Worth It All

by L. J. Swartz

  We pull into the parking lot of a restaurant I've never heard of. Vance gets out waiting for me at the front of the car as I get out taking a deep breath before shutting the door. He holds his hand out to me with a huge smile on his face. "Baby he's gonna love you. Come on," he tells me as I slide my hand into his. He leads me to the front of the restaurant. "VANCE," I hear a female voice yell. All I see is a blur of blonde hair fly by me as a tiny blonde woman throws herself into his arms. He has to let go of my hand to catch her. I immediately dislike her. "Hey Britt," he says then sits her back on her feet. I look to the right where the blur came from and smile. A very tall, very gorgeous black haired man is walking toward me with a smile on his face. He has tattoos up both arms, a lip ring, and muscles for days. He extends his hand to me saying, "You must be Sadie. I'm Declan, Vance's younger, hotter, stronger, brother." I laugh saying, "Nice to meet you Declan. I love your name, it's so unique." He smiles holding onto my hand as he says, "Thank you Sadie." I slide my hand from his then look to Vance. "That's enough of that," he says grabbing my hand pulling me to him. I look to Britt, I think he called her, and say, "Hello." She smirks looking me up and down before saying, "Hey." Declan grabs her hand pulling her to him. She looks annoyed then steps away crossing her arms over her chest. Wow that was harsh. "Sadie this is my lovely girlfriend, Brittany," Declan says to me with obvious sarcasm in his voice. I smile at him then glance at her. What's they're deal? "We're only together because I may be pregnant. As soon as I find out I'm not. We're done," she barks rolling her eyes. I look to Vance giving him a what did you get me into look. He huffs shaking his head. "Shall we," Declan says then bows motioning for Brittany to go first. She huffs mumbling something about him being stupid. I smile at him. He winks at me. Vance tightens his arm around my shoulder. I look up in time for him to kiss my lips quickly. "You ok," he asks. I smile shaking my head yes. We walk into the restaurant. The hostess greets us saying, "Mr. Matthews good to see you again. Just four or are there others joining you?" Vance smiles saying, "Just four tonight Bree." Declan steps up to the podium leaning forward saying, "Hey Bree. How ya been?" Her face turns beet red as she smiles grabbing menus. "This way please," she says walking off through the tables. Declan chuckles following her. Brittany looks to me and Vance then follows him. Vance goes to follow. I place my hand to his chest stopping him. He looks at me expectantly. "What the hell is their deal," I ask. He shakes his head saying, "They've been off and on for the last ten years or so. She always leaves then comes crawling back. I don't know why he deals with her." I nod asking, "He always hit on other girls in front of her?" Vance laughs saying, "No he was doing it to be a dick." He grabs my hand leading me to the table. "Took ya long enough," Brittany barks glaring at me. "Cool it Britt," Declan warns giving her a look. "Whatever Declan you told me we were coming to see Vance. You didn't mention that he had a bitch now," she hisses then looks to me saying, "no offense." I shake my head grabbing Vance's hand. "She's my girlfriend," Vance tells her then leans down whispering, "Sorry she's more brutal than usual." I shrug looking at him with a smile on my face. I'm pretty sure she's jealous of me, so she can be a bitch all she wants. I'm leaving with the brother she wants. I smile at her as Vance leans in kissing my neck. If looks could kill. I'd be dead where I stand. We sit down. Vance helps me with my chair of course. He's so sweet. "Sadie you're a hair stylist Vance tells me," Declan says. "Yep sure am," I tell him with a smile. Brittany huffs asking, "Really?" I hold her gaze. She heard what was said. She's just being a bitch. She looks to Vance saying, "Now you're down grading to the help huh?" He shoots her a look saying, "Listen here Brittany you keep up this horse shit and I'll cancel that emergency credit card I gave you that you charged $800 shoes on." Declan shoots her a look asking, "Did you fucking do that?" She shrugs at him looking unfazed. "Wow, that test better be negative," Declan says motioning a waitress over. "Yes sir," she asks looking around the table. "I need a beer, a scotch on the rocks, and a shot of tequila. Anyone else want anything," he asks the rest of us. "Beer," Vance says. "Water please," I tell her. "Water please," Brittany says holding my gaze. I roll my eyes looking away. "So Vance you wanna tell her you're a possibility for the father of this baby or should I," she asks looking to him. I look to him panicked. "Wow Britt fuck you," he says to her then looks to me saying, "She's lying." She busts up laughing saying, "You should have seen your face." I give him a look. He nods then says, "Well Declan it was good to see you, but we're leaving." He throws some money on the table then stands taking my hand pulling me with him. "Wait Vance wait, "Brittany says standing. She walks over to stand in front of him touching his face saying, "I'm sorry. Stay please." He moves away from her hand saying, "No I've had enough of you to last me another month." She grabs his arm asking, "When did you decide to hate me?" She looks genuinely hurt. "About the same time you cheated on me with my brother I'd say," he hisses at her