Page 33 of Still Here Without You

“All part of the evil plan I was telling you about. Now, I know there was mention of another go, but I need sleep.”

“Weak,” Delilah says through a yawn before curling up beside me.

I huff out a laugh as I wrap my arms around her. I’m just about to close my eyes when she speaks again. “I forgot to ask, what happened to the mirror on your ceiling?”

I bark out a laugh and squeeze her tightly. “I retired it,” I joke. I don’t have to face Delilah to know she’s rolling her eyes, so I give her the honest answer without her having to ask. “In truth, I was never that guy, Del. I’ve slept with two other people. One was a high school girlfriend, and the second a college one-night stand. I’m not against playing the field or having a girlfriend. I’ve just never given it much thought. My studies seemed to take priority.”

Del’s quiet for a bit and then she whispers, “Huh. Well there you go.”

I laugh again and press a kiss to her hair before finally shutting my eyes. “Night, Del.”

“Goodnight, Joelle,” she sasses one last time before drifting off.

I fall asleep with a smile on my face and her warmth beneath my touch.

I’m in the kitchen making breakfast the next morning when my mom calls. We speak weekly, but she’s been away, so we missed last week's call.

“Mother dear. How are you?” I say, holding the phone between my ear and shoulder as I flip the pancakes I’ve started.

“Oh, sweetie, I’ve missed you. Our trip was wonderful, but I did miss our weekly catch-up. I tried to call, but your father stopped me.”

“Not once. Eight times,” Dad calls out in the background, making me chuckle.

“I promise, I’m fine. Dylan’s looking after me,” I joke.

“Oh, yes, I know you’re fine. I’ve actually heard from Dylan.”

I stop moving with the spatula in midair.I’m going to kill him.Mom doesn’t have to mention what he’s said for me to know he’s a dead man, and the fucker chooses that moment to walk through the door.

“Did you now?” I say with raised eyebrows. “And what didDylansay exactly?” I make a point of raising my voice at his name. His eyes widen, and he turns on his heel to walk away but stops when he sees Del right behind him. “Don’t let him get away,” I say to her, loving the sound of my mom’s giggles through the line.

“Oh, honey. It wasn’t that bad, but I’m hoping that the person you just told to stop Dylan is the same one he mentioned.”

“Sure, if it was one of his many girlfriends,” I say distractedly as I watch Delilah and Dylan. If looks could kill, Dylan would be on the floor right now. He knows I can’t lie to my mom.

“Oh, okay,” she says, her tone laced with disappointment.Crap. I soften, and Dylan instantly relaxes when he sees the change in me. Delilah just eyes us both with a confused expression.

I sigh. “If he mentioned Delilah, then yes…she’s here.” I move over to them as Delilah’s eyes shoot to mine, and her confusion turns to wide-eyed shock. Dylan laughs until I hit him in the back of the head and then grasp Delilah’s hand.

“Oh, Joel. Can I meet her?”

I wince, looking down at Del as I answer. “No, I’m sorry, it’s not like that. We’re friends, and ah…well, this isn’t awkward at all.”

Mom laughs. “I know how things work, honey. Dylan seemed to suggest it might be more than that.”

“Well, Dylan is about to have his ass handed to him on a platter.”

Mom laughs again as Dylan cringes, his smile still in place.Fucker! Delilah just stands quietly next to me, watching us with a pink blush coating her cheeks.

“I better go, but how about I come over for dinner this week?” I offer.

“That would be lovely. And as you know, yourfriendsare always invited.”

I laugh at her sass. “I know. Love you.”

“Love you too.”

I’m not sure I should be making this comparison, but as I hang up the phone, I realize my mom and Delilah share some similarities. Both full of sass, both incredibly warm and friendly, and both have this inner strength that keeps them going even when others might fall apart. I may have only known Del for a few months, but I see it. I see her, and it’s that strength that draws her to me, yet it’s that same strength that keeps her away. She’s protecting us both from a potential heartache, and I truly admire her for it.

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