Page 114 of Still Here Without You

She links her fingers with mine and walks us toward the car as my mind races with possibilities. We’re almost to the door when I pull her to a stop, my brows raised in silent question.

“He’s gay,” she says, and I burst out laughing, shaking my head at my mistake.

Summer’s waiting near the entry when we arrive home. She wraps me in a warm hug and then punches me in my good arm. “Don’t ever do that to me again.”

I wince, rubbing where she hit me. “You’ve already told me off many times. What’s that for?”

“I figured hitting you in the hospital was a bit wrong. But now, it seems fair.”

Del nods beside me. “She’s got a point.”

“Shut it, both of you. Why did I let you become friends again?”

“You didn’t. We became friends in secret,” Del says, bouncing on her toes with a smirk as Summer laughs beside her.

“Now I know how Dylan feels about our friendship, Summer. And I don’t like it one bit,” I grumble.

“Fucking finally,” Dylan says, walking into the room. He pats me on the back before wrapping his arms around Summer and kissing her on the temple. “You sure you don’t mind dropping me off?” he asks her.

“Of course not, I’ll just grab my bag.” Summer heads to her room as Dylan looks me up and down, concern written all over his face. He’s supposed to be in Denver, settling in.

“It’s good to have you home, Joely boy,” he says with a small smile.

“It’s good to be home.”

His smile morphs into a scowl, and he shakes his head. “Next time I see you, you better be ready for an ass kicking.”

“Noted.” I laugh and cringe when the movement causes some pain.

Dylan sighs. “Are you really not getting rid of the bike?”

“I’m really not. She’ll be fixed and ready to go in no time.” I’m not lying when I say that, but the thought of riding again does freak me out—something only Delilah knows for now. “Can’t spend my days being chauffeured around in a town car, now can I?”

Delilah bursts out laughing as Dylan looks at us with confusion.

Del filled me in on her relationship with Eli, a.k.a Marky Mark, and I kind of feel like I owe the guy a drink. I’m glad she’s had a shoulder to cry on and someone willing to talk her down when she’s making rash decisions. Apparently, he’s been team Joel all the way. I owe him big time.

Dylan hugs me tight when he says goodbye. We may have been friends forever, but we’ve never been the hugging type. It’s amazing how much everything changes after a near-death experience. He makes me swear that I’ll stay away from the bike until I’m one hundred percent healed, and it’s an easy deal to make.

When they finally leave, I turn to Delilah with a wicked grin.

“We have about three hours until Summer returns. Bedroom, now!”

“If you think I’m doing anything with you right now, you’re crazy.”

“Oh, I’m definitely crazy. And the doctors said to lie down and rest. They never said anything about someone sitting on top of me when I do.”

“Not going to happen for you, Joelle.”

An image of Delilah saying something similar pops into my head, and I inwardly cheer for my brilliance.

“Okay…I have an idea.”

With my knees bunched up, I watch the water sloshing onto the floor and frown. Delilah laughs as she steps her gloriously naked body into the bath opposite me, resting her head back against the tiles on the wall as she closes her eyes. My pulse spikes, and I want to concentrate on worshipping every part of her, but I can’t focus on anything other than the lack of space.

“How can anyone possibly think this is romantic?” I say, wriggling around to get comfortable. “And I can’t even fathom trying to have sex in here. How do people do it?”

Delilah laughs again without opening her eyes. “They get creative. Is this your first time in a bath?”

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