Page 20 of Until Delilah

“Never thought when I bought this place it would be dangerous. I liked the privacy and the views it has.” I only hope Delilah doesn’t blame me for what happened. What if she wants to go back to the shelter after tonight?

“It’s not like it was a wolf. A dog can get shot in town as easily as out here. How’s your girl?” Asher asks, moving to look toward the house.

“I think she’s in shock right now, but damn did she cry. I didn’t think she’d ever let them take her boy. I only hope that dog doesn’t have rabies. I can’t imagine them having to go through all those shots after today.”

“You’ve already fallen,” my dad mutters.

“I think I fell for her the second I met her. What I feel for her in such a short amount of time is unexplainable.”

“You don’t need to explain,” Asher says. “It’s the boom, boy. While I don’t know much about her situation, I know she hasn’t had it easy as of late. She probably thinks it’s happening too fast, but give her time.”

“There’s something she’s keeping from me and I have to believe it’s bad after everything else she’s told me. I want to protect her, but after today, what if she thinks it would be safer to be somewhere else?” I confess what’s been eating me up inside.

“Do you want me to get Cobi to look into it?” Asher asks as we start to walk back to the house.

“Do I want you to? Yes, but I’m not going to. Not right now, at least. I don’t know what it is, but I’ve got a bad feeling about it.”

“Well, let me know if you want Cobi to see what he can find out. You’re certainly showing more restraint than most,” Asher chuckled.

“Restraint is my middle name right now. I’m holding everything back until she’s ready.” We walk a couple of minutes in silence. “I want to thank you guys for keeping the women at home tonight. Delilah would have run for the hills with all of them smothering her.”

Both my dad and Asher chuckle. Pulling me into a side hug, my dad pats me on the back. “They can be a bit much, but they mean well. It won’t take your girl long to figure that out.”

“I’m coming to the game on Saturday to meet her and the boy,” Asher smirks at me. “And I’m bringing November, so you might want to warn her.”

“Thanks for the heads up,” I laugh. Although I think on any other given day, Delilah would have welcomed them with open arms. “And thanks for coming out to help. I don’t know what I would have done without it.”

“That’s what family’s for. Now, get inside and go tend to your woman. I think I saw her standing at the window looking out.”

Fuck, I’d been gone much longer than I intended. She probably thinks the dog got me as well.

I watch as my dad and his father-in-law walk around the side of my house and into the darkness. With Delilah and Beckham here, I need to have more security lights put in place. After tonight, I’m not taking any more chances with their safety.

Sure enough, Delilah is waiting for me in the kitchen when I walk inside, cradling a cup in her hands.

“One of the worst things about being pregnant is not being able to drink. No alcohol and no caffeine. Two things that all moms need.” She leans back on the counter and takes a sip of what I’m not sure.

Moving toward her, I ask. “If you can’t have alcohol or caffeine, what are you drinking?”

“Hot chocolate. It reminds me of sitting out back with my parents when I was little before bed. It’s comforting.” She looks down at her bare feet and then back at me. “I hate that I have to call them with this news. It’s going to devastate them when they learn everything I’ve been keeping from them.”

I pull her into a hug and feel her body relax against mine. It’s something we both need after the night we had. “At first, they’ll be disappointed, but if you explain yourself, they’ll understand. Do you want me to stay with you when you call, or do you want your privacy?”

“Can you stay around? Don’t listen but be here if I need you.”

She’s so damn cute. I keep it to myself though with only a twitch of my lips. “I’ll be wherever you need me. Now go call your parents before it gets too late,” I start to guide her to the couch. “You have to be exhausted.”

“I am exhausted.” She sits down and folds her legs up under her. Pulling her phone out of the pocket of the sweatshirt she has on, she stares down at her phone for a long moment before she goes to her contact list and then places the phone to her ear.

Biting her lip, Delilah looks to me as the phone rings. I know the moment someone answers because her eyes immediately well up with tears. “Hey, Mama,” she chokes out. “Is Dad there with you?”

I start to move to give her the privacy she wanted when her hand darts out and captures mine.

“Hey, Dad,” she says after a moment and then her chin starts to tremble. I give her hand a reassuring squeeze and then plant my ass on the couch next to her. “I have a couple of things I need to tell you both.”

Pinching her eyes closed, she listens for a moment before she answers them. “I’m fine. We’re both fine now. Earlier Beck got bit by a dog and in the process, I was bitten as well. We both got stitches, but now we’re… resting.”

I can hear a lot of talking on the other end but can’t make it out.

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