42. Kael

42

KAEL

There's still a cloud hanging over our future.

Paige and I will never be completely happy if things aren't right with everyone. And though Patrick has accepted us as a couple, Declan and Gray still haven't.

I love the Burkes, all of them, especially Declan, who has always been my brother in everything but blood, and I know family means the world for Paige, too, so I need to make this right for her.

The hours tick away, and my night's anything but restful, as this plagues me, so when I wake up yet again, and Paige is still snoring, I extricate myself from her, standing up and walking out into the hallway.

I know what I have to do, but I'll be damned if I actually want to do it.

Knowing how important family is to Paige, how tight knit the Burkes are, I know that she would never want her brothers out of her life.

And Declan being my best friend, not having him in our lives is something that would hurt both her and me .

I just hope that Gray and Declan don't tackle me when I walk into the waiting room.

When I step inside, they just look up at me, worried.

Gray stands up. "How's Paige?"

"She's going to be okay, but it will be a bit. Concussion, few broken ribs, and a fractured spine."

Declan stands too and starts pacing. "Fucking Murphy."

"We'll get him," Gray promises in a gruff voice.

I take a deep breath. "I need to talk to you both."

Declan stops pacing and stares right at me. "If this is about wanting my blessing, you're shit out of luck,"

"Just hear him out, Declan." Gray sighs. He rolls his eyes looking at me. "I've had time to cool down, but this hothead?—"

"Don't call me that." Declan elbows him, and I step between them before they start to fight.

"Why don't we get out of here? Paige is safe, let's go to Kelley's. We really need to talk."

Declan glares at me, but Gray shrugs.

"I feel like getting out a bit might help us."

We drive separately to Kelley's, an Irish pub downtown, and Gray's already at the bar ordering shots when I arrive.

Declan walks in after me, and I'm surprised he even showed up. I know he's still angry.

I take two shots before I speak.

"I love your sister. I never thought it would happen to me. Never thought I deserved it. Never thought love could feel like this." I shake my head. "And she loves me. I mean, me! How, right? So, I'm going to protect her until the day I die, and I won't take another cent for the privilege."

"You manipulated her." Declan points his finger at me. "You seduced her."

I snort. "She seduced me , Declan. Have you ever known Paige to do anything she doesn't want to do?"

Gray barks out a laugh. "He's right about that."

Declan doesn't speak, hailing the bartender for more shots.

My head is already spinning after two, but when you're Irish, you have to talk these things out over whiskey.

Gray's coming around, but Declan's a harder nut to crack.

"I'm telling you, I love her. I'm in love with her. This isn't some fling, Declan."

"How am I supposed to believe that, huh? You've been my best friend for years, Kael. I know you."

"You don't know this me." I point at myself. "Hell, I don't know this me. I'm learning as I go, too. Because wanting it or not, through all of this, I've changed."

Gray shoots down his shot, grimacing. "I mean, love changes people, Declan. Bree changed you."

Declan frowns. "This isn't like me and Bree."

Gray scoffs. "How so? Being with someone you're forbidden to be with?"

"Fuck. This is Paige, man. Little Paige."

"Your sister's a grown woman, Declan. You should give her more credit than that."

Declan lets out a long breath. "What about the hookers and strippers?"

"What about them?" I shrug. "You know as well as I do that the only reason I went to them was so that there was no risk of catching feelings. I know what my ma went through with my da, Declan. How she'd cry for nights on end when he was sleeping around. I'd never do that to anyone, let along the woman I love."

I shake my head and throw another shot back. "I'm a one-woman man, Declan. I only want Paige, and I'll tear out my own heart before I hurt her for any reason."

Gray turns to his younger brother. "C'mon, Declan. Don't be a dick."

"I'll be a dick if I want to. He messed with our sister." Declan huffs, but there's no more steam behind it.

"It'll take some time for all of us to get used to this, but I don't want Paige to feel like she has to choose between you and me. That's not fair to her." I look right into his eyes. "I want you in our lives, and I won't give her up, man. She's it for me."

Gray claps Declan on the back. "They'll pop out a rugrat in a year's time. Give your babe someone to play with."

Declan glares daggers at him. "I still don't know about this. I'm not giving my blessing, but I'm not kicking you out of the family, either. I'm not giving up the right to see my baby sister. Not for this or anything else."

I nod. "Fair enough."

Paige is getting ready to come home in a couple of days, but Patrick isn't quite there yet.

It's been two weeks since my conversation with Gray and Declan, and I'm spending a rare night away from the hospital because Paige yelled at me and said that I was driving her crazy.

I'm hovering a little, I know, but I can't help it. I almost lost her, and I can't help but think I need to be there twenty-four-seven.

But Lara's watching over her, and I trust her to call if anything goes wrong .

Gray invited me to Sunday dinner, and I wouldn't have come if Paige hadn't made me.

Now, Gray, Declan, and I are all sitting in the living room, drinking. Have been drinking for a while now.

I look down into my glass, closing one eye to see clearly. I'm unused to drinking, and this whiskey packs a punch. "Have you thought any more about our conversation at the bar?"

Declan's eyes find mine before they go back to his glass. He nods.

The lack of verbal response is killing me. The alcohol in me is not helping with my ability to be patient either.

"Well? Reached any conclusion? I know she misses you. I miss you."

Declan shrugs. "You were always like a brother to me, anyway."

My mouth is ajar as I look at him. "What?"

"When you marry Paige. I'm not worried about it, because you were always like a brother to me, anyway. It'll just be official, now."

"Are you trying to tell me that you're giving us your blessing?" I frown, and Declan grins.

"I'm not saying it, but yeah, I guess."

I whoop and hug him around the waist, and he chuckles, pushing me away.

Gray looks up from his glass, drunk and clearly bewildered, and that gets Declan going. He starts to laugh, doubling over, and soon enough all three of us are howling.

It's another three days before Paige comes home, and I wheel her to the car, excited to get the hell out of the hospital and back to Paige's brownstone. Or our brownstone, I guess.

As we get to the car, I unlock it and open her door. "We have to stop at the pharmacy."

She groans. "Do we really have to? I just want my bed."

She winks at me, and I frown.

Surely, she's not suggesting sex. She's way too fragile.

"Yeah, we have to. You're going to need your pain medication and your muscle relaxer."

She rolls her eyes. "Kael, you're being a worrywart."

"I'm not. I just want you to have everything you need."

I swing by the pharmacy, paying for her prescriptions with cash, and we make our way back to the brownstone.

She puts her hand high up on my thigh, and I look at her.

"If you think you're getting into my pants, you've got another thing coming, princess."

"Do I?" She looks up at me with innocent green eyes.

Her face has finally turned from swollen to just bruised, a yellowish bruise across her jaw the only indication that she was so badly hurt.

I love being able to see both her beautiful eyes again.

"You're hurt."

"I'm not hurt anymore." She huffs out a long breath. "Besides, you totally owe me."

"Owe you? Owe you for what?"

"For not kissing me first." She sighs. "I always told myself I'd make him kiss me first."

I crack a smile. "Him, who?"

"My prince, of course."

"I'm a prince?"

"Aye." She kisses along the side of my face as we sit at the red light .

"Paige," I warn, but she moves her hand higher up on my thigh, groping me through my jeans.

"Just wait until I get you home," she teases.

God, I love this woman, more than life, but I'll be damned if I'm going to hurt her in any way.