake my head as she walks to the back of the shop toward the office. They're so easily pleased. It's going to take a few hours for all these cookies to bake, so I take the book I started reading last night out of my bag and flop down at one of the stools at the counter. It's nice not to have a million things to do for class, and Declan and I signed up for next semester's classes and filed for our library space for next semester before we left campus. I literally have nothing to do for next semester, and thankfully, Spring semester for us means no sports. Soccer and football won't pick up until next August for practice.

I love soccer and love watching Declan play football, but for once, I'm really thankful that we get eight months without having to worry about it. We can focus on school and just living for once. And no football means he won't have to worry about Bo, and next season, since Bo is graduating in May, Declan won't have to see him there either. All we have to do is make sure he leaves Declan alone next semester, and since he hasn't contacted him at all since he left Sigma Nu, I'm praying that means he's moved on to ruin someone else's life and he's going to leave my boyfriend alone.

Bo is like a cancer, and that's something that Declan doesn't need anywhere near him. Ever.

43 Declan

"Were two bouquets of flowers really necessary, bro?"

I glance down at the abundance of flowers in my arms. Roses for Lena and Calla Lillies for Mrs. Deb. "Yep. Totally necessary."

Jackson chuckles as he leads the way up the stairs to the apartment above Grandma Mabel's where Lena and her grandparents live. Am I going a little overboard to make up for last semester? Yes. Do I care? No. Lena doesn't care about material things, she never has, but it's the physical way for me to show her I love her. And honestly, it makes me feel better, as selfish as that sounds.

Jackson opens the door and walks in like we live here, Candice following him in. As I enter the house, I quietly close the door behind me, and shift the flowers in my hand to pull out Mrs. Deb's bouquet.

"Oh my word, Declan Harp, what is all that?" Mrs. Deb rushes over and I lean down to give her a hug.

Holding out her flowers, she smiles at me and pats the side of my face. "Just something to brighten the place up."

"Boy, you sure know how to make an old lady smile." Taking the bouquet, she heads to the kitchen, bustling around to put them in a vase.

"What's he done now, Grandma," Lena says as she enters the room from the hallways. She looking down and fidgeting with putting her watch on.

I'm memorized. She's wearing leggings and a tank top, and I think it's the most skin she's shown the whole semester. My elation is quickly smothered as she walks further into the room and I really take in her thinness. The breath rushes out of me as if someone's punched me in the gut. Walking over to her, she finally looks up at me with a huge smile on her face.

"Are those for me?" She glances at the flowers in my arm, and I recover myself some, holding them out to her and attempting to smile back.

"I thought they'd be nice in your room, babe." Handing her the bouquet, I lean down and kiss below her ear. "Can we talk a second?"

She shivers and I force the smile to stay off my face. "Declan and I need to talk for a minute, Grandma. We'll be right back." Taking my hand, she turns and leads me down to her bedroom.

Lena's room has always been peaceful to me. Soft colors and filled with memories. For the last year, she's not only filled it with memories of her life here, but also finally getting past losing her friends in the school shooting, and filling the space with memories of them as well. The door clicks shut and a moment later, Lena's arms circle my stomach from behind. She kisses my shoulder and rests her head against my back.

Taking a deep breath, I reach behind me to set my hands on her waist. "If you don't start eating, I'm going to have a very serious talk with your grandparents before we go back next semester."

Her arms loosen immediately, and when she lets go of me, I let her. "I don't know what you're talking about, Declan."

The anger is instant, and I spin around, my face already warming from my emotions getting the best of me. "Do. Not. Pull. That. Shit. With.Me." Her eyes widen and she takes a step back, fear filling her eyes, softening me toward her. "Baby, I'm not trying to be mean. I know your body better than anyone else, and every week you get thinner. I love you, and I know this hasn't been easy on you, but not eating won't make it easier."

She looks down at the floor as a few tears escape her eyes. "I do eat, Declan. Just not a lot. It's not on purpose, I swear. I just don't have an appetite."

Sighing, I take a few steps and pull her into my arms. "How about we work on this together. You're not going to feel better if you're not eating on top of everything else. So, no matter what, please, baby."

Looking up into my eyes she gives me a tight smile. "Okay."

The moment my lips touch hers, I forget all about being upset with her. Honestly, I forget everything except how much I want her. Just as the kiss deepens, and my hands move down her sides, there's a knock on her bedroom door.

"Food. Now," Candice says through the door.

Resting my head against Lena's, I chuckles. I swear, every time we get a few minutes alone, someone interrupts us. Sometimes, I'm almost certain the interrupts are God's way of making sure we don't break our promise. As the thought fills my head, I look up at the ceiling, pulling Lena close to me, and chuckle under my breath.

Justus always tells me to give everything to God, and so does Pastor Sam.

Well, then I'm giving Lena's stress to God this time. And praying he can help her get back to where she was before I almost ruined her . . . almost ruined us.

I look back down at Lena, and lightly kiss the top of her head. "Let's go eat. You hungry?"

She nods and backs up just enough, reaching out to slide her hands into mine. One day at a time, we're going to get through this. Just like we got through her issues from the shooting, just like we got through my accident. I may not be sure of everything, but I am positive that together, there is nothing Lena and I can't overcome.