Chapter Twenty-nine
A nthony parked his truck against the curb in front of his brother’s Airbnb, throwing it into park. It would be nice to have his brother and his family visit during the holidays, especially as he hoped to share all future festivities with the woman sitting beside him.
“This is a nice place,” Delilah said from the passenger seat, staring out the window at the beautiful three-bedroom house in one of the newer neighborhoods. They were built just outside of town to accommodate the one-acre parcels that went along with them.
“My brother has good taste.”
“Are you sure I should be here? He invited you to dinner and I don’t want to impose.”
“How could introducing my brother to the woman I’m in love with be an imposition?” Anthony leaned across the seat and kissed her, sensing an unease in her that had been hovering beneath the surface since yesterday. Anthony didn’t have any doubts that she loved him, but maybe all his house talk made her feel rushed or uncomfortable and she didn’t know how to tell him.
“I don’t know. I’m just nervous. I’ve never been brought home to meet a guy’s family.”
“Technically this isn’t home. It’s like a glorified hotel.”
“Whew,” Delilah breathed, pretending to wipe sweat off her brow, “pressure off then.”
“If you’ll recall, I spent an entire weekend with your parents.”
“We weren’t technically together then.”
“Are you saying it doesn’t count?” He placed his hand over his heart, feigning affront. “I think it counts, especially since I lost nine years off my life each night you snuck into that basement, worrying that your dad was going to hear you when you came.”
Delilah covered his mouth with her hand, giggling. “Stop. I am not that loud.”
“Oh, baby, even with your face buried in a pillow, I guarantee they heard you. The looks your dad gave me the next day chilled me to the bone. I kept waiting to wake up and find him hovering over me with a socket wrench in hand, ready to beat me to death.”
“You know,” Delilah said, stroking her chin thoughtfully, “I used to wonder how you and Pike were such good friends because you seemed so different, but I see it now.”
“What’s that?” he asked.
Delilah leaned in and gave him a quick, hard kiss. “You’re both drama queens.”
“I resent that! I prefer to be called theatrical.” Anthony climbed out and rounded the front of the truck, but she had already exited before he could open her door. “You’re getting faster at climbing out of the truck. I’m going to have to step up my game to be a good boyfriend.”
“I don’t care if you get my door. Just don’t leave me alone tonight. Your brother is probably going to take one look at me and wonder what you’re doing with me.”
Anthony glanced down at her in a light blue sweater and jeans and had no clue what she was talking about. He circled her neck with his arm and bent down to kiss the top of her head. “No, he is going to think I tricked you into coming with me tonight.”
Delilah snorted and when they reached the other side of the street, Anthony leaned over, cupping her chin to make sure she was paying attention. “Hey. I love you and they will, too.”
Delilah nodded and he kissed her like they had all the time in the world.
Suddenly, the door flew open and Lillianne came running out. Anthony had seconds to release Delilah and catch his niece on the fly, holding her in the air with a laugh.
“You better be careful, Lil! You keep trying to catch me off guard and one of these days you’re going to get dropped.”
“You won’t drop me,” she said, her young voice sure. Lillianne looked over at Delilah, her voice sweetly curious. “Who are you?”
“I’m Delilah.”
Lillianne looked at Anthony, her forehead furrowed and her tiny pink lips pursed thoughtfully. “Is this your girlfriend?”
“She is,” Anthony said, balancing his niece on his hip. “I thought it was time for my two favorite girls to meet.”
Lillianne seemed to consider this with her head cocked to the side and finally broke the silence by asking, “Do you like dolls?”
Delilah smiled. “I love dolls, although it’s been a while since I’ve played with them.”
“Mom got me a new one because my mean cousin broke my first one, but Unca Antney got her back. He stole her game.”
Anthony burst out laughing at Delilah’s horrified look. “Stole is such a strong word.”
“My little brother is like Robin Hood,” Bradley called from the doorway. “Only he steals from the naughty and gives to the nice.”
Anthony took her hand with his free one, leading her up the walkway. “Har har.”
“So, he’s Santa Hood?” Delilah quipped, squeezing his hand.
Bradley chuckled. “Exactly. My wife is going to love you. You two have the same sense of humor.” Bradley leaned inside, calling, “Audrey! Anthony is here with his guest.”
Bradley stepped back and let Anthony and Delilah pass by. Lillianne squirmed out of her uncle’s arms and took off for the back room. “I’m going to get my doll.”
Audrey leaned out of a door down the hall, calling after her in a stage whisper, “Don’t wake your brother!”
