Page 190 of Distant Shores
Delly narrowed her eyes at me. “You don’t think I can handle being on my own? Is that it?”
No.
Yes.
“I just… don’t want to leave you, Delly, and I’m scared. That’s the truth.”
Her eyes softened, and she reached for my hand. “The biggest favor you could do for me is to be happy. And you and I both know that going back to Georgia wouldn’t be that.” She sighed heavily, frowning down at our hands. “I’ve even been wondering if it’ll make me happy. If it’ll be the same.”
I sat up straighter. “What do you mean?”
Her mouth twisted to the side. “I don’t know. It’s too late to try to transfer schools, but… I don’t know.” She looked up at me. “I’ve been thinking about things differently. This summer has been….” Her words died out, but I knew what she meant.
Everything had changed this summer. This summer had changed everything.
However you looked at it, it was the truth.
“We still have time,” I said gently. “The summer isn’t over.”
She nodded. “The summer isn’t over.”
“I’m going to ask Ireland to marry me.”
Delly’s hand twitched in my palm, but she didn’t gasp. Didn’t even look surprised as she smiled. “I know.”
I raised my eyebrows at her, and she smiled wider.
“Pops might have mentioned it.”
“What? When?”
She dropped my hand to brace hers on the bench and shrugged. “What happens at bingo stays at bingo.”
I threw my head back and laughed, so relieved I reallycould have cried. For her to know my intentions. For Pops to remember.
“He also told me you should ask Jillie about Grams’s ring.”
My mind blanked. “When…,” I started, my mouth suddenly dry. “When were you going to tell me this?”
“Now, big brother. The moment you finally told me what I’ve known for a while.”
My nose burned as I sniffed back tears, and Delly surged forward, throwing her arms around me. “This is good, Addy,” she said, squeezing me tight. “Please don’t be sad about it, even a little. I promise I’ll be good.”
I clutched her to me, holding onto her for just one more moment.
To the little girl who was my sole purpose for years.
“I’ll be good, Addy,” she repeated. “You’ve made sure of that.”
The tears were falling when she released me, and I wiped at them while she walked a few steps away, gathering herself and giving me the space to do the same. I watched in the mirror as she put her hands on her hips and looked down at her feet, squeezing her eyes shut. I looked away before she could catch me and wiped away the fresh tears that came.
Another thing I hadn’t expected about falling in love? How many endings came with the beginnings.
We fell into our workout a bit later, sharing small smiles as we went through our circuits, and by the time the gym door creaked open again, we were both sweaty and red-faced.
Ireland walked in, and Delly quickly covered her face with her towel, turning her head toward me and giving me an excited smile.
I was surprised she didn’t squeal and announce my intentions right then and there.
