Page 120 of All of You
“It’s an hour from U of M,” I say.
Anderson whines. “Oh my God you two. Gross. Anderson—out.” He scuttles away from Delia and slams the door behind him.
Delia furrows her brow and lies down next to me again. “What’s wrong with that?”
I take a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts. Delia’s question hangs in the air, heavy with anticipation. I tracethe patterns on the ceiling, avoiding her gaze for a moment before finally speaking.
I begin hesitantly, my voice barely above a whisper.
“An hour feels like… like a lifetime when it comes to being away from you.”
Delia’s eyes widen mirroring the emotions swirling within me. She props herself up on her elbows, concern etched onto her face. “Langdon, what are you talking about? We’ve been through so much together. An hour won’t change that.”
I exhale quietly, grappling for words that would eloquently express my deepest fear without pushing her away. “It’s not just about the physical distance. It’s about what that distance represents… the potential for things to change.”
She watches me intently, waiting for me to continue. The room feels suffocatingly silent as my mind races with doubts and insecurities. Finally, I summon the courage to lay out my inner turmoil.
“What if we drift apart? What if our lives take different paths and we break up? What if you meet someone else? I’m scared of losing you, Delia,” I admit.
Delia’s face softens, her eyes brimming with understanding. She reaches out, gently intertwining her fingers with mine, grounding me in her presence. “Langdon, I understand your fears. It makes me nervous too, but love isn’t measured by the physical proximity between us. It’s about the choices we make to stay together.” She leans in closer, her voice carrying a newfound conviction. “Langdon, no matter how far apart we are, we will always find our way back to each other. I can’t promise you a future without any obstacles or challenges,but I can promise you that I will choose you every single day.”
Her words echo in the depths of my heart, resonating with a profound truth. I cup Delia’s face in my hands, her eyes shimmering with a mixture of vulnerability and determination. Our foreheads rest gently together as we breathe in sync—a silent affirmation of our unbreakable bond.
“Delia,” I whisper, my voice filled with a newfound clarity. “All of you.”
“All of you too, idiot.”
Sixty One
Langdon
Icannot wait to see her. I also cannot stop fiddling with my tux as I wait with my parents, Anderson, Gramps and Clover in Delia’s living room. The anticipation is killing me. All she would tell me is that her Prom dress was Emerald green—like her eyes. Lyra and Miles and her all went shopping together to pick out their outfits, but I wasn’t allowed to come. She said she wanted her dress to be a surprise.
“Okay! I’m coming,” Delia calls from upstairs. Clover and my mom wedge themselves at my sides to see her make her entrance.
My heart skips a beat as she appears at the top of the stairs. There she stands, a vision. Delia’s emerald green dress hugs her curves, accentuating every enchanting detail. The soft fabric cascades down to the floor, trailing behind her in a gentle sway. Her hair is half up, with sexy wisps framing herface.
I feel a rush of emotions overwhelm me as our eyes meet. Her beaming smile lights up the space between us, and I can’t help but reciprocate.
Her green eyes sparkle with excitement as she descends the staircase.
As she reaches the bottom, my hand instinctively reaches out to meet hers. The moment our fingers interlock, a surge of warmth and familiarity courses through me. It’s as if every nerve in my body recognizes this connection. I’m speechless. Which is rare. Luckily Mom and Clover jump in gushing over how stunning she looks.
As Mom and Clover continue their compliments, their voices become distant echoes in the background. My attention remains solely on Delia, captivated by every delicate feature that defines her allure. The way her hair falls gracefully around her face, framing her radiant smile. The smattering of freckles across the apples of her cheeks. The way her dress accentuates her body, hinting at the secrets it holds within that only I am privy too.
Suddenly, Delia leans forward and whispers softly into my ear, “You clean up pretty well, Mr. Nash.” Her voice, filled with playfulness, sends a shiver down my spine.
I chuckle, feeling the tension that had built up all day finally release. “And you, have left me breathless.”
Her laughter dances in the air as she pulls away slightly to meet my gaze. “Well, it’s only fair. You’ve always had thateffect on me.”
Unable to resist any longer, I lean in and capture her lips with mine. It’s a gentle kiss but that doesn’t stop Anderson from groaning and telling us to knock it off. Which Gramps and Dad seem to agree with. She bites her bottom lip and it takes all my willpower not to kiss her more right then.
Mom nudges me and glances at the box in my hand.
“Oh, right. This is for you.” I open the box and pull out the corsage as she gives me her left hand.
“Wait! Pictures,” my mom blurts out. Delia laughs as I roll my eyes.
