The Safety Net

Declan's handsome face froze, like he'd just been slapped across the face. Then he bit his lip. "You want him to be your backup plan?"

I took a breath and nodded. "Why can't he be?"

The color drained from Declan's face, inch by inch. I knew exactly what it felt like to be left behind—it hurt like hell.

"Really?" Declan's eyes turned dark. After a long, heavy silence, he finally looked up at me. "I