Page 22 of Until Delilah
“Tell Beck, we love him, and we’ll see him soon, okay?” her mom says. It’s hard to hear, but it sounds like she’s crying.
“I will. I love you, Mama. Thank you for not being mad.” It’s then Delilah finally looks at me. The weight of the world seems to have been lifted off her shoulders.
“I could never be mad at you. Once we get off the phone, I want to know the address we’re going to and then I’ll text you once I’ve got our plane tickets booked.”
“I will. I promise. I love you both.”
“We love you too,” her parents say in unison before she hangs up.
Setting her phone down, Delilah looks to me with questions swimming in her eyes.
I know what she wants to ask. Am I mad at her for not telling me the whole truth? “It seems I still have more to learn about you.”
“Yeah,” she answers on a breathy exhale.
“And your parents are coming to visit.”
“It seems so. If you want Beckham and me to go stay at a hotel while they’re here or—”
“If you suggest staying someplace else ever again, I’m going to take you over my knee.”
It doesn’t escape my notice how her eyes dilate and her cheeks pink up from my words.
9
Delilah
Standing in the kitchen,I watch as Beck hovers in front of the window, waiting for my parents to pull up. Somehow, in less than twenty-four hours, they’ve managed to book tickets and get on a plane. I’m both excited and nervous to see them. I’m not sure I’ll be able to handle the way they look at me once they see me and learn everything.
“They’re here,” Beckham shouts and runs to the door. If he didn’t have a patch of hair missing, you’d never know from this far away, he’d been attacked by a dog. When he woke up this morning, he acted as if nothing had happened. The only acknowledgment was when he asked if he could play in the game tomorrow.
I trail after Beck out of the garage and stand back while my mom engulfs him in a massive hug. My dad comes straight to me and does the same. I breathe in his distinct pine scent and my whole body relaxes from the familiar smell.
“Why didn’t you tell me you’re staying with Max Black?” my dad whispers into my ear as he hugs me tighter.
“Does it make any difference?”
“Not a bit, but it would have made me feel better about your safety. It could have been some twig of a guy with a single lock on his door.”
Pulling back, I laugh. “When have I ever liked men who were twigs?”
“Ah, so you do like him?” He gives me a warm smile as he cups my face. “Your mom and I were wondering about that on the flight here.”
“There’s nothing going on between us,” I tell him.
“I’ve been here for all of two minutes, and I can tell he doesn’t feel the same. He hasn’t taken his eyes off you once.”
“Probably because I was nervous about seeing you,” I admit and hang my head.
“Baby girl, that guy was an asshole. I hate that he hurt you, and if I ever see him, I’ll kill him with my bare hands, but I’m glad you’re away from him.” He nods toward Max. “That man already looks at Beck like he hung the moon.”
Max does look at Beck with more affection than Bradley ever did. It warms my heart. My son has the opportunity to be with someone he looks up to, and that man treats him like he’s his own son.
“Alright, you’ve had her long enough. Now let me get my hugs in.” My mom pushes him away but kisses him before he takes a step.
Engulfing me in her arms, my mom hugs me with her all. She gives the best hugs, and it makes me realize how much I’ve missed them these last couple of years.
From over her shoulder, I watch my dad pick Beck up and then hug and kiss him. He looks at his stitches and then hugs him some more.