then walks away pulling me behind him. So that explains a lot. She was with Vance first and cheated on him with Declan. She's apparently regretting that now that he's famous. We walk through the doors stepping out onto the sidewalk. Vance turns facing me. "I'm so sorry about that," he says taking my face in his hands. I shrug saying, "It was entertaining for sure." The door opens behind us. Vance looks up whispering, "Fuck." I look over my shoulder at Brittany. Declan walks through the doors saying, "Hey can I come with you guys." Brittany huffs glaring at him as he passes by her. "Ya come on," Vance says taking my hand leading me to his car. Declan's a big guy, so when we get to the car I stand next to Vance on the driver side. "Sade I can sit in the back," Declan tells me. I look from him to Vance's two door sport car then huff. He rolls his eyes then walks around to the passenger door. Vance opens the door helping me in. "Vance wait please," Brittany says walking up to him as he pushes the seat back trapping me in the back seat. "No Brittany," he tells her getting in. She leans in grabbing his face kissing him. He pushes her away yelling, "What the fuck." Declan rounds the car pulling her away from Vance saying, "We're done. You're done with this family you dumb bitch." He lets go of her then walks around getting in as Vance shuts his door. I hear her yell something about a baby. Declan gets in saying, "What a fucking slut." Vance starts the car saying, "Hey sorry man. I don't even know what the hell she was doing there." Declan huffs saying, "I do. She's been in love with you since high school. She used me to stay close to you. Since I loved her, I let her. I've gotten a tad wiser lately. She tells me she's pregnant, but I'm pretty sure it was just a way to stay close since I told her a month ago I hated her." I gasp saying, "Wow." Declan smiles then looks back at me saying, "Welcome to it, Sadie."

  I texted Rian to let her know we're coming back to our place. As I open the door I smell cookies. She's amazing. "Wow something smells delicious," Declan says as we walk through the door. "Hey guys I'm," Rian says stopping when she sees Declan. "Hey, I'm Declan," he says extending his hand to her. "Rian," she tells him as she slides her hand into his. "It's nice to meet you Rian," he says pulling her hand to his lips kissing her finger tips. I look to Vance raising my eye brow saying, "You teach him that trick?" Vance busts up laughing saying, "Hey he taught me to fight. I taught him..." he trails off looking into my eyes. His face turns to stone cold serious. "How to get woman," I finish for him. He nods swallowing hard. I sigh then look to Rian saying, "I'm starving. What did you make?" She smiles taking her hand from Declan saying, "Chocolate chip cookies, but if your hungry I can cook you something." I shake my head no saying, "Cookies sound perfect." She smiles then walks into the kitchen with Declan on her heels. I feel weird now. I know Vance cares about me, but he also used his tricks on me. I take a step to follow Declan and Rian into the kitchen. Vance grabs my arm turning me to him. "I didn't mean for what I said to sound the way it did," he tells me. I smile saying, "You mean sound like the truth? So you used your tricks on me. I don't care as long as this isn't a game to you now." I search his face. He clears his throat looking to the kitchen then back to me. "It's not," he tells me as he slides his hands
to my hips leaning forward. I run my hands up his arms standing on my toes meeting him half way. He moves his lips around mine. I'm really hungry, just not for food. I slide my hand up his face into his hair. "Hey you two get the fuck in here. There's plenty of time for sex later," Declan yells from the kitchen. I feel Vance smile against my lips. He pulls away from me holding my gaze. "Shall we," he says with a smirk. "Yes we should," I say grabbing his hand leading him back the hall. He grabs my hips stepping up right behind me as we walk back the hall whispering, "God I love how you think." I giggle as we walk into my room. I close my bedroom door behind us then turn to face him. He grabs my face stepping to me crashing his lips to mine. I slide my hands around his waist running my hands up his back under his shirt. I love the feel of his hard body under my hands. He groans from my touch. I flick my tongue into his mouth tasting him. I don't even feel the overwhelming urge I usually do to feel him inside me. I just want to touch him all over, keep him close. He slides his hands down my arms sliding them to my hips running his thumbs along the waist band of my jeans. I sigh into his mouth. Maybe I do want him inside me. He pulls back looking into my eyes. I reach up pushing the hair that fell from his forehead. "You scare me," he says calmly. I search his face, but say nothing. What the hell is he talking about? "I don't want to hurt you Sadie," he says stepping away from me. I cross my arms over my chest saying, "Ok so don't." He looks at me like what I just said was profound. "I wish it was that easy," he says looking to the floor. "It can be," I tell him. He shakes his head. "I REALLY like you Sadie, but I know me. I haven't been the same since.." he trails off searching my face. "Rian told me. I'd like to know how you really felt, since she said the media got it very wrong," I tell him. He nods his head saying, "Yeah they did." I step up to him taking his hands in mine bringing them to