“I won’t,” the little girl responded loudly.
Audrey shook her head and padded down the hallway in bare feet, holding out a hand to Delilah as she drew nearer. “Hi, I’m Bradley’s wife, Audrey. You’re Delilah?”
“Yes. It’s very nice to meet you.”
“Likewise.” Audrey shot Anthony a wicked smile, her eyebrow arched. “Not sure I’ve ever met one of Anthony’s girlfriends before.”
“That’s because he hasn’t brought one around,” Bradley said, grinning. “You must be pretty special.”
“She is,” Anthony said, pulling her closer to his side.
“Well, come on in and sit down,” Audrey said, leading the way into an open living room to the left of the entrance way. “I want to hear all about how you two met.”
“Oh, boy, that’s a weird one,” Delilah said.
“I wouldn’t say that,” Anthony argued. “The first time we met was at Holly’s … sixth birthday?” Anthony took a seat on the couch, pulling her down with him. “Pike and I were spending the night with Nick and his mom told us to leave you girls alone.”
“You remember that?” she whispered.
“Well, you were wearing that fluffy blue dress with the different color bows on the skirt. It was such an eyesore, it was hard to forget.”
Delilah pinched him and he playfully whimpered, “Ow, be gentle! I’m injured.”
“I noticed the bruise, although it looks like it’s almost healed,” Bradley said, pointing to his cheek. “What happened?”
Anthony shrugged. “Some guy thought he was clever and I needed to set him straight.”
“Okay, stop,” Delilah laughed, shaking her head at him, “you sound ‘cringey’ as my students would say. You are not the tough guy you pretend to be.”
“That’s not what you said when I was defending your honor against six ruffians—”
“Preppy snowboarders, you mean.”
“Lila, you’re supposed to support my exaggerations,” he groaned.
“Whoops, sorry”—she cleared her throat playfully—“it was actually two giants, an ogre, a Skin-walker, and two ruffians.”
“That’s what I’m talking about,” he said, hugging her to him.
“Stop manhandling her, brother,” Bradley said, leaning back in the recliner chair. “Or I’m going to get a squirt bottle.”
“Oh, quit it,” Audrey said, grinning. “They’re adorable.”
“Nauseatingly so,” Bradley said, dryly.
Anthony pointed a finger at his brother, “Watch it!”
Audrey ignored them both, focusing on Delilah. “So, I take it you’re a teacher, Delilah?”
“Not quite. I sub at the middle school a couple times a week and I work as a freelance writer at the moment. I’m looking for a position that’s remote, so I can stay in town, but those are hard to come by.”
“Really?” Bradley said.
Lillianne returned with her pretty new doll and climbed into Delilah’s lap. “This is Lilli Two.”
Anthony watched Delilah ooh and aah over the doll. “Hello, Lilli Two. I’m Delilah One. It is a pleasure. That dress you are wearing is simply divine.”
“Thank you so much. I like your sweater,” Lillianne pretended to speak for Lilli Two in a high-pitched voice.
“Thank you!” Delilah caught him watching her and winked, “What do you think of Uncle Anthony?”
“He needs a haircut,” Lilli Two responded solemnly.
“Why am I getting picked on by everyone?” Anthony grumbled.
Lillianne giggled and hopped down. “Mom, can I play my game?”
“Yes, go ahead.”
The little girl scurried from the room, dragging her doll behind her. When the doll’s face bounced against the step, Anthony winced. “You’re going to break Lilli Two’s nose if you don’t pick her up!”
“Okay!”
Audrey shook her head. “I wonder if there is a limit on how many times a doll can be replaced.”
Delilah giggled. “I’d have a closet full of them until she outgrows them, just in case.”
“Good plan,” Bradley said, grinning. “Back to what we were talking about before our daughter came in and stole the show, if you’re looking to settle down and stop freelancing, there is a copywriter position opening with my company after the New Year. And it’s a remote position, great benefits.”
Anthony watched Delilah’s cheek flush, her gaze flicking between him and Bradley. “I … sorry, but wouldn’t that be weird? Working for you while dating your brother.”
Bradley shrugged. “Not for me. You wouldn’t be working directly for me anyway, but for a branch of my company out of Coeur d’Alene. I’d have nothing to do with whether you got the job or not, but I know they are always looking for good writers, so I could get you the information for where to apply.”
Anthony didn’t say anything to urge or discourage her, afraid he’d spook her if he seemed too eager. He hadn’t wanted to talk about the Colorado job, but it had been hanging over his head like an axe waiting to strike a chopping block. She hadn’t talked about it, so he assumed she’d turned it down, but if she hadn’t, that could be why she seemed stressed.
