Page 28 of Deliah
He nodded once. “You’re welcome.”
I didn’t wait for him to drive off. I walked to the door, heels clacking, spine straight—and I could feel him watching the entire way.
Chapter 13 –
Red Wine & Red Flags
The next morning, I woke up with the sorest of sore heads—and don’t even get me started on my feet. I was half convinced they were broken. My heels were still by the door, abandoned like two glamorous regrets. We’d had the best night. No drama. No tears. Just real laughs, stupid dancing, loud music, and for once—no thoughts of Jay.
But something else had crept in. Or rather, someone. I couldn’t stop thinking about that other Boiler Boy, and the mad part was I didn’t even know his name. We’d barely exchanged more than a few sharp words, but somehow, he’d left an imprint. I’d felt him all night, his presence stitched into the air around me. Like he’d wrapped himself around my mind without laying a finger on me. And that “little girl” comment? Please. Who the fuck did he think he was? But it hit. Right in that place under my skin.The place no man had touched since Jay—the part of me that still wanted to be used, but this time by someone who knew how.
And then in the car. That soft but solid tone, the way he looked at me like he already knew everything I was about to say. He didn’t flirt. He didn’t even try. He just existed—and somehow, that was enough. The way he said, “You wouldn’t be doing that if you were mine…” Like he already believed I would be. Fuck. Smug prick, and yet I wanted more. I’d spent so long feeling used, ignored, and heartbroken that I’d forgotten what it felt like to have someone leave a mark just by looking at me. Someone new. Someone dangerous in a way I couldn’t quite read.
I sat up in bed, rubbing my temples, heart still annoyingly fluttery from the night before.
Cherry burst into the room after spending the night at Tommy’s, already laughing, phone glued to her ear like it was an extra limb. She was talking to Tommy—don’t know why, she’d only just fucking left him.
“Put him on speaker, will you?” I croaked, reaching for a water bottle and taking a sip like it was life-saving.
Cherry gave me a look. “You alright?”
“Yeah, yeah. Just wanna ask him something.”
She pressed the button, and Tommy’s voice came through, all cocky charm.
“Sup, Deliah—you good, yeah?”
“Yeah, all good, thanks. Just a quick one. Who was that blue-eyed fuckboy out with you lot last night?”
Cherry nearly choked on her laugh.
Tommy cackled. “Fuckboy? You mean Damion?”
“The one with the stare that could set you on fire and the mouth that needs washing out with soap.”
“Oh, that’s Damion alright. He works with us. Barely ever comes out, to be honest.”
“I’ve never seen him before.”
“Yeah, not surprising. He’s not really into the party scene. Quiet guy. Bit intense, but proper sound. Don’t think I’ve ever seen him with a girl, come to think of it.”
“Really?” I said, pretending to sound disinterested. “Just wondered why he looked like he wanted to undress me with his eyes all night.”
“You want his number?” Tommy teased.
“No! Jesus, that’s the last thing I need.”
Tommy laughed again, and Cherry carried on chatting to him about their plans for the next night. I just sat there, chewing on the inside of my cheek. Not that type of guy, huh? Sure. Maybe not. But he was dangerous in a completely different way. Not like Jay. Not the sweet-talk, fall-in-love, then fuck-you-over type. No—this was quieter. Stronger. Like he didn’t need to chase.
When Cherry hung up, she flopped down beside me on the bed. “So… you gonna tell me what’s going on with you and Damion?”
“Nothing’s going on. We had a little back and forth. He dropped me home. That’s it.”
She raised a brow. “Dropped you home? What, in silence?”
“Not exactly,” I muttered, and then I told her. About the comment in the car. About the way he looked at me. The way he said, “You wouldn’t be doing that if you were mine.”
She sucked in a breath. “Okay, that’s hot. Like, makes you cry down your leg a little hot.”
