Chapter Twenty-seven
A nthony and Pike stayed in the cell inside Mistletoe police station and waited for Nick to come bail them out. Brodie, Trip, and the rest of their crew sat in the second cell next to them, bitching and moaning every few moments, which made Anthony feel better. Although it had been two to five in the fight, Anthony and Pike had come out better than the others. Pike’s eye was swelled shut and turning an ugly shade of purple and Anthony’s lip and cheek were swollen and bruised, but security at the resort had busted things up before they went too far.
Anthony sat down on the bench next to Pike, thinking about all the crap they’d been through the last few weeks, all the times he’d wanted to take his friend to task for being impulsive and overextending them, and, yet, when Anthony was the one to lose his cool, Pike had jumped in without a single question or thought for himself.
“Hey, man,” Anthony said, clearing his throat. “Thanks for jumping in.”
“Sure, what are friends for but to have your back when you start a fight with six guys?” Pike’s sarcasm with a hefty dose of condemnation wasn’t lost on Anthony and he turned toward his friend. Pike rested the back of his head against the wall with his eyes closed and Anthony gave him a hard nudge with his shoulder.
“Hey. What’s your problem?”
Pike opened his eye to glare at him. “You’re supposed to be the smart, levelheaded guy in this friendship. Instead, you’re betting our equipment and getting into fights that lead to us sitting in a jail cell facing possible charges. It’s like you’ve been replaced by a pod person!”
Fury shot through Anthony and he snapped, “So because you have me to curb your spending, you think volunteering us for everything is fine because I’ll create a budget? News flash, sometimes the budget is too much.”
“Uh oh. I think the lovers next door are fighting,” Trip said, earning a chuckle from a few of their friends.
“Will you shut the fuck up?” Pike hollered.
“Why don’t you make me, Lucky the Leprechaun?”
“I thought I already did,” Pike said, pointing to his mouth. “Nice lip, Trip. Looks like it split open again.”
Trip touched his fat lip, which had started oozing blood. “You’ll pay for that later.”
“Stop your whining, you big boobs!” Officer Wren barked from the other room, the stomp of her boots growing louder before she cleared the hallway and stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at them. Her dark hair was pulled back in that severe bun that reminded Anthony of a woman in a marine movie.
“If you weren’t fighting like a bunch of middle schoolers,” she said, her tone resembling a teacher disappointed in her students’ antics, “you wouldn’t be hurting so damn bad.”
Pike laughed. “You tell them, Wren.”
“I’m talking to you, too, ya idjit,” she snapped, approaching their cell and piercing Anthony with dark eyes. “You are supposed to be leaders in this community. Leaders control their damn tempers.”
Pike shrugged. “We tried to take the high road, but he started talking shit about Anthony’s lady.”
“They’re just words,” Officer Wren said, lowering her voice to add, “and he’s dimwitted anyway.”
Brodie hollered, “Hey!”
“Hey yourself,” she said without turning Brodie’s way. Her entire focus was on Anthony, who shuffled his feet under her disapproving gaze. “Why would you care what he thinks? Do you like the guy? Respect his opinion?”
“No,” Anthony said.
“He’s a douchebag,” Pike added.
Brodie smacked the bars with his hands. “I am sitting right here!”
“Yeah, we can see you.” Pike grinned at Wren, his left eye purple and swollen. “Admit it. The shiner makes me look tough, huh?”
“Idjit,” Wren muttered, turning her back on him and disappearing down the hall.
“I think Officer Wren likes me,” Pike said.
Anthony shook his head. “I think Officer Wren wants to take us all out back and tase us. Can’t really blame her.”
“What are you talking about? We are the victims here. Innocently making sure your girlfriend was okay and then, blam! They walk up on us and start talking shit.”
“It was stupid of me to let that dick get to me,” Anthony said.
“So, why did you?” Pike asked.
Anthony closed his eyes. “I guess I’ve just been on edge. Stressed out.”
“I’m sure you have been,” Pike said, groaning as he sat down on a bench. “And sounds like I’ve made things worse. But I think you went off on Brodie because he was saying hurtful things to Delilah.”
“Maybe,” Anthony grumbled.
