Chapter Thirty-four
D elilah sat back and stared at the computer screen. She’d signed in to check the analytics of her book, even though she’d told herself to wait a few more hours, but she couldn’t stand it anymore. Two thousand downloads was not a bad start when she’d only been posting about the book for the last few days on TikTok. Holly had helped her pick certain sounds and trends to hop onto and garner more views. As a result, her first book had gone viral after three videos.
Delilah switched over to the spreadsheet she had worked out with her parents, when someone knocked at the door. Her dad was in the garage and her mom was napping, so Delilah got up from the table and went to answer it. When she pulled open the door, Anthony was on the other side standing on her parents’ front porch. His hair was mussed like he’d had it under a hat all day and he stared at her with big, pleading eyes.
“Anthony, what are you doing here?” she asked.
“I’ve been thinking a lot, and I know that you think it’s too early for us to live together. So, if you want to take that job in Colorado or live in Boise to see what opportunities you have here, I fully support you and understand.”
Delilah smiled at him, warmth spreading throughout her body. “You drove two hours to tell me that?”
“That, and if you decide that coming back to Mistletoe isn’t in the cards for you, I will sell my property and follow you anywhere.”
He finished, his breathing ragged, and her mouth hung open in shock. “What? Anthony, no, it’s not—”
Anthony cut her off, clearly having more to say. “Delilah, I have never had this before and I don’t know how else to show you that this is it for me. You are it for me.”
“Your property is your dream,” she protested, stepping out onto the porch with him. “You can’t give up on building your house and running Adventures in Mistletoe for me.”
“Delilah, of course, I can,” he said, taking her hands in his. “From the moment we fell in love, you became my dream. Everything else just doesn’t matter if I can’t have you to share it with.”
Delilah’s eyes shone with tears. “You are such an idiot.”
“Well, that’s not very nice after he drove all this way and gave you such a romantic speech,” her mom said, stepping into the doorway.
“Mom, can you please give us a little privacy,” Delilah asked, giving Anthony a wide-eyed expression.
“Sorry, sorry.” Her mom went back to the kitchen.
“What I was trying to tell you,” Delilah continued, “is that I drove down here to talk to my parents about an opportunity I have on a fixer-upper property. The owner of the duplex I’m living in now said he would give me a discount on the rent if I agree to make improvements to the property. I didn’t want to get scammed, so my dad was just telling me to get everything in writing. I thought it would be a good compromise instead of moving into your space. I would have my own space while we spend time together, building a solid relationship. And if you really want me to be a part of your home and future, then it won’t be a situation where we have to live together; it will be because we want to live together. That’s all I was ever trying to do. I didn’t expect you to come and give up everything that you’ve worked so hard for me,” she said, tears running down her face.
“I’m happy to hear that,” Anthony said, bringing her into his arms. “I just want you to know that when it comes to you, everything else is a no-brainer.”
“Even Pike,” she teased.
“Oh, yeah, fuck that guy. Oops, sorry Natalia,” Anthony called out to her mother, realizing the door was open and she could hear everything he said.
“That’s okay, carry on.”
Anthony laughed, his arms still looped around her waist. “So, does this earn me a check mark in the romantic column or the crazy-and-insecure column?”
“I’m going to put this in the one-of-the-million-reasons-why-I-love-him column.”
“Hmmm, does that mean I can come inside now?”
“You may, but first, I want to show you something.” Delilah whipped out her phone and signed into her sales tracking app, pointing at the screen. “Two thousand downloads of my book in just a day.”
“I’m so proud of you,” he told her with a beaming smile. “My girlfriend is famous.”
“Thank you.” Delilah stepped back, allowing him to pass inside. Anthony entered the kitchen where Natalia and Bernard were both sitting at the table waiting for them.
“Bernard, look who decided to join us.”
“Anthony, good to see you.”
Anthony swallowed hard, and Delilah bit back a laugh at his nervous expression. “It’s good to see you, too, sir.”
“Just to let you know,” Bernard said, his tone pleasant and nonchalant, “I fixed the lock on the basement door, so if you’re staying with us, you can lock it now to stop Delilah from sneaking down to the basement to have her way with you.”
Anthony banged his forehead on the table. “I told you he knew.”
“Well, if he didn’t before, he definitely does now!” Delilah cried, nudging him with her shoulder.
“I’m sorry about that, sir. I tried to tell her no, but she insisted.”
“So you’re saying”—Bernard leaned forward, steepling his fingers— “you are the innocent victim and you did not defile my daughter under my roof? That she took advantage of you?”
Anthony looked at Delilah and mouthed, Help me.
Delilah laughed. “Oh no, no, no, no. you’re trying to throw me under the bus! Now it’s your turn and you must suffer.”
“Just so we’re clear, sir, I didn’t defile her. I am in love with her. I even asked her to live with me when she got the letter saying she was gonna lose her rental.”
“So not only did you defile her, but then you wanted her to live in sin with you?” Bernard thundered, launching himself to his feet. “You, sir, are a villain.”
“Dad, stop.” Delilah was laughing so hard she had tears rolling down her face.
“Anthony, he’s messing with you,” Natalia assured him, shooting a disapproving look at her husband. “Right, Bernard?”
“Am I? I don’t know.” He walked away from the table, calling over his shoulder, “I’ll be in the garage if you want to find out, Anthony.”
Anthony looked at Delilah and said, “For such a skinny, kind of nondescript guy, your dad’s a little scary.”
“You haven’t seen her mom when Delilah’s had her heart broken,” Natalia said.
Anthony took Delilah’s hand and squeezed it. “As I don’t have any plans to ever break your daughter’s heart, I hope I never do.”