I immediately regret asking the question. I only wanted to know if I’m being unreasonably upset with Declan. But why should I have to confirm my emotions with a stranger?
Taejo frowns a little. “No. Never.”
His ready answer makes me pause. I suppose he could be lying. But his gaze is too serious.
“Not even when you have an important business deal?” I say lightly to hide how much his response surprised me and made me feel sadder and more upset about Declan.
“There will always be another deal. It isn’t worth neglecting her on a special day just for more money. If I wanted a wife who I don’t mind abandoning on her birthdays and anniversaries, I would’ve married one of the women my mother pushed in my direction years ago.”
Hearing it hurts more. Why couldn’t Declan have seen that my birthday was about more than just an expensive gift? “Then I’m very glad you’re being honest with me today. I’m not interested in a man who loves someone else. I’m not that desperate, and I deserve better.”
And I do. That’s why I’ve stubbornly fought my parents all these years. I’m not going to change that just because Declan hurt me.
“I’m glad we understand each other.” A sliver of warmth shows on his face. “It’s best if we tell our mothers you didn’t care for me.”
“That’s not a problem.” I finally pick up my menu. “Separate checks?”
We should at least have a meal to appease our parents. Otherwise, they’ll just insist that we do this again because there’s no way we could learn about our compatibility so fast.
He shakes his head. “That would horrify my mother. My treat.”
“Thank you.”
I have a simple entrée, then a slice of cake so sweet it almost rots my teeth on the spot. I need something to erase the sad bitterness in my heart.
Chapter Fifty-Four
Declan
I set my whiskey down on the bar. “I sent her a gift for her birthday. Then I called to say I was sorry about missing the party. I texted her I was sorry. I hung out like a loser in the lobby to see her. I tried to tell her how sorry I was and to figure out how to make it up to her. How can she still be this upset?”
Aiden gives it some thought. He’s the only one I can talk to right now. Hell, I’ve listened to him whine about women often enough. He can give me some of his time.
Aiden finishes his beer. “Is she a crazy hot chick or a normal hot chick? Be honest.”
“Normal hot.” Crazy would be Jessica and Ella.
“Then maybe it isn’t really about the party.”
“Of course it’s about the party. She was fine until I missed it.”
“Come on, man. Women operate on emotion. You know the worst kind of witness to cross-examine? Emotional frickin’ women. Why? Because when they’re emotional, they make connections in their minds that shatter your understanding of the laws of nature and common sense. Plus they never really say what they mean.”
“But that’s my point. She said it wasn’t about the party, so it has to be about the party! When women get mad, they always say the opposite of what they mean.”
Aiden stops. “Yeah, that’s true.”
“Like you ask, ‘What’s wrong?’ and they say, ‘Nothing.’ You know that’s bullshit.”
“Also true. But you aren’t listening. Did she really mean ‘party’ the way you and I understand ‘party’? It probably has ten other definitions in her mind. You just don’t know what they are.”
“Like what?”
Aiden snorts. “Dude. Who the fuck knows?”
“I can’t think of anything. And I can’t apologize if she doesn’t tell me, can I?”
“Yeah, but she’s not going to tell you. And you better hope she doesn’t tell you, because if she does, it means she’s never forgiving you for not figuring it out in the first place.”