18. Spencer
Chapter 18
Spencer
I place the food I dished up for her on the table and she glances from the plate to me. “Are you trying to fatten me up?”
“No, I’m trying to sober you up.”
“What was your excuse this morning when you forced me to eat that enormous breakfast?”
“You skipped dinner the night before.”
She blows out a puff of air and slumps back in her seat. “You’re too good to me, Spencer.”
“Delilah,” I say, taking a seat opposite her and reaching across the table to place my hand on hers. “You are going through a lot right now, and the people who should be rallying around you aren’t. Let me be that person for you.” My words upset her, which was not my intention. Shit. “Please don’t cry.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispers, swiping at the few stray tears that are now cascading down her cheeks. “The alcohol is making me emotional.”
I have a feeling it’s more than the alcohol. “Do you want to talk about where you went today?”
She grimaces. “Not really. ”
“A problem shared is a problem halved.”
“I appreciate that … truly I do, but I don’t think you’d say that if you knew where I went.”
“I know, Delilah. I had Damien follow you.”
“What?” she squeaks.
“I was worried. Sue me.”
Her gaze moves down to her lap. “I?—”
“I can understand your concern.”
“I didn’t just sleep with him, I basically slept with them too … and every person they did. Who knows how many people that equates to? Hundreds? Thousands?”
“I hope he had enough sense to wrap it.”
“He slept with prostitutes, Spencer.”
“It’s my understanding that brothels are pretty regulated for that type of thing.”
“Maybe brothels that your type of people visit. Kayne is a broke university student who hasn’t worked a day in his life. He couldn’t afford someone high class.”
There’s so much to unpack with that statement, starting with “Your type of people” , but I let it slide for now. I’m not sure she meant it to sound as judgemental as it did. “Even street workers are governed by the law to use protection.”
“You sound like you’re speaking from experience.”
“I’ve never had to pay for sex in my life, Delilah … nor would I.”
“I guess.”
“You guess?”
“I witnessed how gaga my sister was after interning at your company … you probably have women throwing vaginas at you wherever you go.”
I roll my lips to hide my amusement. “That’s an interesting metaphor, but I’m happy to report I’ve never been hit by a flying vagina.” I dart my upper body to the left, then right. “I have good reflexes, despite my age.”
A sweet grin tugs at her pouty lips. “Not bad for an old guy.”
“Enough of the old,” I grumble. “Are you going to tell Abigail to get tested?”
She lifts one shoulder. “I don’t know … maybe.”
“You realise he’s cheating on her as well?”
“Yeah, I read everything in the folder you gave me. He’s such a piece of shit,” she mumbles.
“I could think of a few more choice words to call him.”
“Same,” she says. “Like a C U Next Tuesday.”
I bark out a laugh. “Despite those cutesy, little girl pyjamas you’re wearing, I know for a fact that you’re a grown-arse woman, Delilah, you can say, cunt.”
She screws up her face. “I’m not a fan of that word, and don’t be hating on my bunnies. These pyjamas are comfy and warm.”
On her, they are adorable, but I keep that observation to myself.
“It’s not my favourite word either, but sometimes it’s fitting. Do you want to talk about what happened today?”
She shrugs again. “I don’t have any results yet … I should get some back tomorrow, or the day after. The others take time. It makes me feel sick to my stomach. Walking into that clinic was one of the most humiliating moments of my life.”
“It’s common for people to get tested, Delilah.”
“Have you ever had to do that?”
“I’ve never had to … I chose to. For the protection of myself and others.”
“That’s sweet of you,” she says, picking up her fork and pushing the food around her plate. “It’s a shame Kayne doesn’t have the same respect for others.”
“I think he’s too selfish and self-absorbed to see the error of his ways. Or he simply doesn’t care.”
“I did some research on sexually transmitted diseases last night … did you know that some can make a person sterile? God, I’m not sure what I’ll do if that happens. I’ve always wanted to have a family of my own one day.”
“Delilah,” I say, squeezing her hand. “Don’t get ahead of yourself. You are more than likely worrying unnecessarily.”
“I hope you’re right, but the unknown scares me.”
“Would you like me to make an appointment for you to see my doctor? He’s one of the best in the business.”
“I appreciate the offer, but I paid for comprehensive testing. There probably isn’t much more he could do.”
“How much did the testing cost you?”
“Almost a grand.”
“I’d happily give you the thousand dollars, but I already know you’d never accept it.”
“And you’d be right, but while we’re discussing money, would it be possible to pause my reimbursements for the clothes for a couple of weeks? Today wiped out all of my savings.”
“Why don’t you forget the payment plan altogether? I never asked or expected you to repay me for those clothes.”
“I can’t do that,” she says. “I always pay my debts.”
“It doesn’t constitute a debt if it was gifted to you.”
“Please, Spencer, this is important to me. Kayne mooched off me the entire time we were together. I don’t want to be anything like that man.”
“How?”
“He never had money, so it was always up to me to pay for everything. Not the prostitutes obviously—well, I hope that wasn’t the case because I gave him money from time to time—but dates, food, petrol, his Netflix account, our honeymoon, and all the other things that our parents didn’t cover for the wedding. I had a nice little nest egg saved until …”
As if I didn’t already hate that fucker enough. “You paid for the honeymoon that he took another woman on?”
“Yep.”
“That guy is the lowest of low. You may not think this right now, but you are better off without that man.”
“I don’t know what I ever saw in him if I’m being honest. The man I thought I loved was just an illusion.”
Hearing her confess to loving another man makes my stomach lurch.
“Eat,” I say, nodding down at the food.
“I—”
“Please, Delilah.”
Her eyes meet mine as a genuine smile curves her lips. It’s the first real one I’ve seen in days. “Okay, I’ll do it for you.”
Why do her words have my heart skipping a beat?
By five o’clock, I’ve logged off and packed up for the day. I’m ready to leave. I exit my office, and when I come to a stop beside Delilah’s desk, she glances up at me and frowns.
“Are you going somewhere?” she asks.
“Yes, to dinner with my mother.”
“Oh.”
I extend my arm, offering her my hand. “Come.”
“Do you want me to go with you? ”
“That’s the plan. I’m liable to face a lecture if I arrive without you.”
“I don’t want to impede on your family dinner, Spencer.”
“According to my mother, you are part of this family now.”
“She said that?” Delilah asks with a little too much excitement.
“Her exact words were, ‘Make sure to bring my future daughter-in-law’.”
Any other time, I would’ve hated hearing her speak those words, but for some reason, it didn’t bother me. Maybe because Delilah and I will never be married. She’s far too young for me, and I’m nothing like my old man—child brides aren’t my thing.
“Yikes. We need to remind her that we’ve officially broken up.”
I chuckle to myself as she pushes her chair back and opens the drawer to grab her handbag before slinging it over her shoulder.
“I’ll leave that one up to you,” I say as she grasps my hand. I help her stand, taking pleasure in these small moments when I get a free pass to touch her. “I have no intentions of breaking my mother’s heart.”