“Thank you, I’d appreciate that,” Delilah said, and Anthony almost sighed in relief. Not that she had agreed to take the information, but that she was open to options besides moving out of town and leaving him. They were just getting started.
“Anthony said you are looking to move back here?” Delilah asked.
“Yes, we’re putting our house on the market up there,” Bradley said.
“We want at least a three bedroom,” Audrey added to the conversation, reaching out to take her husband’s hand. “With a little land to give us space from our neighbors. We’re not flashy people, but it’s nice to get what you want.”
“I’d say the duplex I’m renting is coming up for sale, but it’s only a two bedroom.”
Anthony frowned. “Your rental is being sold? When?”
“Uh, I got a letter yesterday. I have thirty days to find a place.”
His surprise melted into frustration that she’d been holding on to this for over a day and she didn’t want to tell him. Why? Because she was still considering leaving and didn’t want him to talk her out of it?
“Why didn’t you say anything?” Anthony asked.
“I’m still in shock, I guess,” she murmured. “I’ve been there since I moved back after college, but I’ve got options.”
Anthony wanted to ask what her options were, but he felt his brother and sister-in-law watching them closely. He didn’t want his questions to sound like an interrogation.
“It’s good to be open to new opportunities,” Audrey said, releasing Bradley’s hand. “When I graduated from college, I was living with four roommates in a three-bedroom house. Bradley was my next-door neighbor and got sick of not being invited to our awesome parties.”
“First of all, I got tired of the loud music when I was trying to sleep.”
“Tomato, potato,” she shot back with a grin. “You were just jelly because you wanted to be one of the cool kids, you nerd.”
“Seems like it worked out for you,” Delilah said.
What about us, Lila? Is everything going to work out for us?
“Yes, I was coming home from work one night and my car broke down.” Audrey turned her attention to her husband, her expression softening. “Bradley stopped and offered me a ride. And that was all she wrote.”
“I think there was a little more to it than that.” Bradley smirked. “I remember begging you to go out with me and you said I was too uptight.”
“You were uptight,” she laughed, getting up out of her chair and leaning over to give him a lingering kiss. “That’s why I knew you needed me. I loosened you up.”
“That’s true.”
Audrey straightened, transferring her attention to Anthony and Delilah. “Anyone want something to drink while I’m up?”
“Water, please,” Delilah said.
“A Coke if you have it.”
“I’ll be right back,” Audrey said, trailing her fingers over her husband’s hand as she left the room.
That was what he wanted with Delilah. A future with a home, kids, and reassuring touches. Talking about their past and how they first met with fondness.
Anthony reached for Delilah’s hand and squeezed it, giving her a warm smile. She returned it with a hesitant one and Anthony hated not knowing what was going on in her mind. Suddenly, he couldn’t wait to get her alone and find out how he could help.
“Your brother and his wife are really nice,” Delilah said several hours later as they left the Airbnb.
“They are.” Anthony and Delilah followed the walkway out to the sidewalk, where Anthony took her hand and twirled her into his side. “I’m glad you and Audrey hit it off. I know Bradley and I talking about the Broncos and the Seahawks got a little heated, but we were just goofing.”
“Honestly, I expected another brawl to break out.” She shook her head. “I will never understand getting so aggressive about a sport.”
Anthony shook his head in disbelief. “It’s the Broncos. This is important,” he said, opening her door and holding out a hand to assist her. “Just wait. Next year I can’t wait to see you in a Broncos jersey, screaming your head off every Sunday. I will make a fan out of you yet.”
“Hmmm,” Delilah said, making a face in the truck dome light, “blue and orange are not my colors.”
Anthony stuck his tongue out at her and closed the door on her laughter, going over the conversation he’d been practicing for hours in his head as he walked around the truck bed. He was going to ask her if she really had a plan for a new place to live or if she was putting on a brave face, because either way, he wanted to be a part of her decision. To let her know he was here to support her because he had plans.
Anthony hopped into the driver’s seat and started the truck up, rubbing his hands together as the heater kicked on with cold air. “That temperature really dropped, huh?”
“It sure did.” Delilah didn’t offer up anything else, staring out the window at the darkened street.
He put the truck in drive, heading toward her home, which was only a few streets over. There wasn’t much time to have the conversation he’d been dreading for hours, afraid he was going to say the wrong thing and piss her off.
It’s now or never, man.