“Obviously,” Pike countered. “Any man would have reacted to a woman being verbally attacked, but only a man in love would have pummeled the idiot the way you did.”
Anthony stiffened, Pike’s words sinking in as Brodie muttered, “I think I’m going to puke.”
Pike snapped back at Brodie, but Anthony tuned the argument out. Love. It was something he’d wanted, had been waiting for it to hit him, but it had never happened.
Until now.
Here he was, stuck in a cell, when he should have been the one taking his girl to the hospital. Wren was right, Anthony was an idiot. What must Delilah be thinking about him, especially after he got hauled away in a squad car. What the hell was wrong with him? He never used to start fights. If someone tried something, he was more than happy to finish it, but he didn’t get into brawls, and he certainly didn’t get arrested.
Maybe Pike had a point about him being wound too tight. He’d taken that vow when he hadn’t wanted to have sex with anyone, when he hadn’t even been tempted. Now he was making himself crazy not having sex with Delilah when all he wanted to do was be near her. Pike was right: Anthony wasn’t being honest about his feelings. Pike knew the truth. Hell, he’d said it out loud and Anthony couldn’t even bring himself to admit it.
This was love. It was so far removed from anything he’d ever experienced that he’d almost blown it. After his behavior today, would she even speak to him again?
Anthony wiped a hand over his face. He needed to get out of this cell and go to her. Beg her to forgive him and if she slammed the door in his face, he’d camp there until she did.
Now that he knew what love felt like, there was no way he was ever letting it go.
“I hope Nick gets here soon,” Anthony said.
Pike nodded. “I am ready to blow this Popsicle stand.” He sat forward, his forearms resting on his legs. “I’m sorry, man. I know I can be moronic, and I need to learn to slow down and ask you before I agree to things for the business. I just get excited and I’m still getting used to having a partner.”
Anthony smirked. “Me, too. I did a ton of research before we got into this and there were a lot of people saying that going into business ruined friendships for them. I don’t want that for us.”
“Agreed.” Pike got up, holding out a hand to him. “Forgive me?”
Anthony took his hand and pulled him in for a hard hug. “Always.”
“Someone get these assholes out of here before I lose my cookies?” Trip hollered, with Brodie and the rest of their friends shouting in agreement.
Wren appeared through the hallway again, jingling a set of keys. “Your wish is my command.” Wren unlocked Anthony and Pike’s cell. “It’s your lucky day, boys. You’ve been sprung.”
“What about us?” Brodie asked.
“Can I call my father again?” Trip bellowed.
“I’m sure it will be any minute now,” Wren said, smirking. Anthony and Pike picked their jackets up from the bench and followed her. Once they passed through the hall, she whispered, “You’ve got a ten-minute head start before I release the goon squad.”
“Thanks, Wren,” Anthony said.
Wren pointed at each of them in turn. “You can thank me by staying out of trouble. You’re lucky no one wanted to press charges.”
Anthony’s smile disappeared when he saw Delilah and Ryler standing next to Officer Wren’s desk, wearing identical frowns. Despite the less-than-warm welcome, Anthony’s chest tightened at the sight of her, but then her lips spread into a relieved smile and his tension eased. She wouldn’t be here bailing him out if she couldn’t stand the sight of him, right?
“Hey, you don’t get to give me that look,” Pike said, pointing at Ryler. “You ain’t my girlfriend.”
“Thank God for that,” she laughed. “No man of mine would get into a fight wearing snow pants.” Ryler shot Delilah an apologetic smile. “No offense.”
“None taken.” Delilah took a step closer to Anthony and reached up, her hand hovering over what he was sure was a massive bruise on his cheek. “You look terrible.”
“I know, but really, you should see the other guys.”
Delilah shook her head, but he could have sworn he caught a glimpse of a smile. “I have your truck outside.”
“You’re all good to go,” Wren said. “And I wouldn’t worry too much about those idiots changing their minds about pressing charges. I think they’re too ashamed that the two of you kicked all six of their asses.”
“You’re good people, Wren,” Anthony said with a wink. “Don’t let anyone tell you differently.”
Wren’s cheeks flushed unexpectedly and she scoffed. “Get them out of here.”
Anthony stepped ahead to get the door, tossing his jacket into the back seat, and asked, “On a scale of one to ten, with one being not angry and ten being, ‘I’m going to kick your ass, too,’ how pissed are you at me?”
