Page 113 of Still Here Without You

“You’re right. He is a hot businessman. But you don’t need to fight for me.”

“Del—”

“Wait.” I cut him off, knowing he’s got the wrong idea. “You don’t need to fight because there’s no competition. I’m yours. I’ve always been yours. I just tried so hard to fight it.”

“Del, you—”

I cover his mouth with my hand. “Zip it. You’ve made your big speech, now it’s my turn.”

Joel mimes zipping his lips with the hint of a smile breaking free. I nod in thanks and continue.

“I know I hurt you. I know I fucked up by pretending that we’d both be able to move past this. I thought I was doing what was best for you. But—”

“You are what’s best for me. Loving you, fighting with you, being your friend. I want it all. Whatever we have to face, we face it together. We can do it.”

“For fuck’s sake, Joel. I’m trying to tell you I love you.”

Without another word, Joel pulls me down on top of him and smothers me in kisses. When I try to get up, he holds on tighter until the pain becomes too much, and he groans.

Jumping up, I take a step back so he can’t reach me. “No more of that until you’re better.”

“Fuck that. Come here.” He wiggles his finger in a come-hither motion, but I ignore him.

“Not going to happen. I’m staying away. You need to heal, and that’s final.”

“Eh, why did I want the old Delilah back again?”

“Because you loved her.”

Joel’s lips pull up into the most beautiful smile. “I did, and I never stopped.”

“Unfortunately, I never stopped loving you either,” I say, trying to hide my grin.

“God, I love you so much. Now, get over here. I can at least hold your hand.”

I sit down beside him, clasping my hand in his. We’re quiet for a moment until a thought occurs to me. “How did you know? About…everything.”

Joel bites back a smirk, squeezing my hand. “Blocking emails only works one way, Del.”What the hell?

My eyes widen and my mouth drops opens in shock before I cover it with my hand, huffing out a laugh.“Shit!”

Chapter Forty-Four

Joel

Delilah’swaitingbythecar when they wheel me out the glass doors. I can walk fine, but stupid protocol insists on making me look more fragile. Her eyes light up when she sees me and she walks in my direction. Wincing before I stand, I try not to give away how shitty I’m really feeling, because right now, all I care about is pulling her into my arms, something I know she’ll reject if she catches on to my pain.

Delilah only left the hospital for class or cheer practice, and that was because I forced her to leave. When she was with me, she kept her promise to keep her distance, and the anticipation of her touch is killing me. Having said that, it was nice to be able to focus on finding our way back to each other and rediscovering the Joel and Delilah we once were. My God, she has definitely not lost her sass. It was just hidden for a while.

When I stand up from the wheelchair, I take slow steps toward her, dragging out our moment. Del rolls her eyes, making sure to exaggerate her irritation, because she knows I love it.

“What? Is watching your frail boyfriend walk for the first time too much for your patience?”

“Shut up, you’ve walked plenty,” she sasses, but a smile lights up her face. She jogs the remaining steps to meet me and wraps her arms around my neck. My hand goes to her hip as my other moves into her hair, tilting her head until her lips meet mine. Despite the urgency we both feel, the kiss is soft and gentle; it’s unhurried, like we know we’ve got a lifetime of kisses ahead of us. And we do.

Del pulls away first. “So, I hope you don’t mind, but I arranged for Marky Mark to pick you up.”

My gaze flies to the car behind us, and sure enough, it’s a blacked-out town car. How the fuck didn’t I notice that before? I’m about to question it when she starts to laugh. “Relax, he’s not here. And there’s something about him you should know.”

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