Chapter Five.
Holly J sat there for a moment looking as if she didn't know if she wanted to really ask the next question yet. Since Declan had already taken it a step further with his last question, maybe it wasn't so bad.
It wasn't necessarily that she didn't think he would answer or that he would get mad at the question, it was if she was ready to know the answer.
Declan waited patiently as she thought, playing with her fingers in his.
"Do you remember that fight we had? After we got back together three years ago…." Holly J began.
Declan nodded knowing where this was going right when she started, but didn't interrupt her.
"And you stormed out and I asked where you were going and you said Tinsley's. Did you really… go over to Tinsley's?" she asked, somehow finding the inner nerve to look up at him.
The argument was still very vivid in both of their memories even though it happened about two and a half years ago.
They were back at Declan's parent's house in New York when it had happened; sitting peacefully living room couch watching the evening news. The silent cuddling was broken as Holly J remembered a book that she wanted to borrow from Declan. "Declan?" she said moving her head that was currently on his chest, to look up at his face. "Hmm?" Declan replied, not taking his eyes off the news and rubbing her arm lightly with two fingers.
"Can I borrow that book we were talking about the other day?"
Declan nodded and got up, Holly J moving off of him to sit up straight. "I'll get it for you" he got up and walked over to the bookshelf looking through the numerous titles. Declan had a very eclectic selection of books ranging from things like War and Peace to the Harry Potter series. Three shelves down he pulled out a blue tattered book and walked back over to sit next to Holly J. He handed her the book and she took it with a pleasured smile. Declan's attention was caught by a story on the stock market that was playing out on the news. Holly J skimmed through the book, admiring the old aspect of it. She turned to a page and found a letter in it. Her curiosity got the best of her as she pulled the worn envelope from the book and turned it over to see Declan's name in a swirled girl's handwriting. She glanced over at Declan who was leaning forward entranced in the stock market story. Slowly her manicured fingers hovered over the fold of the envelope and finally she pulled it open, keeping a check on Declan from the corner of her eye. Quietly, she pulled out a tri-folded piece of stationary. She opened it up against the page of the book to make Declan less suspicious. Her eyes read through the lines and she almost immediately regretted opening it. It was signed by the name of Sophie and was a page long letter that she sent him the day after Declan told her he loved her. Holly J knew that Sophie was the first girl that Declan loved and the one that cheated on him soon after. She was the reason Declan decided to just stick to being a player instead of fully committing to anyone, before he met Holly J. She was the reason Declan was afraid to say I love you to Holly J at first. Holly J felt an angry fire in her stomach as certain phrases stuck out to her. Before she knew it she was accusing him of things, caught up in a moment.
"You're playing me aren't you?" she hissed at him.
Declan was caught off guard at this and looked over to Holly J. "What?"
She threw the letter on the table in front of him and he picked it up, momentarily confused. "Holly J, you know that Sophie was before you. You know that! So why would I be playing you?" Declan looked at her like he couldn't believe this was happening right now. "I didn't even know that was in there, so obviously it means nothing to me" he protested throwing the letter back onto the table.
"It obviously did at some time! Look how worn it is. You obviously carried it around for a long time. At look at the words in it" she said. She knew she was being irrational, but she suddenly couldn't stop. The fear manifested into jealousy.
"Holly J! Are you really getting mad at me for something that happened in the past? I haven't seen Sophie since we broke up. Before I even knew about you!"
She picked up the letter again. "No, I'm not" she sighed, "But certain phrases like forever and you saying something about her being the only girl out there for her and every other girl was nothing compared to her. Declan how do I know that you aren't just settling, or that I'm being played and you're hooking up with like… Tinsley!" Holly J said tears filling the free corners of her eyes.
Declan looked a mixture of shock and hurt. "How could you even… suggest that, Holly J!" he said with a hint of venom in his voice. "I fought day after day for you. Before and after we were together and you dare suggest I've been playing you. That was a long time ago and she cheated on me! To say I was young and naive would be an understatement. I have never given you reason to believe that I was playing you! But if that's what you really think of me. Fine." Declan said feeling angrier as he spoke. He grabbed up his jacket and walked towards the door.
"Where are you going?" Holly J said, tears now flowing down her face.
"To Tinsley's!" Declan said slamming the door and leaving.
A small smirk spread played on his lips as he looked at Holly J thinking the answer to this question.
"I did go to Tinsley's" Declan began and he saw Holly J's face fall.
"But…" he continued not taking his eyes from her facial features. She looked up at him curiously.
"When I got there I sent her on a wild goose chase to find me a non-existent book and had a very nice cup of tea and talk with Mr. Wharton for a few hours about the new policies at Vanderbilt" Declan said watching as Holly J's face suddenly had a wash of relief.
"So nothing happened?" she asked, biting the corner of her bottom lip.
Declan shook his head, "even a fight couldn't change the way I ever feel about you Holly J."
She blushed and kissed his cheek, which he returned with a smile.
"My turn" Declan started. "Next question.."