“Hey,” she says in a shy voice.
Reading Delilah can be confusing. Her touch and the shy voice conflict, but I’m trying not to question the conflicting messages, because if I find them confusing, chances are that Delilah finds them even more so.
“Good morning.” I eye her shorts and billowing top. I know she has no idea how sexy she looks. Her hair falls over her shoulders, and the scent of her lilac shampoo fills my lungs. “I love your outfit.”
“You do?”
She looks down and touches the edges of her lacy white boho chic top. It’s one of those shirts with spaghetti straps, cut-out shoulders, and three-quarter sleeves that fall halfway down her arms. She’s wearing my favorite pair of her cutoffs, the dark blue ones with thick fringe at the bottom, and several colorful bangles circle her wrist. She looks amazing.
I peer down at her feet, secretly hoping to see her boots, and sure enough, she’s wearing them unlaced with frilly white socks. So freaking cute I can’t help but break my own rule about letting her lead and kiss her cheek.
“You look amazing.”
“God, why can’t I find a guy like you?” Tristan leans back with a sigh.
Delilah’s cheeks pink up, and I move away, giving her space. She reaches over and laces her fingers with mine. My heart skips a beat, and I swear it takes all my strength not to jump up and down and scream, Yay! She’s mine! She’s mine! I clear my throat to suppress the cheesy smile that’s fighting to part my lips and hope the one I allow is not enough to make her retreat.
I don’t mind walking on eggshells for a little while.
“You will, Tristan,” Delilah assures him.
“Not anytime soon. I’m giving up on guys for a while.”
Tristan’s comment draws her attention. “Giving up on guys? Why?”
Tristan flicks an invisible piece of lint from his white tank top and looks out over the water. “After Ian I don’t really trust my instincts. I think I need to take a step back.”
“You need to play the field and not care,” Brandon says as he comes out from the kitchen and stands beside Tristan. He does a pelvic thrust and raises his brows in quick succession. “You know what I say about getting over a guy.”
Tristan shakes his head. “I have no desire to get over or under another guy right now, thank you very much. Get your package out of my face.”
Brandon sinks into the chair beside Tristan and eyes mine and Delilah’s linked hands. “Tristan, you should have been a lesbian.”
Tristan closes his eyes for a beat and shakes his head. “Do I even want to ask?”
“Seriously, dude.” He nods at me and Delilah. “Chicks make out and suddenly they’re in love and moving in together. We’re not like that. Guys are about sex. Girls are about relationships.”
Uh-oh. This is one of those eggshell moments. He’s right. Women tend to move much faster toward relationships than men. I watch Delilah for signs of discomfort at his reference of moving in together. She’s playing with the fringe on her shorts.
“No shit, but I like dick, not vag.” Tristan slides an apologetic look to us. “Sorry. I have to speak his language or else he’ll ramble on and on for an hour.”
Delilah shifts uncomfortably in her chair. She leans in closer to me and whispers, “He’s right. Brandon will keep pushing him.”
There’s nothing Brandon can say that shocks me anymore. Beneath his brash exterior is a big, loving heart. I still remember the day he set those almond-shaped dark eyes on me after I broke up with Sandy. He saw I was hurting and said, Not everyone is a prick. Come back with me to Harborside. You’ll love my friends. I don’t know if Brandon saw something in me that would click with Delilah, or if he meant his friends in general, but he was right. I needed this group of warm and wonderful friends, and Delilah? Well, I can’t imagine my life without her.
Brandon shrugs. “Whatever, dude. It is what it is.”
“There are monogamous guys out there. Brandon just doesn’t look for them.” I smirk at Brandon, and he smirks right back.
“I’m not giving up for good—just taking a hiatus. No hookups. No searching for Mr. Right.” Tristan’s eyes warm as they glide over me and Delilah. “But I’m happy that you two found each other.”
Delilah blushes again and drops her eyes, but her smile tells me that she is, too.
Chapter Eleven
~Delilah~
ASHLEY AND I spent Tuesday night at her place. This time I actually made it through most of the evening without tearing her clothes off. It wasn’t easy, but I love spending time with her and I don’t want her to think that I only like her for sex.