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I don't bother denying it.

Because she's right.

“Bish.” Declan's voice cuts through the moment.

I turn.

He's standing a few feet away. His expression hasn't improved much since the game. “Can we talk?”

I look at Delaney.

She nods. “Go.”

I squeeze her hand and step away.

Declan leads me a short distance down the hallway, away from the family area.

For a moment, neither of us speaks.

Then he looks at my jaw. “Sorry about that.”

I touch it. “Yeah. Me too.”

“You hit me back.”

“You hit me first.”

“Fair.” He exhales. Then his expression hardens again. “I still think you're an asshole.”

“Also fair.”

“You should've told me.”

“I know.”

He shakes his head. “I asked you to take care of her.”

“I know what you meant, Dec.” I look him in the eye. “But I didn't plan this. I didn't invite her to live with me because I thought I'd get a chance with her. You know me better than that.”

He doesn't answer.

“She moved in. We spent time together. And somewhere along the way, I stopped being able to pretend I didn't feel what I've been feeling for years.”

Declan's jaw tightens. “For years?”

“Yeah.”

He looks away. “Jesus.”

I give him a moment. Then I continue. “I know I should've told you. I know I handled that part badly. And I'm sorry.”

He looks back at me.

“But I'm not sorry I'm in love with her.”

Silence.

I hold his gaze. “I'm in love with your sister, Beckett. I'm not going to apologize for that.”