7. Delia
7
DELIA
“ I ’ve seen Brandon hanging out at your house lately, Delia. What’s going on with you two?”
Rolling my eyes, I groan. “There’s nothing going on. Stop letting your husband’s writing color what you see every day.”
She giggles, shaking her blond head. “I’m not letting him color my insights. He thinks I’m crazy too. But I know what I’m seeing. I know when two people like each other even when they’re trying not to.”
Sighing deeply, I roll my shoulders. I haven’t been sleeping well lately. Every time I close my eyes, I feel like there’s someone there. Someone hiding in my bedroom. Someone who wants something.
Princess has been edgy as heck. Probably because she hasn’t been allowed out of the house for weeks.
“Listen, Alanis. Brandon is going to come to the book club tonight. He thinks that someone here has been breaking into my house for some reason. That they’re looking for something. Do you know what that might be?”
“No.” Her golden brows lift. “Why didn’t you mention this before? You must have been terrified.”
“I was. But…it’s…well, I don’t think they’re trying to hurt me. I think he’s being a little overzealous.”
Her head shakes and she frowns. “Hey, there’s no way he could be too careful, darling. If someone is breaking into your house, he has every right to be concerned. Heck, I’m concerned. I’m your friend. You should have mentioned this before, babe.”
“I’m sorry. It’s only happened twice and I’m trying to keep things under control. You know how stuff makes the rounds in this town.”
“I’m your friend. I’m not gonna start sharing your business all over town.”
Huffing, I sigh. “I know. I know. I’m just…I don’t know. I haven’t been sleeping well.”
“Okay. Well, everyone’s gonna be here soon. Let’s get ready. Did you enjoy the book this week?”
“Yes! It was so good! But I have to say, that best friend of hers was a real troublemaker.”
“Yes! Thank you. That’s what I thought too.”
The room begins filling up and I grin at Hetty. But she doesn’t smile back at me. Her eyes dart away from me.
Scrunching my brows, I cock my head. Brandon stops next to me. “What’s up with her? She looks angry.”
“I don’t think she looks angry. I think she looks distracted, upset.”
“Okay. Upset about what? About not finding what she’s been looking for?”
“I saw that person. They were way too tall to be little Hetty.”
“Okay. So it’s not here. Why does she look like she’s about to jump out of her skin then?”
“Let’s get ready to chat, everyone!” Everyone rushes to find a seat and Brandon sits in the background, crossing his arms and legs and settling in.
“Alright, ladies! What did we all think about the main characters?”
A chorus of “He’s so hot and she’s too nice for him” make the rounds.
“I didn’t like him,” Hetty sighs. “He was too pushy and arrogant.”
My brows lift. “You do seem to like the ones where the ladies are a tad more…sure of themselves.”
“Yes. But that doesn’t mean that a girl can’t appreciate a guy who likes to be in charge.”
Giggles all around and I glance back and see Brandon’s eyes narrowing in on Hetty who’s flushed and quiet now.
Alanis grins. “A man who knows what to do with his hands, you mean.”
Patty groans. “Oh, please. You all are terrible. I enjoyed it so much. He was so hot. I wouldn’t mind him being in charge of me.”
Clara grins and shakes her head. “Y0u’re too easy, Patty. All a guy has to do is wink at you and you’re all over him.”
Patty hisses. “That’s rude, Clara. I can’t believe you said that.” Her chair scrapes along the floor and I grimace. “I don’t deserve it.”
She stomps out the door, her red curls flying.
Brandon stands up and follows her out the door. “Ummm. Okay. Well, back to the book.” I shoot Alanis a look and she groans.
“How did y’all feel about the storyline? Was it a good one?”
“I liked it. The woman in jeopardy and enemies to lovers tropes are my favorite.”
Clara sighs. “I felt like it was a bit tired actually. Tired and twisted until you could barely tell what they were trying to say to each other.”
“Okay. Well…”. There seems to be nothing to say to that. After another ten minutes, I clamber to my feet and break out the snacks. Tonight’s meeting seems to be a little twisted as Clara would say.
I eye Clara as Alanis comes up beside me. “Well, I definitely don’t think that Destiny’s Call deserved that level of hate.”
“Me either. She seems to be a little frazzled tonight.”
“Yeah. I wonder why.”
“Between Clara and Hetty… they’re both acting kinda strange.”
“Yeah. I wonder if I should…”
“No, you shouldn’t, Del. You should leave any questioning up to me.” Whipping around, I glare at Brandon.
“It’s my life that keeps getting messed with.”
“And I’ve got this. Don’t worry about it.”
“Did you talk to Hetty?”
“Yeah. She’s hiding something but she’s a bit of a pushy girl. But you’re sure that that person, the shadow that you saw wasn’t her?”
“I’m sure.”
“Well then. I’m gonna follow you home once this breaks up and then keep an eye on a few things.”
“Like what?”
“Never mind. Just make sure that after I follow you, you stay home tonight.”
“Fine,” I huff. He grins and the sparkle in his golden-brown eyes warms me…inside.
“Thank you, Del. I’ve got this.”