A Brutal Betrayal(16)
“It’s pretty cold out, and I’m not sure what we are doing, so I thought a warm drink was in order. I took a chance and got you hot chocolate just in case you don’t like coffee because, well, everyone likes hot chocolate.” She smiled hesitantly as she handed him the drink.
“Thank you, Megan. That was really thoughtful,” he responded, touched by her gesture. “And you are on the right track actually. We’re heading outside.”
“I was afraid of that,” she muttered.
“Oh?”
“Yeah, it’s freezing!” she said in a dramatic fashion.
“Nope, it’s freezing in Alaska or the Antarctic; it’s just a little cold here.” He laughed.
She smiled and then turned to face him. “So what are we doing? And why?”
“What we are doing is a surprise, but you don’t mind me driving us, do you?” She shook her head. “Okay, the why is because I want you to get out more, and you are obviously comfortable with me, so consider this practice. Maybe a little thinking outside the box, if you will.”
“This is new for you too?” Megan asked, a little surprised.
“Yep,” Declan declared, slightly popping the ‘p’. “Let’s see how well things go.”
They walked out, and Declan led Megan to his car. He walked over to the passenger door and held it open for her. She seemed surprised but slid in with gratitude. His mother taught him to open doors for all women, and he had been doing it for as long as he could remember, even during some of his rough years. It was just ingrained in him.
They were silent for a few minutes, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. It was peaceful. Something about being with Megan put Declan at ease and when he glanced at her, she looked pretty content herself. He was secretly pleased that he had that affect on her.
“How was the rest of your week?” he asked casually, like they were friends.
“My week?”
“Yeah, how was work? How was your Friday night?”
“Oh. Well, let’s see. Work was okay. I finished a design I was working on and presented it yesterday. I had a pretty busy week, so I just came home yesterday, had a glass of wine, read a little, and went to bed.”
“What do you usually do on Friday nights?” Declan asked, genuinely curious.
“I, uh, I guess that’s what I do every Friday night.”
“You don’t go out?”
“Not really.”
“What about friends?”
“I have a few, but no one I hang out with regularly. I have my family too, but they are family. I don’t mind having some space from them.”
“I know what you mean.” Declan snorted. “But why no friends?”
“It’s hard for me to get close to people.”
“So, not just guys?”
“No, I guess not.”
“You never told me that.”
“I didn’t?” she asked, her brow furrowing like she was confused.
“No, but that doesn’t matter. We’ll fix that. And it starts with me. We’re friends.”
“Just like that?” She laughed. “I don’t think me coming to you with my problems automatically constitutes us as friends, Declan.”
“You’re right, it doesn’t. But that doesn’t mean we can’t be friends. Hey, check us out now. We’re hanging out on a Saturday afternoon. We aren’t talking shop. Sounds like friends to me.” Heck, why can’t they be friends? It’s not like Declan’s friends didn’t ask for advice anyway. This was just providing more in-depth advice, if he had to classify it.
“This is pity, not hanging out.”
“Don’t Megan. Don’t say that. I’m already having fun, and we’re just talking. Fun doesn’t equate to pity. And we’re about to have a lot more fun.”
“So, friends, huh?”
“Yeah, Meg,” he said for the first time. Meg. He liked the way it sounded on his tongue. Short, sweet. He said it once again in his head and smiled. “We’re friends. Call me Dec from now on, everyone else does.”
“Dec,” she tried it out also with a smile. “I don’t know. I kind of like Declan, sounds more sophisticated.”
“Oh, well then definitely call me Dec. I’m about as sophisticated as an alley cat.”
She laughed before turning serious. “When I was growing up, I used to have plenty of friends. Guys, girls, it didn’t matter, I got along with lots of people.” She paused and when he looked over at her, she was turned away, glancing out the window. “I never thought I’d be one of those people who didn’t have a friend to turn to when I needed a shoulder to cry on, or someone to watch romantic comedies with, or just a friend I could rely on, period. I know it’s not exactly the same thing, but you being here, trying to help me above and beyond your job…that…it means so much to me.”