my lips placing kisses to his palms. "You don't have to talk about it. If you want to though..." I trail off. He squeezes my hands then slips his fingers between mine taking a deep breath. "Megan," he says looking off above my head. I stand searching his face, wondering if he wishes she was here instead of me. That's kind of bitchy of me, but I can't complete with someone who's not here anymore. "Uh we hadn't been back together long. She showed up on set to tell me she had just taken a pregnancy test and was pregnant. I was excited. Those fuckers in the media made it look like we had a fight. One even said I demanded she abort the baby, and that's why she wrecked her car. I never once even thought it. I was happy about it," he tells me searching my face. "Did you ever find out what did cause the accident," I ask hesitantly. He nods then looks away. "You don't have to tell me if that's ....." he cuts me off saying, "She uh got a text from her sister within a minute of her accident. It's not known for sure if that's the reason she veered off the rode, but it's pretty probable. Her sister is on drugs and in pretty bad shape now from what Megan's mom told me. I offered to pay for rehab, but they can't find her so..."he trails off then sighs loudly. "Do you blame her sister," I ask. He slides his hands from mine then pushes my hair back saying, "No I don't. She put enough blame on herself. I don't need to add to that." I nod looking down. "Uh you wanna go get some cookies," I ask. He smiles saying, "Ya." I walk around him to the door holding his hand then turn to him, "You know I don't blame you for feeling scared or cautious with this, whatever it is, but don't let me fall in love with you if you can't fall back ok," I say then open the door leading him out. He doesn't say a word. He doesn't need to, not yet. The problem is, I'm pretty sure I'm already in love with him.

  "Holy shit," I blurt as we walk through the living room and the kitchen comes into view. Rian's sitting on the counter with Declan between her legs, kissing her fiercely. "Jesus, Dec what are you doing," Vance barks at him. He pulls back with a smile on his face. I look to Vance as he walks from me to Declan. "What," he asks. He's definitely pissed off at Vance's reaction. "She's Sadie's best friend dude," Vance barks. I walk into the kitchen looking to Rian. Her eyes are wide as she watches them. "Fuck off Vance. We're both adults," Declan says helping Rian off the counter. "Thanks," she mumbles then walks to me. I lean in whispering, "What was that?" She shrugs with a huge smile on her face. "We're leaving," Vance barks walking to me kissing me quickly then walking to the door. He holds it open looking to Declan. Declan winks at us as he walks out without saying a word. I can't help it, I smile. Vance shoots me a look. Geez what's his deal? He walks out slamming the door behind him. "What's his problem," Rian asks a bit annoyed. "I don't know. We were just talking about Megan. He was a bit upset maybe, but I have no clue why he just flipped out on Declan. Well except for, Declan's girlfriend may be pregnant so....." I tell her watching her eyes go wide. "I'm not gonna deal with baby mama drama," Rian says shaking her head no. We walk into the kitchen. Rian grabs the milk from the fridge as I get us each a glass. "So what did he say about Megan," Rian asks. "You were right of course. He wanted the baby. He was happy about it. He said he thinks she wrecked because of a text message from her sister," I explain. She looks at me mouthing, "no way." I shake my head yes as I hold the glasses out to her. She opens the milk then fills our glasses saying, "I would die if I texted my pregnant sister and she died answering it or me or whatever." I shake my head in agreement as I reach for a cookie. "I guess her sister is kind of into drugs now," I tell her. "Wow just wow. That's crazy," she says grabbing a cookie dipping it into her milk. I do the same then moan as I take a bite. "You are ridiculously good at baking," I tell her. She laughs as she takes a bite then says, "Thanks." I dip the rest into the milk then pop it into my mouth. "So how the hell did you and Declan end up making out," I ask as I chew up my cookie then take a drink. "Well he just said I was beautiful and asked if I was single. Then he just kind of grabbed me and kissed me. I ended up on the counter after a bit. It probably would have gone further had you two been doing the same," she says smiling at me. "Sorry talking about his dead ex kind of ruined the mood," I tell her as I take another cookie off the rack. "So why did she even come up," Rian asks. "Uh he said something about not wanting to hurt me since he's not sure he can be with me after her ya know," I tell her. She looks to me with her cookie mid air. The milky half falls to the counter. "That man is crazy about you. What does he mean he's not sure he's ready," Rian asks looking a bit upset. "I uh, don't know really," I say looking to the mess she made on the counter. She leans down eating it off the counter. "Oh gross Rian," I tell her. She laughs then pops the other half into her mouth. "You need to make sure you don't fall for him if he's telling you stuff like that," she tells me then drinks down her milk. I open my mouth to say something then stop. Her eyes go wide as she sits her cup down. "I knew it. I was right. You're in love with him. I told YOU," she yells proudly. I shake my head no, but say nothing. She's right.