Destined to Change by Harley, M. (top android ebook reader TXT) 📕

taken advantage of me. I had started everything with him. Any guy would’ve done the same thing. He really did do things to me, things that I had never dreamed of another man doing to me.

“Well, hello hon. Come to help the men work?” He smirked.

I walked toward him and crossed my arms over my chest, “No, I think I’ll leave the shit shoveling to ya’ll. Men seem to be pretty good at that.”

He just laughed at me, that deep belly laugh that I remembered from our dinner together. I turned around to start out of the stall when I lost my balance and started to fall. Before I knew what was happening, I was in Cade’s arms and he was lowering me to the ground. He was cradling my head and I felt like I was going to pass out. I was really weak and shaking all over. I realized I broke out in a sweat.

“Hon, are you okay? What can I do?” Cade looked really scared. He was white as a ghost.

“I’m fine, Cade. Just help me stand up will ya?”

With that Cade lifted me and then sat me down on my wobbly legs. I couldn’t get my balance and then everything went black.

Chapter 13

Loralei

I was so comfortable. I hadn’t been this relaxed in years. I opened my eyes, and I was in a very familiar place. I looked all around the room. Declan’s room. I was lying in his bed. I could feel someone nuzzled up to my side. I turned and looked down and was staring into the most beautiful crystal blue eyes I had ever seen. Declan’s eyes. I reached out and touched his face. How was this happening? This couldn’t be real. Declan had been gone for so long.

“Declan, sweetie, is that really you?”

In that sexy southern drawl I had missed so much, he said, “Good mornin’ sweetheart. How ya feelin’?” Then he gave me that smirk. Oh my god, how I had missed that smirk. I couldn’t help it, I broke into tears. He leaned up and kissed my cheek, kissing my tears away. “Lor, please don’t cry. I love you so much - I always loved you. What happened to me was not your fault. It wasn’t anybody’s fault. I’m so proud of the woman you’ve become. I’m so sorry that I haven’t been there for you and our babies, Lor. You have no idea how much I wanted to grow old with you. How I wanted that destiny we had always dreamed of. The two kids, the big front porch to sit on and watch our grandkids play. I wanted all of that with you Lor, but sometimes your destiny has to change. Sometimes life gets in the way, and you have to change your plans. But you rolled with the punches, and you became the amazing, strong woman that is here today.”

I turned over to where we were lying face to face. I reached up and placed my hand on his cheek and just stared into his eyes. I didn’t want to look away. I didn’t want this dream to end. “Dec, what’s going on? Why am I here like this? Oh my god, did I die? Where are my babies?”

Declan wrapped me in his arms. “You are not dead baby, but I am. You can’t live another minute for me. This life is yours, and you have to start living it. I want you to be happy. Do you hear me, Lor? You deserve to be happy. Do you think Jaxon would make you happy?”

I didn’t know how to answer that question. I believed that I did love Jaxon, but after everything that happened, I just didn’t know anymore. “I don’t know, Dec. I just don’t know.”

“Would Cade make you happy?” He tucked my hair behind my ear.

“No Declan, I don’t think he would. I don’t feel for him the way I felt about you. I’ve never felt that way about anyone.”

Declan looked down at me, piercing me with those beautiful crystal blue eyes that I had missed so much. “Does Jaxon make you smile, Lor? When he looks at you, does your heart skip a beat? Does he give you those butterflies deep in your belly?”

I knew the answer - he did, he did all of that. “Yes, he does Declan, he really does. But so much has happened. I don’t know how to fix it.”

“Lor, if you love each other, ya’ll will find a way. You need to make it work. There is nothing I want more for you than happiness.”

I couldn’t stop crying. I knew this was gonna end. I didn’t want him to leave. I didn’t want to wake up. I wanted to stay here like this forever.

“Dec, you know how much I loved you, right?”

He nodded, and kissed my hand that he was holding. “Sammy looks just like you. He is such a handful, but he has such a big heart. Your mom has a really hard time watching him play sometimes. I know it’s because he reminds her so much of you. He looks and acts just like you. Mags is my little princess. She’s perfect, Dec. She’s got your eyes, but otherwise she looks like me. She is a sweetheart. She’s a little shy, but I think she’ll come into her own soon.”

He said, “Sounds like she’s a lot like her mom. Beautiful, shy, and my sweetheart.”

“Lor, it’s time for you to wake up. Always remember I loved you more than anything. You were my heart. Now let me go, but never lose the memories from the times we shared. Promise me, Lor, promise me you’ll move on and do everything to be happy. For you and for the kids. Promise me.” He placed a soft kiss on my lips.

“I promise you, Declan. I promise.”

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Opening my eyes slowly, I looked all around the small, bright room. The fluorescent lights were shining down brighter than