Page 117 of Still Here Without You

“Is that a challenge?”

“No, I want you to stay away from her.”

“Uh, fine,” he reluctantly agrees, and I bite back a smile.

***

“Are you and Summer staying here tonight, Dyl? Or coming home?” Joel asks later that night.

Dylan smirks, seeing right through Joel’s innocent question. “Well, we were going to crash here, considering it’s closer to the airport, but I feel like messing with you a little, and I get the feeling you want some time alone?”

“Actually it’s more about not wanting to listen to you and Summercatchup. Again and again. Last night was enough.”

“Joel!” I scold, as Summer’s face reddens. But it seems she can hold her own and I’m collateral damage.

“Joel, no one will ever be as loud as you and Delilah the first week after you got back together. I will never be able to unhear that.”

Oh fuck!

Joel shrugs with a smug look as Summer shakes her head at me, letting me know she’s joking, causing me to laugh. It didn’t take long for me to become enmeshed in this group. I don’t even mind being a part of their teasing banter. Being here feels like home, and I will always be grateful to Joel and the others for never giving up on me. With college and cheer practice keeping me busy, I usually spend an even amount of time between my parents’ place and Joel’s, so I’ve really been able to get to know everyone properly. Only lately life’s been busy, and our alone time has been scarce. Hence Joel asking about Dylan and Summer’s plans.

The night flies by between laughter and drinks, and we’ve just finished dessert when a gorgeous brunette enters the room. Her hair falls in waves around her shoulders, which she nervously tucks behind her ear as she smiles shyly. She peeks through her glasses, her eyes touching on the people in the room, only stopping when she spots Lucy.

“You’re here!” Lucy says excitedly, waving the girl over. She takes a step into the room as Lucy starts to introduce her. “Everyone, this is—”

“Dani?” Logan says, his eyes wide with shock. Heads turn his way as Lucy takes in a sharp breath.

“Wait! What? You know each other?” Lucy’s eyes bounce between Logan and the girl introduced as Dani as she waits for an answer. Before either of them responds, Lucy’s hand flies to her mouth and her eyebrows shoot up into her hairline. “A blond-haired, tattooed player. Please tell me he isn’t Sandy?”What?

Dani flinches and Logan’s eyes widen, as I try to bite back a smile. Sandy and Dani—I love it. By the looks of it, Logan is definitely Sandy, and I have no doubt there’s a story to be told, one I can’t wait to hear about.

Joel

Delilah and I finally get back to my place not long after midnight, and as soon as my helmet is off, I get off my bike, pull my cap out of my pocket, and put it on backward. I’m dying to talk to her about something, but it can wait. Right now, I’m taking advantage of her love for my cap. “What was it you were saying earlier?” I ask with a straight face.

Delilah’s still sitting on the bike and almost falls off when she barks out a laugh. With her carefree smile and messy helmet hair, she’s never looked more beautiful.

“Do you want me to tell you how sexy you look?” she asks, innocently batting her eyelids.

I bite back my smile and nod. “Hell yes, I do. I saw the fire in your eyes. You want me.”

She rolls her eyes, knowing how crazy it makes me, and leans back on her hands. “The moment has passed because you called me out on it.”

“Oh yeah?” I say with a raised eyebrow, taking a step closer.

“Yeah,” she rushes out, clearly trying to appear unaffected by the intensity of my gaze.

Without another word, I lift her leg over the bike until she’s facing me, then unbutton her jeans. My heart beats rapidly in my chest as the anticipation builds. Tucking my hands into the waistband, I give her pants a tug and wait for her to lift her hips so I can pull them down, removing her shoes at the same time. We’ve joked about the things we could do on this bike, but it’s never actually happened. And fuck, I’ve wanted it to happen.

Dropping to my knees in front of her, I move her panties to the side, hissing when my eyes lock on her core. “Moment still passed?” I rasp, trying to hold myself back. Delilah’s eyes darken, and I can’t tell who’s more turned on right now.

“Yes,” she says on an exhale, lying through her teeth.

Moving forward, my tongue peeks out as I prepare to lick her heat, but she kicks her foot out and stops me, with her heel pressed against my shoulder. I groan at the sight of her in front of me and bite the inside of my cheek to let her speak first.

“Do you want to see the appeal?” she asks, and I’m confused by the question until she grabs my hat and places it on her own head, bouncing her eyebrows.

“Fuck me, if this is not the hottest thing I’ve ever seen…”

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