Page 38 of Still Here Without You

“I really haven’t.” I shrug. Not sure what the big deal is.

“As soon as you get back we’re watching them. Not buts about it.”

“Them?” I say, leaning back against his bike. “As in all of them?”

Joel nods with a smile. “We’ll have plenty of time to catch you up.”

He means it as a joke, but when the words leave his mouth, the energy shifts between us. Will we? Are things between us going to be the same when I return?

Joel takes a step toward me and brushes a few strands of hair behind my ear. His hand lingers for a beat before he pulls it away. “Thank you for today. For suggesting this before…” He trails off but I know what he meant. Before I’m gone, before our time’s up, before this ends. Take your pick. I swallow a lump in my throat as all the feelings I was trying to avoid come rushing to the surface, and I find myself more confused than ever. Actually that’s not true. I know exactly how I feel. I just don’t want to feel this way. Yet being a glutton for punishment, I have no intention of trying to fix it. And just like every other weekend, we end the night in Joel’s bed, exactly where I want to be.

Chapter Fifteen

Joel

Isinkdownontothe couch next to Dylan and sigh. “Why the fuck does life suck so bad?” I’m being dramatic, but it’s warranted.

“Good day, then?” Dylan asks, picking up the remote for the TV and pressing mute. He turns to me with his arms now crossed in front of him, waiting for me to continue.

Running my hands down my face, I shake my head and then peek through my fingers. “Delilah leaves in less than a week.”

“I know,” Dylan says, with a sympathetic smile.

“And I’m kind of not ready for that to happen.” Even more so now that we’ve spent a day together. A perfect day together.

“I know that too.” Dylan cringes as though he’s said the wrong thing. But he hasn’t. I don’t think I’ve really been hiding my feelings. At least not from him.

“She’s become such a good friend and whatnot, it’s going to be strange not seeing her,” I admit, and feel a little weight lift off my chest at finally putting it out there in words.

Dylan huffs out a laugh. “Whatnot? Is that what we’re calling it these days?”

Turning my head to face him, I roll my eyes. “Well, you figured out what I meant, so the term obviously fits.”

He shakes his head with a grin. “You make a good point. But that’s not really why you feel so shitty.”

“Okay, wise one. Why do I feel so shitty?” I ask, waving my hand in front of me.This should be good.

Lying back on the couch, Dylan raises his feet onto the coffee table—something he knows that I hate—and smirks. I’m about to tell him off when he says, “Because you’re falling in love with her.”

“Say what now?” I gape.

Dylan laughs, shaking his head. “You’re. Falling. In love. With Delilah.”

I snort. Actually snort. “No, I’m not. We’re just messing around.”

“Okay, you’re right.” Dylan shrugs, and I’m relieved that he’s dropped it.

“So, what’s she up to at the moment?” he asks casually after a pause.

An image of Delilah comes to mind as I answer. “Studying for her business marketing final.”

“When’s the final?” he asks immediately.

“Tomorrow at two.”

He nods. “Not long now. Does she study with or without music?”

My brows pull, and I give him a funny look. “With. She can’t stand silence.”What’s with all the questions?

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