Page 30 of Willow Vale

Then something clicked into place. Stark realization that I couldn’t—wouldn’t—find what I wanted in anyone other than Delilah. And wasn’t that a slap to the face?

I wanted the one person who wanted nothing to do with me, and try as I did, I couldn’t replace her. Didn’t want to keep trying to replace her when I knew it was impossible.

To this day I still remember the look of sheer horror and a little disgust on Mindy Kerrigan’s face when I’d all but fallen out of my stool to get away from her before I blacked out on the floor. Dad didn’t let me live that down the next morning after Finn hauled me through the front door.

After that the thought of touching another woman had repulsed every inch of my body, so much that I would have preferred a concussion over sharing any part of myself with anyone who wasn’t her. Did I still consider it a few times when my hand just didn’t cut it some nights? Yeah, I definitely did. But that was as far as it ever went.

I couldn’t do it. Our breakup did a number on me I wasn’t too willing to reveal to her.

Damn, she really did ruin me four years ago, and I had a feeling it ruined her too. If only on a completely different scale. For a different reason...

The soundof a cellphone ringing stirred me awake. I opened my eyes, immediately finding Delilah sleeping across my chest. The stars painted the night sky, greeting me between the leaves of the willow tree.

I frowned when the sound of my phone ringing didn’t stop. I gently ran a hand over Delilah’s back, kissing the top of her head as I maneuvered her off me. She let out a soft sigh as she settled onto the pillow as I covered her up with theblankets, taking my time to admire her before reaching for my phone.

My dad’s name popped up on the screen and I answered, concern already taking over given how late it was.

“Dad?” I murmured.

“Travis, is Lila with you?” The sound of his strained voice instantly put me on high alert.

“Yeah, she’s with me.” Given the knowing glances I’d seen him and Mom exchanging every time I mentioned Delilah this summer, I’m pretty sure they knew something was starting between us. Probably long before we did. Not that I cared if they knew. I wanted them to know. I’d have to talk to them about our relationship soon because there was no way in hell I was letting her go now. “Why?”

I heard voices in the background, one of them belonging to my mother. Before I could ask where they were, my dad said, “You need to bring her over to the hospital, son. Now.”

Something heavy sank in the pit of my stomach.

“Why? What’s going on?”

“Irene’s boyfriend called an ambulance tonight for her. She’d taken something and it…she’s in the hospital right now. We’re here with her grandfather in the waiting room to hear some news. All I know is that it’s bad, son. Please, get Lila here.”

I hung up and sat there, staring down at my phone. My heart started beating harder in my chest. Dread filling every inch of me, washing away the last few hours we shared together. And now I had to ruin everything by telling her that her mother was?—

“Travis?” Delilah’s soft voice snapped me out of my panic. I looked over my shoulder to see her staring up at me with tired eyes, a soft smile on her lips. “What are you doing?”

I swallowed. I cupped her cheek and kissed her once, hating that I needed to give her the worst news she’d probably ever get.

“Delilah, there’s something I have to tell you…”

That nightstill follows me around whenever I think about it. The good that was blurred out by the bad.

Now seeing her nearly every day, casually brushing past her and catching her sweet scent when she turned around to reach for a glass, touching her the way I had earlier—it would only make it harder on me. Because she wanted afriend. Not a boyfriend or anything that could lead to more between us. I wasn’t about to push her for anything she didn’t want to give. I’d learned my lesson that same night. So that meant I needed to put some distance between us.

Keep things strictly as friends.

Which meant no more touching her. No more thinking about her in the way I had been today. I could admire her for being an incredible woman and a selfless guardian to River. But that was it. That was all it could be.

I was about to turn and head back to Saul as he waved me down when I heard her call my name. “Travis?”

“Yeah?” I forced myself to turn and look at her.

There was gratitude in her shining brown eyes as she said. “Thank you for today. With…Victor.”

I swallowed thickly. “Have a good night, Delilah.”

CHAPTER 13

Lila

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