Page 39 of The Edge of Summer
Finally, I drop to the ground. The house only has one storey, so the jump wasn’t far, but the shock of my landing still reverberates through my legs. I try to drag air into my lungs as I move away from the wall of the house.
“Lukey!”
My steps falter. No. That’s not right. She isn’t supposed to be there.
“Lukey, help me!”
I wake with a start. My chest is tight, like the smoke I saw in my head was more than just an illusion. Gabe left hours ago, and now the house is dark around me. Sitting up, I realize that I fell asleep on the couch. I reach over and switch a lamp on, the warm light illuminating the space. Riot stirs from his bed in front of the fireplace.
I scrub a hand down the side of my face. My heart still pounds, the nightmare feeling much too vivid and real for my liking. It wasn’t real—at least, not most of it. There were fragments that were memories, interwoven with the nightmare. Just enough to remind me what’s at stake when I let my guard down.
For a time, these nightmares were a nightly occurrence. Abbie’s seemed to be the same, which made the guilt settle bone-deep. My niece is doing better—back to the carefree kid she should be. I thought I was better, too. But lately I’ve been backsliding, and I’m sure it has to do with that kiss.
Kissing Delilah was like a dream. One I didn’t want to wake up from. But I don’t get to live in dreamland. I tried that once and it almost got my niece killed. My brother may want me to let it go, but I can’t.
Riot stands from his bed and walks over to me. Henudges my hand with his snout, and I oblige, my fingers sifting through the soft fur at his neck. In another life, Riot could have been some type of support dog. From the beginning, he has been in tune with me, and he can tell when I’ve had a rough day.
“I just have to put her out of my head,” I say aloud. “That can’t be too hard, right?”
Riot’s head cocks to the side as he snorts. As if he’s saying,Yeah, right. Good luck with that.
I relax into the couch and tip my head to the ceiling. As much as I want to deny it, Gabe may have had a point earlier. I don’t like my brother being right on any given day, but especially about something like this. It just means I’m going to have to work extra hard at staying away from her. It’s the only way. But staying away is hard to do when my family has taken her in and given her a standing invitation to brunch.
Riot lets out a pitying sigh.
I groan. “Fuck.”
CHAPTER
FIFTEEN
LUKE
Avoiding Delilah works—fortwo days. I knew it was futile, but I had to try anyway. Giving up—givingin—is not an option. Though in a town the size of Kip Island, it was only a matter of time before our paths crossed again.
Sometimes I take Riot to the dog park in town so he can let out some energy with other dogs his size. The fenced-in space is close to the playground where all the kids like to hang out when it’s sunny. Today, of course, is the one day that Delilah and Sophia happen to be there the same time we are.
When Riot spots Delilah, he whines. Then he begins to pull, and the loose grip I had on his leash is no match for his strength. He bounds toward her, a tennis ball clamped firmly in his jaw. As soon as he reaches her, he drops the ball at her feet. Even from a distance, I can hear her melodious laugh.
“Now where did you come from?” she asks as she takes hold of his dangling leash. “I don’t think you’re supposed to be over here, buddy.”
Riot gives himself away, looking guiltily in my direction. As I approach, Delilah’s gaze pans to me. And she looks…surprisingly normal.
It isn’t like I want her to tear into me, wondering why I haven’t been around after that kiss. But I was expecting a little bit of a reaction at least. Instead she just wears her usual smile as she strokes between Riot’s ears. This sets me on edge. If she was Kristina, I know she would have been pounding on my door, demanding an explanation. Wanting us to talk.
“First my family, now my damn dog,” I say. “You seem to bewitch everyone.”
I try to sound annoyed, but it doesn’t quite have the intended bite. This causes her to laugh again and fuck, I really love that sound. Delilah is captivating in a way that begs for my attention—but I’ve been deluded before. Lulled into complacency. And it was all a lie.
“Sorry. I can’t help that I’m just that lovable.”
She says it sarcastically, as if she honestly doesn’t realize how true that statement is. But ever since she decided to make Kip Island her home, the people have embraced her with open arms. My family isn’t the only one invested in her success here.
From the set of swings, Sophia spots us. A beaming smile stretches across her lips as she waves. Delilah and I both wave back. Then the silence sets in.
I’m not entirely sure why I’m still standing here except for the fact that I can’t seem to leave. Riot and I should be well on our way to the off-leash area. Yet here I stand. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that everything between me and Delilah feels unresolved.
“Look—”
