Decipher (Declan Reede: The Untold Story #3) Read Online Free PDF Page B

in Phoebe’s direction.
    “Sorry. Habit. I’ll try to clean it up, I swear. After all, I have a reason to now.”
    I held out my arms for her, and she stepped inside. Phoebe wrapped herself around us, one arm around my leg and one around Alyssa’s.
    “Two reasons,” I added, running my fingers through Phoebe’s hair. She looked up at me with a grin and I couldn’t resist picking her up and resting her on my hip.
    “We should probably get the phone calls over with so we can enjoy our night,” Alyssa said.
    The next hour was a whirl of me entertaining Phoebe while Alyssa called her mum, and then the airline to book a return flight for her and Phoebe. Because she’d driven my car down to meet me, rather than waiting for me to fly back up to claim it, she needed to get back to Brisbane another way.
    Once she’d done what she had to, we swapped so that I could call Mum to say goodbye before she left to jet-set around the globe.
    “You’re okay with this, aren’t you, Declan?” Mum asked. “With me going away, I mean? I can cancel if you’d prefer. Maybe come to Sydney for a while instead.”
    “Mum, how long have you been dreaming about going overseas?”
    “W-what are you talking about?” The innocence in her denial was almost comical.
    “Well, clearly you’ve wanted this for a while. The decision to leave was too impulsive, too fast. Too . . . like me. Not like you at all. You’ve obviously wanted it for a while, and maybe even planned it out in your head.”
    “I—” The guilt in her voice was clear.
    I cut her off with a laugh. “It’s okay, I get it. Really, I do. With the shi—stuff Dad did, I’d be surprised if you hadn’t been planning this escape for years. Who am I to tell you not to go?”
    “You’re my son, that’s who. If you need me to stay until this magazine stuff blows over—and it will blow over—that’s what I’ll do.”
    Turning so that I could watch Alyssa and Phoebe, I smiled. “No. I think I’ll be fine. After all, I’ve got Lys.”
    “If you’re certain?”
    “I’m positive, Mum. Go, live your life for you for a while. We’ll all be here when you get back. Maybe you can spend some time with us in Sydney then?”
    “I’d like that.”
    We chatted for a little while longer, in a way we hadn’t ever done while I’d been at the peak of my career. Later, after I’d wished her a safe flight, I disconnected the call feeling lighter than I had since before flying in for the meeting with Danny.
    After I’d finished the call, I sat on the floor with Phoebe and watched while she and Alyssa played with a doll Alyssa had obviously brought with her from Brisbane. Near the door was an overnight bag stuffed to a point just past full and looking ready to burst at the seams.
    “So when are you going home?” I asked, even as the thought of them leaving caused a lump to grow in my throat.
    “Wednesday.” She frowned as she said the word. “I just booked our flights home. I’m sorry, Dec, I can’t get any more time off work.”
    The mention of the W word reminded me that I no longer had to work. No longer had a job. Was unemployed and most likely unemployable. After all, what team would want a driver that has scandal follow him everywhere? My knowledge of sponsorships and the way they worked might not have been perfect, but it was enough to understand that I was a liability.
    “Dec,” Lys said. Her voice was soft as she drew me from my thoughts. “It’ll work itself out. Somehow.”
    “I hope you’re right.”
    “How about we put it out of our minds and see what’s for dinner?”
    I laughed.
    When Alyssa tilted her head in confusion, it made me laugh harder, which caused Phoebe to giggle.
    “I told you before, Lys. I don’t do domestic. There’s fu—nothing here.”
    “Well, I guess you get to show us your favourite restaurant.”
    “There’s an awesome Chinese place just around the corner.”
    “Great. Let’s go. And we can grab some bread and milk