Chapter 418
Declan spoke up. “First of all, you threw yourself at me. Plus, I’m single. Maybe I was just acting on impulse.”
“You’re admitting you’re a jerk, huh? In that case, I’ll just have to let you jerk me around,” Halley quipped, though she knew he wasn’t, of course.
Declan fell silent.
Just then, Declan’s friend, Justin, walked in. “Damn, Declan, where did this beauty come from?” He’d been looking for Declan, only to find this unexpected sight. His eyes widened at Hailey’s presence.
Hailey quickly stepped back from Declan, offering a charming smile. “Hi, I’m Hailey Young.”
“Justin Griffin,” he replied. “So, Declan, you finally got yourself a girlfriend, huh?”
Declan immediately denied it. “She’s not my girlfriend.”
Hailey declared confidently, “Yes, I am!”
Declan was momentarily speechless.
Justin laughed. “Damn, Declan. I thought you were destined to be single forever. You’ve never been interested in anyone before, but now I get it—you’re just picky. Looks like Hailey put all those other girls chasing after you to shame.”
Declan set down the spatula and turned to Justin. “Let’s talk outside.”
Without another word, they stepped outside.
“Justin, get to the point. Why are you here?” Declan asked.
“Phantom has resurfaced. He’s here.”
Phantom was the infamous drug lord responsible for Declan’s father’s death. Years ago, his father had gone undercover in Phantom’s cartel, only to be exposed and executed. For years, Declan had been tracking him. And now, Phantom had finally resurfaced.
A cold wind swept through, making Declan’s black T-shirt ripple. His eyes turned steely as he replied, “Got it.”
Just as he turned to leave, Justin called out, “Declan, that girlfriend of yours is gorgeous.”
Declan pressed his lips together. “We’re not a couple.”
“Oh really?” Justin replied, studying him closely. “We’ve known each other since we were kids. If you weren’t interested, you wouldn’t let her get this close. Unless, of course, you actually…”
Declan stayed quiet for a moment before responding. “From the start, I knew I couldn’t offer her a future. There’s no point in getting involved.”
“She comes from a good family,” Justin chuckled. “Rich, beautiful, sweet, and totally into you. Declan, are you really telling me you don’t feel anything? You’re overthinking it, man. That girl is crazy about you.”
“I need to head back,” Declan said, and with that, he stepped back into the house.
Halley met him in the room. “Did Justin leave?”
“Justin always brings good things to eat,” Pamela commented.
Declan set the dishes on the table. “Let’s eat.”
Hailey quickly sat down. Declan had even made fried chicken wings. He picked up a piece and placed it on Hailey’s plate. “Thank you, Declan,” she said with a smile.
As Declan set down his cutlery, he noticed Hailey watching him, her eyes filled with anticipation. She subtly pushed her plate closer to him, silently asking for another piece. Pamela quickly said, “Declan, hurry up and give Hailey a piece, too!”
Hailey gazed at him with hopeful eyes.
Brian then leaned over and placed a wing on Hailey’s plate. Hailey had wanted to try his fried chicken wings ever since she first saw them; her lips curved into a smile. “This is amazing!” she exclaimed. She had expected them to be good, but she hadn’t expected them to be this incredible.
“You should come over more often and let Declan cook for you,” Pamela chimed in.
Hailey looked at Declan, her smile brightening. “I’ll definitely be back.”
Just as dinner was ending, a sudden rumbling sound from outside, followed by a flash of lightning and a sharp crack of thunder, announced the impending storm. Moments later, the sky opened up, and a torrential downpour began to fall.