The Protective Heart ✔️

7. Protecting her from loud music

I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes, grabbed my phone off my desk and shut off the alarm. I forgot to turn off my automatic alarm last night before I fell asleep. I looked at my phone for a moment before registering that I had a text message from Declan. He asked if I wanted to workout at 9am this morning. I looked at the time.

8:02

I texted him back that I would meet him at the gym but he texted me back quickly saying to meet him at his house with his address.

He must have a gym in his house. Of course he does. He's rich and a professional boxer. Why wouldn't he have an in home gym?

I quickly threw my hair up in a pony tail and put my pink work out shorts and tank top on before taking off, being careful not to wake Isabel. When I got into my vehicle I heard my phone ring, I pulled it out and saw that my sister was calling.

"Hey, Nicky, what's going on?" I asked.

"Hey, Tally, have you talked to mom lately?" Nicky's voice sounded worried.

"Not really, why?"

"I just talked to her and she doesn't sound good. I think she's having problems again." I furrowed my eyebrows.

"What did she say?"

"Nothing specific. Her voice just...it sounds like she used to back when dad left." I clenched my teeth when she said dad.

"Don't call him that." I ground out. I heard her sigh.

"What am I supposed to call him?"

"Nothing, he doesn't deserve to be called anything." I snapped. I didn't have to see her to know she was rolling her eyes at me and twirling her brown locks in her hand.

"Tally, just call her?" She pleaded. It was my turn to sigh.

"Fine. I gotta go. Love you."

"Love you, too."

I clicked the end call button and took a deep breath. I decided to call my mom later, I needed to get to Declan's. I started my car and started driving.

As I pulled up to Declan's house, I began to realize this was the first time I would be completely alone with him and my stomach started to turn in nervousness. I felt my heart start to beat faster as I pulled into his driveway. His house was fairly small considering how loaded I'm sure he was. It was a dark grey with navy blue trim. I shut my vehicle off and walked up the pathway to his front door. I shook my hands as if I were shaking away my nerves. I then took a deep breath and pressed the doorbell. After a moment, the solid oak door opened to reveal a half naked Declan. I couldn't help but look him over, from his incredible six pack to the baggy white and blue shorts he was wearing to his matching tennis shoes. I then made my way back up his body to meet his mismatched eyes that seemed to have been looking me over as well. I blushed at this realization and suddenly felt self conscious. I have never worried about what my body looks like, especially since I knew I was in good shape. But this guy had me so self aware, I was worrying what he thought of me. Why did I care? He's a man. I hate men.

"Come on in." He finally said, moving to the side so I could walk past him. I made my way into his house, seeing that we were in a hallway with two openings on the right, three on the left and one at the end that I could see was a living room.

"Did you get here ok?" He asked.

"Yeah, it was pretty easy to find. Though, I have to say, I'm surprised you don't live in a mansion." I teased. He smirked at me as he closed the door and took a couple steps towards me.