Page 53 of Sin Wagon
“I’m gonna go. Let you two get settled in. Your boxes that got shipped here are in the garage. I brought them over yesterday. The movers should be here by the end of the week. They’re leaving Nevada tomorrow night, and it’s like a day’s drive with no stops.”
“No hurry. We brought everything we need,” Derek tells her, reappearing at just the right time. “Tell Roy I’ll be clocking in first thing in the morning.”
“Will do.” She steps over and hugs Derek, then looks at me, her arms spread. A wide smile spreads across my face as Ieagerly step into her warm embrace, feeling a rush of happiness and love enveloping me.
“You call if you need anything,” she says softly.
“I will. Oh, does Wells know I’m here? How was Florida?”
“They’ll be back in two days. And no, he has no idea you’re here. He’s going to be surprised.”
“Why have they been there so long? Did something else happen?” I ask, panic surging through me.
They were there when she called me almost a week ago, and I agreed to move here. So why are they still there?
“Everything is fine. Or as fine as it can be with the situation. Wells has been considering opening a club in Texas or Florida, and since he was going to be down there, he and Jonas decided to see a few properties. They’re trying to decide if he should renovate or build new.”
A wave of relief washes over me, soothing my troubled mind.
“Okay, I’m off,” she says, grabbing her bag and heading toward the door.
“Delilah, I’m serious—call me for anything, day or night. Roy wants you to send him your portfolio, too. He is interested in creating advertisements for streaming services and would like your opinion and assistance with marketing.”
“You’d nail that, Delilah. Send it immediately,” Derek pushes.
“Text me his email, and I’ll send it tonight.”
She nods and exits out the front door.
Derek and I spend the rest of the day unpacking the essentials and getting a feel for the house. It’s surreal to be here, in this beautiful townhouse, knowing how much effort Rhonda and the rest of the family have put into making sure we’re comfortable.
By evening, I’m exhausted and ready for bed. Derek makes dinner—spaghetti, a simple meal but the smells of tomato andherbs have me drooling. Earlier, I placed a grocery order and had it delivered so we could have a few things on hand until we could make it to the store ourselves. Derek’s car is supposed to come with the movers, so for now, we’re making do with what we have.
After dinner, I send Roy my portfolio. I attach the file to an email, add a quick message, and hit send. The prospect of working on marketing for a huge company like Covington Hotels fills me with enthusiasm. It’s an exciting new opportunity, a distraction from the upcoming arrival of Little Boba.
As I close the laptop, I feel a sense of accomplishment and anticipation. Chicago seems like the right move so far. I know it’s only been less than a day, but things are already looking up for us. The uncertainty of the future doesn’t feel so daunting anymore. Instead, it’s filled with promise and the potential for new beginnings.
I head to my new bedroom and change into some pajamas before slipping into bed. The comforting weight of the blankets and the softness of the mattress make it easy to unwind. I yawn, stretching out on the new, plush mattress. I was a little hesitant to let Rhonda provide us with beds and leave my old one behind, but this feels like I’m lying on a floating cloud. The mattress conforms perfectly to my body, cradling me in a way that makes my old bed a forgotten memory.
I let out a deep sigh, feeling the tension leave my body, but my thoughts wander back to Wells. How do I tell him that I now live in the same city as him? If his parents didn’t tell him, I need to, but I still have reservations. He hasn’t said a word to me since Florida. Not even a “shit hit the fan, I’ll be in touch” message.
It’s not like I needed him to babysit me, but is checking in so hard? Frustration bubbles up as I mull over how to approach the conversation. The thought of Wells being so close and yet so distant weighs heavily on my mind.
I wonder if I should text him now or wait until tomorrow. Should I keep it casual or lay everything out? My mind races with potential scenarios and responses, each one adding to my growing anxiety.
Despite my best efforts to stay awake and come up with a plan, my eyelids continue to grow heavier. I try to fight it, determined to create a plan, but my thoughts become more fragmented and less coherent. As I lie here, the soothing pull of sleep begins to consume me.
My last conscious thought is a fleeting hope that Wells will understand and that things might work out somehow.
With that, I surrender to the comfort of the bed, allowing sleep to wash over me, providing a brief respite from my worries.
Chapter 25
WELLS
The flight from Florida to Illinois feels endless, the cabin dimly lit as we watch some forgettable movie, trying to distract ourselves from the weight of what’s waiting for us back home. Jonas nudges me, breaking the silence that has been our flight so far.
“What’s up?”