“Delilah,” he said, clearing his throat nervously, “I need to ask you something and I want you to be honest.”
“Okay,” she drawled, turning in the passenger seat. “Shoot.”
“Are you in trouble?” Anthony asked.
“You’re going to need to be more specific, since trouble is a euphemism for any number of issues, including unplanned pregnancy, which I am not since we haven’t—”
“I mean are you in a tight spot?” There. Not as tactful as he’d planned to be, but the Band-Aid was ripped off. “You’ve been on edge the last couple days and then you bring up losing your rental tonight out of blue.”
“I didn’t want to put a damper on the evening.”
“I appreciate that, but I hope you know that if you need help, you just have to ask.”
“What do you mean by help?” she asked slowly, a wary edge in her voice.
“I mean, if you need to borrow some money to get by—”
“I am not going to take money from you,” she said curtly.
Anthony looked away from the road at her stiff posture and set jaw, cursing himself for not saying the right thing. “Lila, I love you. I’m not trying to insult you. I just want to help you.”
“I don’t need you to take care of me, Anthony.” Her tone was sharp and precise, leaving him with the impression that he had definitely crossed a line he hadn’t known existed. “Like I said, I have options. They might not be great options, but if it means not owing anyone or taking advantage of my friends, then that’s what I’ll have to do.”
“What do you mean, taking advantage of your friends?” he asked.
“Holly already offered to let me stay with them, but I’m not going to do that.”
“That seems like a temporary solution that works perfectly for now, so why not?”
“Because they deserve to have their privacy without me invading their space.”
You can invade my space.
It was on the edge of Anthony’s tongue to tell Delilah that his trailer was hers, but if she reacted so heatedly to him offering to loan her money, he was afraid asking her to move in would send her over the edge.
Proceeding cautiously, he queried, “What are your options then?”
“I could always stay with my parents for a little while. Just until I got back on my feet.”
“In Boise? You would rather move two hours away from your friends and me than accept help when it’s offered?” Throwing caution to the wind, he continued, “What about my place?”
Delilah sucked in a breath. “You want me to stay with you?”
“Why not?” he said, warming up to the idea. “I’ve been including you in plans for my house and you’re into that.”
“Anthony, deciding to move in together because we want to is different than doing it because we’re afraid our relationship can’t survive a little distance.”
“It’s not that it can’t survive, but why do you need to leave if I’m offering you a place to stay?”
Anthony pulled up to her duplex and put the truck in park and waited for her to respond. Finally, Delilah turned to face him, reaching for his hand and he let her take it.
“There is a difference between us talking about building a life with each other in a home six months from now rather than you offering your trailer up like a sacrifice.” He opened his mouth to argue, but she help up her hand, silently asking to finish and he let her. “I don’t want either one of us to feel pressured into moving too fast or making a decision that could put an unequal strain on our relationship.”
The weight of her words crushed him and he whispered, “Are you saying you’re afraid I would hold it against you if you moved in with me?”
“No,” she protested, her voice coming out high and squeaky.
“Are you sure? Because that’s what I took from that.”
“I think you could grow to resent me for invading your space.”
“Why do you think that?” he asked, dumbfounded that this conversation had taken a complete left turn off a cliff.
“You’ve never lived with anyone except your parents, right? We’d be tripping over each other in that trailer and you’d start resenting my hair everywhere or Leia waking you up at five in the morning to go to the bathroom.”
“And you’ve lived with so many people that you know this for sure?” Anthony hated the cutting edge to his voice, but he’d been talking with her about the house he was building for weeks, inviting her into his life. Yet she was writing him off as a bachelor so set in his ways he couldn’t share his space with her? Did she think he was blowing smoke up her ass when he’d told her that he would take Leia out at night to go to the bathroom? What did he have to do to convince her that he wanted her in every aspect of his world?
“No, but it’s a safe bet and I don’t want to take the chance that I’m right.” Delilah unbuckled her seat belt and crawled across the console to straddle his lap, and he moved the seat back to give them more space. “Can we just stick to our original plan and take this slow? I want to enjoy being with you and not worry about anything when we’re together. You know?” She kissed him softly and he let her, his mouth parting as she teased his lips with hers. “Be my happy place.”
Anthony didn’t say anything more, but her words resonated in him, because she was that for him. Not because she was an escape, but because she’d been the missing piece of a puzzle he’d been searching for. There was no way he was going to lose her now, but she wasn’t ready to believe that he was in this. That he wasn’t going to tuck tale.
Anthony had less than a month to convince her and he would do everything in his power to do it.