Page 34 of Still Here Without You

I smile at Del’s sheepish look as I hang up the phone. “So, who was that?”

Cringing, I huff out a laugh and then sigh. “That was my mom.”

It’s Delilah’s turn to cringe. “I had a feeling.”

“Dylan felt the need to talk to her about the two of us, though I’m not sure why.” I say the last bit directly to Dylan, and he lifts a shoulder in a half shrug.

“I may have gotten a bit excited last night when I saw the two of you dancing.”

“Excited, really?” I give him a blank stare.

“Okay, I did it to piss you off. Payback for all the things you’ve shared with Lucy. I never have any gossip on you. I took advantage,” he admits as Del laughs.

“I forgive you,” she says with a smile.

“I don’t,” I huff.

“How is Mrs. M anyway?” he asks with genuine interest.

“You would know. You spoke to her before I did.”

He holds his hands up in surrender. “We didn’t speak. I messaged her. There’s a difference.”

“Jackass,” I mumble under my breath, watching Dylan laugh as he walks back to his room. Delilah looks at me with a puzzled expression, biting her fingernail in a way that drives me crazy, even though it’s so innocent.

“What’s on your mind over there?”

“Oh, nothing. Sorry.” She shakes her head free of her thoughts and smiles. “Breakfast smells great. Any for me?”

“Nope. Just Dyl and me. Wouldn’t want you to get too attached to my cooking.”

“Totally get it. I’ll see you later,” she says, taking off toward the front door.Damn her.Always with the sass. I catch her before she gets to the entry, enjoying the giggles she makes when I throw her over my shoulder to bring her back, and dump her onto the stool by the counter. “Sit. It’s almost ready.”

Chapter Thirteen

Delilah

Forthenextfewmonths, Joel and I end up naked almost every weekend. To keep things casual, we don’t make plans and barely talk during the week, but somehow we always end up here, in his room, no matter how the night started.

“I can hear your brain ticking again. Stop stressing. There’s no way I’m going to fall in love with you. You’re too annoying,” Joel says without opening his eyes, sensing my mood. I’m currently lying naked across his chest as he strokes my back with one hand and plays with my hair in the other. I laugh, but it’s a little forced.

“Time for me to go,” I say, jumping up and searching for my clothes. Away from Joel’s warmth, a shiver dances across my skin, and he laughs. He’s grown used to my minor freak-outs.

“Okay, come on. I’ll take you home,” he says, slowly moving off the bed. He never questions me or pushes for more. Whatever speed I choose, he delivers. I stop getting dressed and lean down to kiss him. “Thank you for being so understanding.”

Joel shakes his head as his lips pull into the smallest of smiles. “I don’t want to complicate your life, Del. It’s just a bit of fun. But if it gets too hard, we can stop. If you’re able to resist me,” he says, bouncing his eyebrows.

“Resist you, huh? I think I can manage. Now, let’s go.” Still shivering after pulling my top over my head, I walk over to Joel’s closet and rummage around. He watches in amusement as I resurface with a grin. “I’m borrowing this sweater because it’s going to be freezing on the bike this morning.”

Joel laughs and moves over to join me. “I have a better option.” He pulls a slim leather jacket from a hanger and throws it my way. I run the material through my fingers and hold it out, admiring the design. It’s beautiful and would have cost hundreds of dollars. A spike of jealousy runs through me without permission. He mentioned his high school ex, is it hers? Why else would he have it? I want to try it on so badly, but at the same time…

“Whose jacket is this?” I blurt, then feel my body heat as a blush takes over.

Joel eyes me curiously. It probably has something to do with the tone I used. It didn’t exactly scream innocent question.

“Whose jacket do youthinkit is?”

“I don’t know, Joel. That’s why I’m asking.” Sometimes he makes it very easy tonotfall for him. Unfortunately, sometimes he doesn’t. He laughs out loud, making me frown, then shakes his head.

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