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Chapter Seventeen
Declan
Then
“Hey Declan, good tosee you.” Elizabeth gives me a big hug as soon as I walk into the White House residence. “Glad you were in town.”
“Thanks. I’m glad I could make it too.” I spot James on the other side of the room talking with Keene. He’s holding Vivi in his arms.
He nods at me as I walk across the room toward him. Once I’m closer, I lean in so I can get a good look at Vivi. I smile up at him. “Is she sleeping at all?”
“She sleeps all the time, just not much at night.” He laughs. He looks tired, but happy. His eye spot something across the room. I turn to see Will and Eli walking toward us. I stiffen a little. I haven’t seen him since the night I took Olivia to dinner.
“Hey, come on in,” James says and motions them over.
“Let me have a look at this baby,” Eli leans in closer. Vivi is sound asleep. “Can I hold her?”
“Of course, everyone needs to wash hands, and then we’ll pass her around.”
I wait a beat and then go find a bathroom. I’m standing in the hallway when Will comes out, blocking half the hallway. I make no effort to move as he comes closer. He shoves past me – neither of us saying a word.
When I get back to the living room, Eli is holding Vivi. He looks up as I approach.
“Declan, what have you been up to?” Eli says.
“This and that.”
Will’s eyes dart over to me. He’s not making any effort to hide his anger.
Vivi starts to fuss. Elizabeth stands up to take her back from Eli. “Don’t take it personally. She’s just hungry.”
“Can’t help her there,” he laughs.
“No. I’ll feed her and put her down for a nap. Should be time to eat after that.”
James checks his watch. “Want to throw a football around while we wait?”
We nod and head outside.
“Any news on the psycho staffer?” Eli says, throwing the ball to Will.
Will catches it. Before he can answer, I say, “Don’t call her psycho.”
Eli holds his hands up. “Didn’t know you were friends?”
“They shouldn’t be,” Will growls, hurling the football as hard as he can at me.
“Mind your own fucking business.” I throw the ball to James, who catches it and then frowns.