Delilah glanced his way, arching a brow. “I’m at a two.” Her smile disappeared as she quickly added, “But that’s only because you going all agro on a jerk like Brodie isn’t the worst thing that’s happened today.”
“Uh oh, hey,” Anthony said, taking her arm gently and slowing her to a stop to face him. “What else happened after we got picked up?”
“It doesn’t matter.” Delilah extracted her arm from his grasp and handed him the keys. Delilah called over her shoulder to Ryler, “Do you have Pike?”
“Yeah, I’ll take him home,” Ryler said, rolling her eyes. “He’s so tore back, I’m afraid he might pass out if I made him walk.”
Pike snorted, rounding to the passenger side of the rental car. “Don’t act like I’m a chore to be around, when we both know I’m a fucking delight.”
“You’re more like a de-blegh,” she said, making a gagging sound.
“That’s mature,” Pike deadpanned.
“Says the man who looks like he went five rounds with a badger.” Ryler waved at Delilah and Anthony before climbing inside, cutting off the rest of their argument. Delilah walked toward the passenger door and Anthony got ahead of her, opening her door.
“I’m sorry,” he said softly.
“I figured you might be after the fact. I would have been here sooner, but urgent care was backed up.”
“Another thing I feel bad about,” Anthony said, stroking his fingers over her cheek, elated when she didn’t pull away. “I should have been taking care of you.”
“It’s over now, so no use rehashing it. Besides, a mild concussion and a few bumps and bruises isn’t too bad. I should be okay in a couple of days.”
Delilah climbed up into the truck and Anthony took her waist, helping her inside. “No taking advantage of you then, huh?”
“Not for a bit.” She clicked her seat belt into place and added, “Besides, you could probably use a few days to heal, too.”
“I’m fine,” he said casually, closing her door and heading around the front to the driver’s side. In all honestly, he was trying not to walk like his body ached, but it did. His ribs, back, arms, face. Taking a few pain meds and a nap sounded like heaven at this point.
Anthony climbed up into the truck and winced when something in his ribs pulled.
“You’re really hurt,” Delilah said. “We should take you to the hospital.”
“I’m fine. A couple of bumps and bruises.” Anthony turned in the seat, watching her. “As far as making today up to you, what are we talking? Chocolates for a week?”
“You don’t have anything to make up to me,” she said, staring at her hands. “I’m the guilty one.”
Anthony leaned back in surprise. “Why are you feeling guilty?”
“Because every time you get into trouble, it’s because of me. Someone says something about me, and you come to my rescue. You and Pike got into a huge blowup because of me.” Delilah sighed, leaning her head back against the seat. “Maybe we just aren’t meant to do this.”
Her words knocked the wind out of his chest. “Don’t say that.”
“Anthony—”
“Please.” He reached out and picked up her hand up, squeezing it. “I know it’s been a lot but … I’d like to show you something. Would you come with me?”
“To where?” she asked.
Anthony didn’t answer right away. He took his hand back and started the car, pulling out on to Main Street.
“Where are you going?” Delilah asked.
“There’s something you need to see, and then I want you to stop saying we’re not meant to be together.”
Delilah didn’t say anything else for several moments and he couldn’t take the silence, so he started rambling. “I think I’m feeling insecure, and maybe that’s why I keep acting like a jealous lout.”
“Lout?” she said, her voice soft and amused. “That’s very medieval of you.”
“Hey, I read. I’m educated.”
“I know that,” she said, placing her hand on his arm. “I’m only teasing.”
“Yeah, I know. I’m just sensitive about it. People assume because I played football and worked road construction that I’m some uneducated slacker, but I paid my own way through school to earn my degree.”
“I know all of this, Anthony,” she said, squeezing his bicep until he glanced her way. “Why do you sound like you’re trying to convince me?”
“Because I’ve never felt this way about anyone.” He took a right past the Winters’ farm and up a dirt road, snow piled up on either side of the one lane.
“And that’s why you’re taking me up into the forest?”
