Page 30 of Still Here Without You

Dylan laughs it off as a joke, even though we all know she wasn’t joking. “Amazing opportunity, isn’t it?”

Shelby shrugs. “Depends on where your priorities lie. I personally wouldn’t give up cheer for anything. It means abandoning my friends and squad, and I just couldn’t. I’m sure that’s something you understand, Dylan.”

Joel’s grip becomes even tighter, and I grab his leg in return, hoping it calms him.

“Actually, I’d dump these jackasses in a second,” Dylan jokes, and I can’t help the small laugh that escapes me.

Shelby laughs out loud. “Oh, Dylan, you’re so funny. But in all seriousness… She’s done the wrong thing. I tried to be kind, but I’m not happy. The team’s not happy. I’m a nice person. I like being a nice person, but…” She turns to me, pretenses clearly going out the window with the steam in her eyes. “Delilah, you’re being selfish. You knew this would affect us, but you went for it anyway. The season’s barely started. Now, we’ll have to train someone new because the stunts you do are very unique, and you know this. You know. And what’s it even for? Fashion? As if you’re going to make it. We need you on the team, but no, you had to be a self-centered b—”

“Enough!” Joel roars from behind me, causing me to jump. Even with the loud music, I can tell the rest of the table has gone silent. I squeeze Joel’s leg to reassure him I’m okay, offering him a smile. “It’s okay. They’re just words and—”

Joel’s eyes flash to mine, and he’s seething. “It’s not fucking okay.”

“I think you should leave, Shelby,” Dylan says, looking between Shelby, Joel, and me.

Shelby’s eyes flare at the rejection, and she huffs but does as he asks, mumbling more hatred for me as she walks away. She’s almost at the door when I decide to go after her, but when I try to stand, I’m pulled back down.

“Are you okay?” Joel whispers in my ear. His anger is gone, and he has a look of concern in its place. The sound of his whisper sends a shiver down my spine, but I don’t have time to focus on that now. Something is definitely wrong for Shelby to have done that in front of the football team. I must have really put the team in a bind.

“I’m fine. I need to talk to Shelby,” I say, trying to move away again.

Joel holds tight. “Are you kidding me? After the way she just spoke to you?”

“You don’t understand, and—”

“Delilah, you were in tears.Tearsover this. Have you forgotten I was there? You’ve done nothing wrong. I can’t let you go after her, knowing she’s just going to try to hurt you even more.”

I sigh and close my eyes, wanting to be mad at him for telling me what to do, but I can’t be. He’s probably right. If she’s still worked up, she’s likely to continue her tirade. It’s probably better if I let her sleep on it. Opening my eyes, I rest my palm on Joel’s chest and feel his rapid heart rate.This really got to him.Moving my hand to his face, I cup his cheek and smile. “Thank you for being my big, bad protector.”

He rolls his eyes but smiles. “She’s lucky she’s a she.”

I laugh at his words but understand his meaning.

“Want to dance off that steam?”

“Oh, you want to dance with me now? Is Luke too busy?”Seems we’re playing this game again.

“I don’t know. Let me go check.”

I jump up quickly but only make it a few steps away when thick arms wrap around my waist, hoisting me into the air, and I’m carried to the dance floor. Playful Joel is back.

He puts me down as a few of the guys and their girlfriends join us. We dance around as a group for a bit until the DJ announces he’s changing things up. “This next one is a classic song with a modern twist. Enjoy, beautiful people.”

A remixed version of “Tiny Dancer” by Elton John starts to play, and I almost cheer I'm so excited. Joel notices my reaction and smiles playfully before a devilish grin takes over. He moves to the music and mouths the words to the song. A memory of him mentioning he can sing comes to mind, so I take a step closer, grip his tee, and pull him toward me. He moves without resistance and continues to sing the words in silence, knowing I’m desperate to hear his voice. When the chorus hits, he pulls me into him and moves his lips to my ears. My heart races until he says, “Sorry, not today,” and then laughs against my cheek, sending vibrations everywhere throughout my body.

Even though he’s said what he wanted to say, he doesn’t move away. Instead he grips my hip with one hand and runs the other up my body until he reaches my neck. Cupping my cheek, he lifts my chin so I’m forced to look at him and then gently presses his lips to mine, just once before pulling away. My eyelids flutter, but before I can process what happened, I’m being spun around, my back now to Joel’s front, and he’s moving us in time with the music. If my lips weren’t tingling from the kiss, I wouldn’t have believed it had happened. And despite all my earlier reservations, I know I’m going home with him. I can’t deny myself this one bit of happiness on an otherwise shitty day. At least, that’s the excuse I’m giving myself.

Chapter Twelve

Joel

Thisgirlisdrivingme crazy in all the best ways. As I run my hands up and down her body, I want nothing more than to throw her over my shoulder, take her to the nearest room, and blow her mind. Only I don’t think she’s that kind of girl. And I’m not that kind of guy either. But make no mistakes. I’m not ending this night alone. I lean down to whisper just that in her ear when she turns in my arms and looks deep into my eyes. I’m mesmerized by her. I don’t know what it is, but I can’t get her out of my mind. Whether it’s because she’s annoying the hell out of me or making me want to devour her, she’s there, in my head.Constantly. I’m seconds away from kissing her again when she says the words I’ve been waiting for.

“You want to get out of here?”

“Hell-fucking-yes.” I’m not even trying to play it cool.

Delilah laughs before resting her head on my chest. I’m not stupid. I know she has reservations about us taking things further, but I’m struggling to do the right thing. I should be making it easy on her, but I want her too much. It’s a feeling that is foreign to me.

---