Page 70 of Still Here Without You

“It’s never enough. Now, hand it over,” I playfully demand, then bat my eyelashes and say, “please,” giving her my cheesiest grin.

“You, Joel Haynes, are lucky I love you.” She shakes her head with a smirk, her long blonde hair whipping around her face. She’s a special kind of girl, this one. Tall and fit, she’s incredibly beautiful, but it’s what’s inside that makes her more amazing. She’s absolutely perfect for Dylan in the way that she challenges him. And they’ve both been through so much in their lives that I have no doubt they could help each other heal. If they sort their shit out.

“Oh, I know, I’m lucky,” I respond to Summer. “But I also wish you’d throw some lovehisway.” I wave my hand in Dylan’s direction as he approaches. They are practically joined at the hip tonight, and it’s definitely not one-sided. If only they could see it.

Summer’s nose scrunches at my words, but she recovers just in time for Dylan to wrap his arms around her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder.

“Time for me to head off,” he says with a frown.

Checking the time on my watch, I see that it’s only eleven. The night is still young, but Dylan has a game tomorrow, so this is his limit. And even though I don’t usually hang out at a frat party, I’m feeling good. I have no cares in the world, and I’m not ready for the night to end.

Whistle girl sidles up beside me, tucking herself into my chest. “How about a few more dances?” she says with a sultry smile, licking her lips. And there’s my decision made.

I’m nursing a hangover from the night before, but I’m pretty good at covering it these days. The deafening sounds of the football crowd are not helping, but I’ve got a smile on my face, and I’m having fun.

“Are you kidding me, ref?” Summer’s best friend, Cory, yells, jumping in her seat at the ref’s call against her boyfriend, Nate. Summer and I laugh at her animated disapproval, and I find myselfalmostenjoying the game with them here. Cory’s a riot as usual—I’ve sat with her a few times—and Summer…well, her surprising Dylan by coming has definitely been entertaining. His game’s been epic tonight, and I’m sure that has something to do with her being here.

Cory yells again, and Summer buries her face into my shoulder. “Who invited Cory?” she jokes. “Is she always like this?”

While Summer loves football, it’s the first time she’s attended one of Dylan’s games, and I can tell she’s nervous about it. I’m guessing it has something to do with the falling-out she had with her brother, Dylan’s former teammate, but I couldn’t say for sure because she won’t talk about it. Not even to Dylan. My instincts tell me that whatever she’s holding on to is causing her a lot of pain, but it’s too much for her to share.

“She’s always like this,” I say, thinking over all the times I’ve seen Cory cheer Nate on. “But it’s getting worse.”

Summer shakes her head, peering at Cory out of the corner of her eye.

Halftime comes, and Dylan has spent the first half playing like the champion he is, actually even better. Cory and Summer disappear as soon as the guys walk off the field, leaving me alone, so I contemplate getting more beer, even though I don’t need it. I’ve been drinking too much lately.

Needing a piss break, though, I survey the quickest route, choosing to jump over the back of my seat to walk through the empty row behind me.

Looking up as my feet hit the ground, I freeze when my eyes lock on the last person I expected to see.Delilah. Still as beautiful as ever, she’s staring at me with her penetrating green gaze, eyes that I could get lost in, while playing with her deep red hair that I want wrapped around my fingers. My mind fills with regret as I think about what I did last night. I always feel guilty. Every. Single. Time. But I shouldn’t. I’m not doing anything wrong. We’re not together, never were. We haven’t even spoken in over a year. Blinking a few times, I tilt my head to the side because it can’t really be her, right? I mean, my guilt has never conjured her up before. She’s in Paris, or did I hear it had changed to London? Either way, it’s not Heartwood Falls, California.Maybe Ihavehad too much to drink?The ghost of Delilah raises her hand in a wave, and fuck…she’s really here. Taking a step forward, I put my hands in my pockets, leaning back against the seat behind me. “Hey,” I say because I have no other words.

She shakes her head but smiles. “Hey, yourself. How are you?”

“Shocked?” I reply honestly and find it comes out as a question.

Delilah gives me a shy, apologetic smile. “I didn’t expect to run into you. I had planned to give you a heads-up that I was back.”

“It’s Dylan’s game,” I say in monotone, not entirely sure if I’m annoyed or just stating a fact.

“I know.”She knows.

“When did you get back?” I bite, my tone now sharper than it needs to be.

Delilah sighs and looks to the sky. “Last month.”Last month! “I did a couple of subjects while I was away, but I needed to be back for the beginning of semester. To start my junior year.”So early last month? Even worse.

“I see,” I’m trying desperately to appear unaffected, but I’m not sure it’s working. I can’t even respond to what’s been said. Delilah’s back. She’s standing on US soil. In front of me. Home. And she didn’t even tell me. Gotta say thatfuckinghurts. Although, I’m not sure why I expected otherwise.

“Are you here to catch up with the cheer squad, then?” I ask, needing to keep the small talk up so I don’t beg her to forgive me.

Her lips pull into a soft smile. “I am. I saw a few of the girls last week. Mended some fences. They want me back on the team. Said that my replacement isn’t a team player. But the coaching staff disagrees. She’s apparently extremely talented…” She pauses, huffing out a laugh. “God, what is it about you that always makes me talk?”

I laugh too, but it’s fake. I still feel pretty shitty inside.

People start returning to their seats to get ready for the second half, making it difficult to hear each other. I take a deep breath and mentally prepare for Delilah to say goodbye, but she surprises the hell out of me and joins me in our seats instead, while the girls are still missing in action.

“It’s good to see you,” I say, a small smile finally coming through. “I might be a bit stunned, but I’m happy you’re looking well. How did the rest of the internship go? Are you back for good, or just temporarily here until you go and take the world by storm?” The question may appear simple but my heart clenching suggests otherwise.

Delilah blushes, making me want to reach out and brush my fingers across her beautifully flushed cheeks. Despite not seeing her for almost two years or talking to her for over a year, I’m still just as affected by her as I was the day she left.

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