“My home, actually,” Anthony said, his voice shaking with the bumps of the road or maybe that was nerves. “Or, my home site. I know I told you I live in a trailer right now and even though I fixed it up and put in new flooring and appliances, it is still just a trailer.” Anthony stopped the truck in front of the camper and pointed out the window. “But the view is beautiful.”
Anthony watched Delilah take in the scenery for several seconds before she opened the car door. They both got out of the truck and Anthony studied Delilah across the hood of the truck, her gaze focused on the view of rolling mountains, acres of pine trees, and imposing, craggy mountains in the distance. Did it take her breath away, the way it did his? Was that why she wasn’t saying anything?
He’d fallen in love with this view the first time he saw it and as he watched her take it in, he only prayed she loved it, too.
“This is heaven,” she whispered, and his breath rushed out in relief, an eager grin plastering his face.
“I think so, too, which is why I placed the trailer in the exact spot I’m having the house built.” Anthony knew that the 1990s camper didn’t look like much, but he’d done a lot to the inside to make it a home. Hopefully, she would see that. “The home will have a wraparound porch. Do you want to come inside and I’ll show you the plans?”
“I’d love to see your place,” Delilah said.
Anthony held the door open for her and she walked past him up the metal stairs and into the trailer. He knew it wasn’t much, but it had everything he needed to live. “I pulled out the linoleum floor and put in LVP when I gutted it.” He climbed the steps behind her, watching her face as her gaze trailed over his temporary home, or so he’d been saying the last ten years. He’d installed his bed to the right of the entrance and ordered a new table booth to replace the broken one the trailer had come with. He’d also updated the couch to a leather one and put in small but modern cabinetry in the kitchen. He’d taken out the bunk beds in the back and expanded the bathroom to put in a shower big enough for him.
“I did most of the work myself watching videos on YouTube and hiring out for what I couldn’t do myself,” he said, following her as Delilah peeked into the bathroom.
“Anthony this—” She turned around in the doorway of his bathroom, a bright smile on her face. “This is beautiful. When you said that you lived in a trailer, I was expecting a messy bachelor pad at best or something out of a Wrong Turn movie at worst.”
“Hey,” he laughed, giving her hip a little pinch.
Delilah giggled. “I’m just saying, this is a lovely place on the inside. I can’t wait to see what you do with your next house.”
“I’ll show you my plans,” Anthony said, grabbing a book off the back of the couch, waving his hand toward the booth and table. “Have a seat.” She sat across from him as he slid into the booth, opening the book. Anthony removed the plans from inside, spreading them over the kitchen table. “This is the main floor where there will be the master and a guest room, with the master bath, guest bath, and half bath. Upstairs are two bedrooms with a Jack and Jill bathroom in between them and a loft slash playroom.”
“Playroom?” Delilah asked, her finger trailing over the upstairs floorplan, almost caressing it. “You mean for kids?”
“Yeah, of course I mean for kids. My playroom will be in the garage.”
Delilah laughed. “I’m just surprised they get a whole room dedicated to their toys.”
“Our playroom when I was growing up was in the basement,” he said, remembering the afternoons spent watching his brothers play video games together. “It kept us out of our parents hair.”
“Being an only child, our house was pretty quiet unless I had friends over.”
Delilah studied the rectangle on the plans and tapped one side with her fingertip. “You should put in built-in cubbies for toy storage.”
“That’s a great idea.”
Relief swept through him and he brought her hand up to his lips, kissing the back of it. Energized, he continued explaining the layout. “The kitchen has a smuggler’s pantry and a large island where I can prep food.”
“You cook?”
“I dabble,” he said, playing at modesty. He wanted her to be shocked and delighted the first time he cooked for her. “If I had a real kitchen, I could get better. Let’s see. The main living room will have a fireplace and this”—he indicated a square next to the large rectangle labeled living room—“will be an office.”
“Oh, yeah? You’re going to need a whole room to update your appointment books and spreadsheets?”
Delilah’s voice was light, a teasing smile on her face, but he needed her to know that this wasn’t just a passing notion. He’d been thinking about what his home would look like with her in it for a while now.
“I’ll use it, too, but I also thought you could use it to write. A quiet space where you could stare at the mountains and we could put a bed in the corner for Leia to sleep in.”
“You want to share your office with me?” she asked breathlessly.
