Page 22 of Found in Wild Sage

“I didn’t know you’d arrived!”

I turn to see Sam, my lovely friend and the person closest to me in this world save Charlie and maybe Jack. Though Sam knows about my feelings for Declan.

When she sees my face, concern knits her brows and she pulls me into a hug. She speaks softly so no one will hear. “Are you okay? What’s wrong?”

I squeeze her, so grateful I let my guard down enough to feel like I can tell her. I hadn’t planned to tell anyone the truth about this marriage, but I’m a fool if I think Sam won’t instantly know something’s off. She’ll keep it to herself, though. I know she will.

But I can’t tell her here.

“I’ll tell you later. Promise.”

She pulls back and eyes me. “Tomorrow?”

“Sure.”

We turn to see Declan settling Charlie on the ground, then sitting on the floor next to him.

“I see he’s continuing his status as dreamboat paragon of sweetness with babies,” she says, eyes on Declan as he pulls a basket of toys over and Charlie bends to investigate the contents.

“It’s a problem.”

She smiles. “But you’re dating?”

I don’t have a chance to explain or hint or even give her a wide-eyed “you’re not going to believe me when I tell you” look, because Connor hollers that dinner is ready and everyone bursts into chatter as they move to the table.

Declan scoops Charlie up and finds me right after.

“Follow me.”

He says it with this look that makes my stomach dip, yet again, and Charlie squawks out a few sentences that aren’t quite intelligible. When we reach the table, he sets Charlie in a highchair and deftly buckles him in, then slides in a tray.

I haven’t appreciated how capable the man is with all of these things. How does he know how to navigate a highchair? As a new mom, it took me a handful of tries to learn the release mechanism, and buckling a squirming baby into a seat can be a challenge.

None of it seems to affect Declan in any way other than giving him some amount of satisfaction.

Once seated, I take a moment to breathe through my nose because it’s all piling up. His kindness and unflappable way of handling things. This family’s warmth and love. My gratitude for Sam, who I’m absolutely going to tell everything tomorrow.

I am so full, I might crack open.

CHAPTER TEN

Declan

Halfway through dinner, Evie passes a basket of rolls to May, and that’s when everyone sees the ring.

“Wait. Waiiiiiit.” May’s voice overlaps with a gasp from Sam, some kind of elated, keening sound from my mother, a hearty laugh from Da, and my little brother Finn giggling as he says, “Are you guys getting married?”

“Uncle Dec! That’s awesome!” Rowan shoots up from the kids’ table a few feet away and holds up a hand to high-five me. I accept automatically, and I share a look with Eirinn. Her son is and always has been a romantic at heart, so his response is no surprise.

Everyone is talking at once, but Evie is frozen solid on the other side of Charlie. I reach around the back of the highchair to touch her shoulder, and her head whips toward me.

Catching her eye, I nod, hoping this conveys my desire to check in with her. I’ve offered her my hand twice now and both times, she’s accepted. But this is the first time I’ve initiated contact in a proprietary way—like I have the right. A trill of dread and desire slips through me for half a beat.

She nods back, and relief hits. We knew this had to happen, and soon, but I’m sure she didn’t realize it would be like this. She’s not used to the Ryan Family intensity. I guess there’s no time like the present to get a feel for it.

Questions come rapid-fire. When? Where? How? How long have you known? Why didn’t you tell us sooner?

This last one gets laughed off when they acknowledge I wouldn’t have told them much, since I’m not one to chat about personal things, even with my family. But I feel Grant’s gaze, steady and questioning, and maybe even a little hurt.