Page 51 of Battling the Enemy
His mother had no skeletons, and from what we could gather on her, she was just stupid. She spent all her time shopping and…shopping.
As for Delaney’s parents, we were able to find out her father was in debt, and not your average household debt, but inrealdebt. While they were wealthy, wealth is relative when you’re placing half a million dollar bets on red. They were living on borrowed money, and he needed Delaney to marry Winston to secure his medical research and partner with Winston’s father’s pharmaceutical empire.
Delaney’s mother was also screwing some dude who lived in Monte Carlo. Her dad used Monte Carlo as a cover for research when he was really gambling. And he didn’t care where his wife ran off to because he was too busy giving into the monster in his mind. Delaney’s mother didn’t mind the gambling because she was too busy spreading her legs for a guy half her age.
All the while, they were going broke, and Delaney was none the wiser.
As for Delaney, of course, there was nothing on her. No vices, no speeding tickets, not even a fucking B on her report card. Delaney Martin was everything she was perceived to be. She was studious, quiet, and weak.
Oh, there were times when she flashed some fire, but I saw now that those times were more small sparks than real fire. If she had real fire in her, she wouldn’t have smiled for that fucking picture.
When she first called, I hadn’t answered, and I hadn’t answered the second, third, fourth, or fifth time she called. I deleted her texts and voicemails as soon as my phone beeped with their notifications. I didn’t want to hear anything the weak bitch had to say. And, even if I had wanted to hear her excuses and explanations, I didn’t want to do it over the phone.
And, now, I was five beers and three shots in at the party wondering just how far I was going to have to take this to forget Delaney’s betrayal. I figured I’d have to dip into the party favors before the end of the night in order to forget this fucked-up day, but I was okay with that. I’ve snorted up coke before for a lot less.
We were all sitting on the boulder we usually hang out on when we’re partying at the cove. Sands Cove had an inlet where the beach was smattered with a bunch of different-sized boulders, and we usually made use of the boulders as tables and chairs.
At often times, beds too.
And it was while we were congregated around our boulder that Melissa sauntered up to me reminding me of the last time I attended a party here. “Hey, Deke,” she greeted, smiling. She gave everyone else a quick glance. “Hey, guys.”
She was greeted with polite hellos, but you could tell the girls were super tense about her approach because they knew. They knew where this was going, and I couldn’t even summon enough love for them, at the moment, to care how hurt their feelings were going to be by the end of the night.
Melissa returned her attention to me. “So, uhm, where’s Delaney?” she asked.
I smirked, the alcohol helping to dull what I was really feeling. “In New Hampshire with her boyfriend,” I huffed. “They’re being in love and planning their future together.” Melissa looked confused, and I realized she wasn’t the type to appreciate sarcasm.
“But…I thought you were her boyfriend?” she asked.
The girls were going to hate me but fuck it. “Nope,” I replied, popping the ‘p’. “She was a challenge. I de-virginized and dirtied her, and now I’m done.” I could hear Emerson’s and Linnie’s gasps, but I wouldn’t look at them. Maybe it was chicken shit because I knew they’d forgive me eventually, but I didn’t look their way. I didn’t owe Delaney Martin a motherfucking thing.
Melissa took that as an invitation to sit on my lap. “So, then…you’re free to…hang out?”
Ignoring Melissa, Roselyn said, “Don’t do this, Deke.”
I finally looked over at my friends and I focused on Linnie. “Don’t, what?” I smirked. “Don’t enjoy uncomplicated pussy?”
She straightened her back and I could tell she wanted to rip into me, but we didn’t do that. We didn’t air our grievances for the masses. Our group was tight and private. Linnie would wait to yell at me later. I glanced over at Emerson, and her face was stoic; expressionless.
I looked back at Melissa nestled on my lap and, admittedly, it felt wrong.Shefelt wrong in my arms, but I didn’t give a fuck. I needed to forget Delaney’s betrayal, and booze, drugs, and women were the only way to do that.
Suddenly, there was a shift in the air.
I could feel the change all around me. I glanced over at the group and they were all standing up, backs erect, faces serious, and chins up. There’s only one reason they’d be on guard like that.
Winston and Delaney must be here.
When I turned my head in the opposite direction, it wasn’t Winston and Delaney coming down the hill towards us; it was Delaney and Ava.
I watched as their heads swiveled every which way, presumably looking for me, but I stayed seated with Melissa on my lab.
Like hell I would run to her.
When Delaney’s eyes finally landed on mine, her entire body stilled. I watched as she took in Melissa on my lap and I couldn’t have timed it more perfectly if I had tried. Ava was standing behind her, and when my eyes glanced her way, she looked furious.
That’s rich.
Delaney snapped out of her shock, and made her way down, but her steps were small and unsure. When she stopped in front of us, it was a full thirty seconds before she tore her eyes away from a smug-looking Melissa and looked at me. “I…I take it you didn’t read my texts?” she asked, her voice steadier than I thought it’d be. “You didn’t…listen to the voicemails?”
