Page 59 of Still Here Without You

“No…well, yes. But—”

“I’m sorry again. I know I’ve been complaining and I miss you like crazy but I think—”

“Del, stop!” I yell, unable to take it anymore.

“I’m sorry. I—”

“I slept with someone else.”Shit!Blurting it out like that wasn’t my best idea, but I needed to get it out there.

She’s silent for a moment until I hear her sniff.Fuck!I had to know that was going to happen.

“I’m so sorry, Del. It was a stupid mistake. I was upset about the call. Then Rachel said you were staying. I was drunk. It meant nothing. I–”

“It’s okay,” she whispers, but I can hear the waver in her voice.

“It’s not fucking okay. It’s definitely not okay. And I’m not making excuses so that you accept it. The second it happened, I regretted it. I wanted to call you right away, but Dylan wouldn’t let me. In fact, the jackass told me not to tell you until we’re face to face. But I couldn’t; I didn’t want to keep secrets from you. I just—”

“It’s okay.”

I cover my face with my spare hand. “Please stop saying that.”

“Why? It’s true.”Ouch! Do I mean that little to her?

Lying back on my pillow, I squeeze my eyes shut before taking a deep breath. “How can it be okay?”

“We’re not together. In fact, we were never together. You don’t owe me exclusivity. I assumed you’d been with other people the whole time.”

“What? Why would you think that? Del, I’m in love withyou. I told you I didn’t want anyone else.”

She sighs. “I know; it was just easier to think that.”

“What? So it means nothing, then?”

“No. It’s just–”

“Who’s the guy, Del?” I cringe as soon as the words leave my mouth, but I’m committed now.

“What?”

“Last night you were tagged in a photo with a guy all over you.”

“What? Who?” Delilah’s genuinely confused; I can hear it in her voice. That angers me even more.

“I don’t know, Del. That’s what I’m askingyou.”

“Wait!” she snaps. “So it was a revenge fuck?”

I grimace. “Huh?”

“You sleeping with someone…You thought I was staying; you saw me with some guy. So…was it a revenge fuck?”

Was it?“Maybe. I don’t know. No. I can’t remember much of last night at all. I’m not blaming you. I know this is on me. I just want to know if I’m the only one in this. Have you already moved on from us?”

“No, I was in it,” she says, sounding a little distracted.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.“Was?”

“I just found the picture you’re talking about. That’s Rhys.”

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