Page 50 of The Underdog

There’s much more to me than my wildering habits and poor mood swings. I just reserve that side of myself…I have to. My job isn’t about being the most personable guy in the room. It’s about being the guy that guarantees results.

Silence falls between the three of us. It’s an awkward silence that's hardly suppressed by the sound of the clock behind me. Ticking with each second, like a pained lullaby, as I desperately fight the desire to fall back into another one of Delaney's unprovoked trances.

“Well, enough about Warren.” Mum relieves the strain as she attempts to start up a conversation with Delaney. “I want to learn more about you. Warren said you’re from Houston, is that right?”

She swallows the liquid in her mouth before nodding. “Born and raised,” she declares. And for the first time in a while, I hear that sweet southern charm in her voice.

“Do you miss home at all?” Mum probes her.

Delaney ponders in thought for a moment—I suppose I continually forget that this isn’t her home…her life. This is all temporary; she’s got an expiration date, one I have no real idea of.

I’m unsure why that thought aches my core as she responds, “I do at times. I mainly miss my friends, and I’d be lying if I didn’t say the weather, no offense, of course.”

Mum playfully laughs. “No offense taken. I don’t control the weather, dear. And if I did, it wouldn’t be clouds and rainy skies every day.”

Delaney joins in on the laughter, throwing an occasional stare in my direction as she continues in conversation.

“So, is this your first time in England?” Mum continues the question train.

Delaney rests back into her chair. “It’s not. I’ve been here before, actually. Well, not here,here, specifically. But I’ve been to London.”

“When?” Her revelation prompts me to sit up in interest. It’s a single word—one syllable, but it’s enough to see my Mum inflate with happiness, given that I’ve seemingly entered the conversation.

“I visited during my spring break of sophomore year,” Delaney explains. “A couple of my friends and I explored the city together.”

“That sounds fun!” Mum’s voice inflates with interest. “What did you all get up to?”

Delaney tilts her head to look up in thought before revealing her hand, where she counts each attraction on her fingers. “We went to the London Eye, Buckingham Palace, saw Big Ben, went through to stores on Oxford and?—”

“That’s not London,” I cut her spiel short as Mum shoots me an annoyed glance, prompting me to raise my hands in defense as I look over at Delaney. “I’m just saying, it’s like you googled ‘top ten things to do in London’ and listed off the first four results.”

Delaney’s lips curl into a smile as she notices Mum shaking her head at me not-so-subtly. “Don’t get too mad at him, Helen.” She places a hand on her arm. “I did, in fact, do exactly that. But can you blame me? It’s not like I had a tour guide or a local to take me around.”

Her words light my Mum’s eyes up like I’ve never seen them before.

No.

“You know what?” Mum stands up with enthusiasm. “I know just the person to help you out with that.”

Delaney hasn’t yet caught onto her referral as she eagerly joins in on the excitement, her voice practically a squeal. “You do? Who?”

Mum walks around the table, planting her arms on either side of my shoulder a little too abruptly as I remain seated. “Warren will show you around London,” she proudly boasts. “After all, he only lived there for four years.”

“You did?” Delaney is caught off guard by her revelation.

“He did!” Mum urges me to stand. “You’ll take her around London, won’t you, Warren?” She clutches my wrist, looking up at me hopefully. I can see the excitement behind her gleaming eyes, and I don’t have the heart to snatch that away from her.

I release a breath before I’m met with Delaney’s wondrous stare. A day in the city I love with the girl I…

“Sure,” I speak before I have to carry out the remainder of that thought. “I’d be happy to.”

EIGHTEEN

D E L A N E Y

I wait patiently outsidethe front door, wrapped in a stylish coat and sunglasses. It’s been weeks since I’ve seen the sun make an appearance in England, and I’m not about to pass up on it.

I pull my phone out of my pocket, and much to my disappointment, I’m met with one single notification waiting for me.

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