Page 93 of On the Power Play

It was too many exclamation points, but she sent it anyway. When she was settled under the covers, Jack turned off the light. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the inky dark.

“Please.” It was the only word she could get out, and she hoped he understood. She wanted him there, right next to her. Holding her together so she didn’t shatter into a thousand pieces.

A streetlamp sent pale light through the thin strip between her curtains and the wall. It was just enough to catch Jack's silhouette as he approached the bed. He climbed onto it, staying on top of the covers as the mattress compressed. Delia's skin prickled at the sound of his jeans rubbing on fabric. At the way she rolled back into him.

His breathing shifted from shallow to deep. "Is this okay?"

Delia nodded, then reached back and grabbed his wrist, pulling his arm over her waist. Jack moved closer, pressing his chest against her back, unintentionally pulling the covers tight over her shoulders and hip. The pressure was soothing, like a weighted blanket, and Delia exhaled, sinking into the mattress.

"Do you need anything? Water?" he whispered.

Delia shook her head, then reached up and smoothed her hair so it wouldn't be in Jack's face. When she dropped her hand, she gripped onto Jack, pulling his hand to her chest. Her thoughts depressed, slowing for the first time all afternoon, but the questions from the washroom still rolled through her head like marbles. "Do you think people believe it?"

Jack drew a breath and exhaled. "I'm sure some people do. But anyone who knows you?—"

"People don't know me, Jack." That was the honest-to-God truth. She hadn't known how to get close to people at the same time as she was working to build her dream career, so she hadn't. She was hopefully likable in her interviews, but she hadn't always been herself. Mostly because herself hadn't always been especially successful at winning friends and influencing people. She was only truly herself with a few people. Mary. Her mom. Tony, most of the time. And . . . now Jack. The realization sent a soft glow buzzing under her skin.

"Maybe you're not giving people enough credit."

"Well, people just posted my fake sex tape, so . . ."

Jack chuckled, and her shoulder moved with his chest. "Fair point." He shifted his legs and completed their partial spoon. "I think I know you, though."

"Yeah?"

"Enough to know you wouldn't like any of the shit Tony mentioned in that video."

Delia breathed a laugh. "Right. I'm so easy to read in real life, you've figured out my sexual preferences."

Jack brushed his nose against the back of her head. "You're not as cryptic and mysterious as you think."

The crushing weight on Delia's chest slipped an inch. "Some people don't even listen to my lyrics."

"Maybe those people would listen if they were actually yours."

Delia's heart thudded loud enough, she was sure Jack could hear it. She gripped his hand tighter. "You should teach me that rhyme." Jack didn't answer right away, and Delia realized her mind had skipped well outside normal trains of thought. "The Tony one," she clarified, and sensed Jack grin behind her.

"That's unfair," he whispered.

"How so?"

"Because you know I can't say no when you just had a leaked sex tape."

She laughed. "I know, it was brilliant. I said to myself, 'Delia, just be patient until the sex tape leaks, and then you can finally get your answers.'"

"Diabolical." Jack pulled his hand from hers. "Okay, it's really difficult, so I need you to pay attention." Delia nodded, her heart fluttering like a butterfly trapped in a jar. "It starts with toes, which I can't reach right now, but just pretend."

Delia stretched her arm downward, barely reaching past her knee. "Okay, got it. I'm as far as I can go."

"Right, so 'Toe, knee,'" Jack tapped her knee and waited for her to follow. "'Chest." He didn't touch there, instead keeping his hand over the back of hers. "Then 'nut,' that's your head."

"Of course it is." Delia tapped her forehead.

Jack tugged on her wrist. "'Nose.'"

Delia cackled. "Ow! That's my eyeball!"

"Well pull in your fingers, geez, Delia. You don't need a claw for this exercise."

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