Page 38 of Until Delilah

He nods in agreement. “Only if she wants to. Can we go play catch now?”

“Sure, buddy.”

Now I just have to make sure I don’t piss off the woman I want in my bed by bribing her son.

15

Delilah

I standby Max’s truck and watch as he talks angrily to one of December’s cousins or nephews. I’m not sure which. There are so many in her family it’s hard to keep up with all of them. I haven’t even met half of them.

Whoever this guy is, he was waiting for Max when practice got over to speak to him. The second Max dismissed the boys, he went straight to Max and they’ve been talking ever since.

“Hey,” December waves as she leaves school. “What’s going on with Max and Cobi?”

I take my eyes off the two men to look at her. “Your guess is as good as mine.”

“If I had to guess, it has something to do with you. Max wouldn’t tell me what kind of trouble you’re in. He said it was for my safety, but I know he’s been worried about you and Beck.” December smiles, looking off at Max and then at me again. “You know, I knew Max would be like his daddy when he found the right woman; he’d fall hard. I was worried there for a little bit he’d given up and was going to be a playboy for the rest of his life.” A grin spreads across her face. “That was until he saw you for the first time. I knew right then and there, you are his one.”

“Gareth was the same way?” It would help me feel more settled if I knew it’s common among the Black men.

“Oh, yes, I didn’t see him coming, but we fell hard and fast. Don’t be like my sisters and fight it. It’s so much easier if you don’t, and in the end, you’ll wish you had given in earlier.”

Leaning in, I speak quietly even though there’s no one around to hear us. “Even if there was a possibility of him getting hurt?” It feels like I’ve stepped into a dream after being alone for so long, and I don’t want to lose this new family I’ve come upon.

“You can’t think like that. He knows what he’s getting into, and he knows how and what to do in order to protect all of you. Now, smile and wave so he won’t worry.”

When I look over, I see both men looking over at us. Cobi is frowning while I can’t read the expression on Max’s face.

“I should probably see what has him looking like that. Thank you for talking to me. I’m sure it probably doesn’t seem like it, but it helps to know why Max is so gung-ho.”

She pats my arm and gives a wave to the kids. “Happy to help. If I don’t see you before, I’ll see you on Saturday at the game.”

“See you soon.” I wave goodbye and then walk to where the kids are playing around. “Beck, I’m going to talk to your coach, and then we’ll be leaving, okay?”

Beckham’s forehead puckers. “Sure, Mom.”

I’m ninety-nine-point-nine percent sure everyone knows there’s something going on with Max and me since we’ve been showing up to every practice and game with him since the night he picked us up outside the shelter, but I don’t want to be the talk of the town, so I play it off.

Needing to see what’s going on, I make my way over to Max. Long gone is the upset face, and now they’re both laughing. I step up to them and the one December said was Cobi shakes his head at me.

“Delilah, I want to introduce you to Cobi. Cobi, this beautiful woman here is Delilah.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” we both say at the same time while laughing.

Still laughing, Cobi says to me. “You’re fooling no one with that… whatever that was.” He slaps Max on the shoulder. “It’s getting late, so I should get home to Hadley.”

“I’ll talk to you soon.” Max gives Cobi a serious look. “Keep me updated.”

“You’ll know as soon as I know anything. Don’t worry, man. We’ve got you.” Cobi turns to me. “It’s nice to put a face to the name.”

“Likewise.” I smile back.

The moment Cobi’s out of hearing distance, I turn on him. “What was that about? It looked serious.”

Max’s lips turn into a thin line. “It is, but let’s discuss it at home after Beckgoes to bed.”

That only makes me worry more.

---