“I want to share a lot of things with you.” Anthony used his other hand to cup her one hand between both of his. “My trailer, for starters. You and Leia are welcome anytime.”
Delilah climbed up on her knees and leaned across the table, brushing her lips over his. “We’d like that,” she said, settling back into the bench seat. “Although I’m a little concerned that I’ll take her out one morning and there will be a bear just waiting to go chomp.”
Anthony laughed. “I’ve never seen a bear anywhere near the trailer.”
“And yet, this is the mountains, where there are bears.”
“Then I’ll take her out for you, and I promise,” he said, taking back a hand to make a cross over his heart, “I will protect her with my life.”
“So you’re offering to get up at all hours and take my dog out to go potty? To wrestle bears to keep her safe?” Her brilliant smile made him feel like a superhero. “You’re doing a lot.”
“I’d do more than that to make you happy.”
Delilah pulled her hands free and got up, coming around to sit beside him on the other bench seat. She gently wrapped her arm around his waist and laid her head on his shoulder. “That is the nicest thing I’ve ever heard.”
“Well, then, I’m about to do you one better,” he said, turning a bit so he could face her. Anthony wanted her to see his face when he told her the truth, “because I’ve got more to say.”
“What’s that?” she asked, gazing up at him with those deep blue eyes and he drew in a breath. This was the moment and he rubbed his palms against his snow pants.
“I’m absolutely, beyond a doubt, in love with you.”
Delilah gasped and let him go, covering her mouth with both hands. He released a nervous laugh at her reaction.
“Are you horrified or just surprised?” he asked.
“Are you sure?” Delilah whispered.
“Yes.” Anthony tucked a hair behind her ear, his gaze never leaving hers. “I’ve been all over the place the last few weeks because I have never felt this way about anyone, and I didn’t know what to do with myself. My emotions were everywhere. Up, down, angry, delighted, aroused. Always aroused.” Delilah smacked his arm and he yelped, “Gentle! I am injured.”
“I’m sorry,” she said, leaning over to drop a kiss on his arm.
“It’s okay,” he murmured, watching her straighten up. “See, that is what loving someone is all about. Forgiving them and moving on. Plus, you know, make-up sex.”
“Which neither one of us can have at the moment,” she laughed.
Anthony pouted. “Even if I am gentle?”
“What if I don’t want you to be gentle?” she said, scooting closer, their bodies several inches apart, and it was still too far. The need to pull her in close, to consummate their feelings was overwhelming, but when he reached out for her, a sharp pain exploded in his side and he gasped.
“Anthony?” Her hands reached for him, hovering, as if she was afraid to touch him and cause him more pain. “Maybe we should go to the doctor?”
“No, Doc Hutchinson stopped by and checked us out. My ribs are bruised, not broken.” He leaned over, kissing her forehead. “We better wait a few days just the same. I want our first time to be so incredible that neither one of us can move for at least an hour. Not because we further injured ourselves.”
“I hate to break it to you, but even if my knees are like jelly, I will be getting up right after we’re done.”
“Why?” he asked.
“Women have to pee after sex or they get bladder infections? Don’t you know this?”
Anthony groaned, straightening his posture to face the table again before sliding an arm around her shoulders. “I tell you I love you and all the mystery goes out of our relationship?”
“Did that really bother you?” she huffed.
“No. I spent half my life over at Nick’s and Pike’s houses. Their sisters had no qualms sharing all the gross details about what happens to their bodies every month, and on top of that, I learned that girls actually fart.”
Delilah laughed. “Poor Anthony. Holly and Merry destroyed the mystery of women for you.”
“Not fully,” he said, squeezing her to him gently. “I figure I’m still going to mess up and do the wrong thing when it comes to us.”
“To err is to be human,” Delilah said, resting her cheek against his chest.
“Hey, don’t act holier than thou,” he scolded, tilting her chin up with his hand so he could see her face. “You’re going to mess up, too. But I’m going to be the best boyfriend and forgive you.”
“Magnanimous of you.” Her eyes were suddenly shuttered and he wondered what shifted her mood.
“Anthony?” she said, licking her lips.
“Yeah?”
Whatever she’d been about to say, she shook it off with a smile. “Nothing.” She wrapped her arms around him again and kissed his chest. “I love you, too.”