Page 89 of Reggie and Delilah's Year of Falling

It’s not until later, when Wally and Kieran have left to go see Kieran’s family, that Reggie finally has an arrow launched his way and the playful vibe totally shifts.

“Okay, this”—Jerry says, pointing between the two of us—“I just gotta say it.ThisI don’t get.”

Eric throws both his hands up like we’re in church. “Thank you! Delilah, you’re real fucking cool.” He whispers the “fucking,” leaning in so the aunties don’t hear. “So, like, what are you doing with my brother?”

I look to Reggie, thinking he’ll jump in and throw it right back, like they’ve all been doing. Like I’ve seenhimdo with Yobani and Greg. But... something is wrong. Reggie’s face is twisted into a grimace, and his shoulders are rolled forward, whole body tense. He doesn’t look them or me in the eye.

I’m not sure what’s going on, but I decide to take the lead here for him. “See, and I ask myself what he’s doing with me,” I say with a shrug. “I’m the lucky one here.”

Alex and Lenore look at each other and murmur, “Awwww!” But Jerry and Eric explode into raucous laughter, slapping the table and throwing their heads back.

“How much—h-how much did he pay you—to say THAT!”Eric gasps out in between laughs.

“She’s a plant!” Jerry calls, clutching his sides.

I look to Reggie again, trying to figure out what I’m missing here, but he’s looking away and shaking his head. I know it’s normal to take your families down a notch—Georgia and I do it all the time—but this feels off. Especially when Reggie isn’t being the Reggie I know, the Reggie who doesn’t care what other people think.

“Okay, I don’t get what that’s all about,” I say, trying to keep a smile on my face. “But I mean it. Reggie is the coolest person I know, and just so—so... solid and sure of himself. I want to be more like him.”

That sends them into another frenzy, and Lenore fixes them with a glare. “Y’all need to chill.”

I turn to Reggie, my eyebrows raised in question, and when his eyes meet mine, finally, he just sighs and shakes his head again. “It’s whatever. It’s fine.”

“If you out here talking ’boutReggie is the coolest person I know,then you must be into that nerd shit like he is.” Eric closes one eye and shakes a finger at me. “You got me, Delilah. You don’t look like one of ’em!”

My chest burns, realizing finally that Eric is one of those people who think less of Reggie because he doesn’t fit into some specified mold. He’s talked about that before, but I don’t think he’s ever mentioned it with his brother... has he? No, I would have remembered that. And I’m so confused why Reggie’s just sitting here silent when he’s always told me he takes a stand—like he’spushed me to take a stand.

“Reggie is actually really well known for his ‘nerd shit,’” I say, my voice tight. “He writes essays about Dungeons & Dragons that get thousands of views, and he was even invited onto this really famous podcast,Role With It,because they respect his knowledge of ‘nerd shit’ so much.”

“Essays! This fool is out here writing essays for fun!” Eric laughs, and Jerry joins in.

But Alex clears his throat, cutting in. “That’s so cool, Reggie. I loveRole With It,listen to it every Friday when I’m braving the 405 to see this one.” He smiles at Lenore. “What do you think of the new guy they added this season, Jason Henry? His views on racism and colonialism in the game are really interesting, and I like what he’s bringing to this campaign. I think it was a perspective they, uh, desperately needed.”

That seems to hit Reggie more than anything his brother and Jerry said. His eyes go wide and he sits back in his seat, away from me. But that doesn’t make sense. None of this makes any sense. And wait, why is this other guy on the show doing the exact thing they wanted Reggie to do? Why would they bring on someone else, unless...

Oh.

Reggie

Theshould’ves are already starting in my head. I should’ve just sent an insult right back to Eric when he started this up to maybe, like, confuse him into cutting it out. I should’ve at least laughed along with him, like I was in on the joke, instead of sitting here all frozen and scared. I should’ve told him to shut up, should’ve taken Delilah’s hand and walked away to get some sweet potato pie. I definitely, absolutely should’ve said something, anything, when Alex brought up the new guy onRole With It,the guy who apparently took up the spot that they were looking for me to fill.

But I didn’t.

And now Delilah is looking at me with her brow furrowed, her lips twisted to the side, and it’s like something clicks.

She stands up.

“I—I’m sorry. I just. Um. I need to go outside for a sec.” She turns and walks out of the room, with purpose. And I guess that purpose is to get away from me.

That makes Eric and Jerry stop laughing, finally.

Jerry jerks a finger in Eric’s direction. “Was it something he said?”

“You guys play too much,” Lenore says, giving them an earth-shattering eye roll. “You should go check on her, Reggie. That seemed like... something more than just these assholes.”

“Hey!” Eric shouts.

I stand up, trying to shoot everything I’m feeling toward him—anger, hurt, betrayal—in one look. “Why the fuck do you do this?”

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