Page 87 of Still Here Without You

“If he looks like Mark Wahlberg, I don’t blame her for choosing him,” Dylan says, and Summer nods.

“He doesn’t look like Mark Wahlberg,” I toss back, but then mumble, “but he’s notbadlooking.”

“We’re just trying to lighten the mood. Are you sure she went home with him?”

“I don’t know. I think so. And I know I’ve done it too. It’s just…” I trail off, not really knowing how to put my feelings into words.

“It’s Delilah,” Dylan says, seemingly understanding. “Do you think that maybe it’s time to move on? She’s running hot and cold all the time, and I’m starting to think it’s because she’s never going to move past what happened. And if she doesn’t…I can’t see how things could possibly work out for you two.”

Running my hands over my face, I want to scream. “I hate that you’re right.”

“Me too,” he says, patting my back.

“Maybe you need to talk to her. Get it all off your chest,” Summer adds, her look full of sympathy.

Uh. She’s right too. I know she is, and I hate it. I’m just not sure how many more times I can try. But if I don’t at least give it one last go, I’ll never know where I stand.Then again, do I really want to know where that is?

Chapter Thirty-Two

Delilah

Joelpullsmecloseto whisper in my ear. “I love you, Del, but this isn’t going to work.”

My heart clenches as I cry out in pain. “No, we can fix it.”

“Del. Wake up,” a voice says from somewhere close by. My brows furrow, confused by the speaker.That’s not Joel.Coming out of my slumber, I open one eye and then the next to find the guy I met at the bar staring down at me. “Marky Mark?”

He laughs out loud, and the sound vibrates through my head, so much so, that I cover my ears and cringe, praying it will stop. Looking around, I note that I’m in a car but can’t remember how I got here. I feel hungover rather than drunk, but I definitely can’t have slept long enough for that. It’s a strange feeling. Mark pulls my hands away from my ears and leans forward to whisper. “Sorry. I’ll keep my voice down. We’re at your place.”

When I look out the tinted window, I can see the sun peeking through the clouds.What in the world?

“What time is it?”

“Almost six.”

“In the morning!” I sit up quickly, immediately regretting it as pain shoots through me. “How is it almost six? And whose car is this, and…” I look down at myself, sighing in relief to see that not only am I fully clothed but there’s a suit jacket over my lap.

“You’re in my car. That’s my driver in the front.” He points. “You fell asleep the second you sat down, and I haven’t had the heart to wake you. We’ve been driving around.”

What?“Driving around? For how long?”

“A few hours.”

“A fewhours? What about the club? Aren’t you supposed to be there? Who closed up?”

Mark laughs, but it’s softer this time, almost like he’s trying to whisper laugh. “That’s not really how clubs work.”

I mentally facepalm. “No, I know that. I’m just…I guess…why?”

“You looked so peaceful, and I had some emails to respond to. Trust me, I kept myself busy. I could have just as easily slept if I wanted to.”

“Well then, thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Now, do I need to walk you up, or are you okay?”

I cringe at the thought of my mom opening the door for us and shake my head violently. “How old are you, Mark?”

“That’s a rude question. I’m thirty-two.”

---