Delilah nodded, watching as Parker headed towards the back deck, “I’ll be just out back if you need something.”
As soon as the backdoor closed, Delilah spun on her feet, glaring at John. “What. The. Fuck. Are. You. Doing. Here.” She gritted out each word.
John reached out to take Delilah’s hand. She snatched it from him. She stormed passed him, spinning on her heel. “You have some nerve coming here.”
“Delilah, I wanted to see you. I deserve a chance to tell you what happened.”
“Tell me what happened? That’s rich, John. You were fucking another woman in our bed. What do you need to tell me that I didn’t already learn from that?”
“It was a mistake. Can’t you give me another chance?”
Delilah stopped, appraising the man in front of her. She didn’t feel an ounce of love for him, like she’d worried she might if she met him in person. “No… no, I don’t think so.”
“It’s that guy, isn’t it?” He folded his arms across his chest.
“Are you serious right now? No, John, it’s not that guy. And he has a name you know, Parker. His name is Parker.”
“Whatever, Delilah. If it’s not him, then why won’t you give me a chance. We had something good.”
“See, that’s where you’re wrong. You had something good. I had nothing. I put my career on hold so you could become something great. And the whole time, you were cheating on me.”
“No… It only happened recently. I wasn’t cheating on you long.”
“Wow. John,” Delilah walked towards the door, “You wasted your time coming out here. Now you need to go.” She pulled the door open. “Please leave.”
“You’re making a mistake, Delilah. No one will ever love you. I hope you’re happy being alone. Because that’s how you will be. Alone.” John stormed out the door, Delilah slammed it shut behind him. She covered her face with her hands, anger and sadness washed over her. She hadn’t even heard Parker come inside. It was his arms wrapping around her waist that broke her from her deep thoughts.
“Parker.” She whispered as she turned to face him.
“Delilah, are you ok?” Parker watched as the light he’d seen in her flicker behind her eyes.
“Parker. I need to be alone.” Delilah pulled from his arms. “Please.”
She grabbed the wooden box from the end table and stormed up the stairs, slamming her door. Flopping down on the bed, she pressed her face into her pillow and screamed. John showing up made her mad. It also confused her. She didn’t feel an ounce of love for him, yet – when she looked at Parker, a man she only knew for a month, her heart screamed for him. She drifted off to sleep, tears spilling onto her pillow as she gave into the exhaustion that fought to consume her.
∞ ∞ ∞
Parker pulled the front door closed and headed out. He wanted to talk to Delilah, but knew he needed to give her space. Hell, space is all he’d given her the last two weeks. Telling her that he loved her might have been the stupidest thing he’d ever done. But he did. He loved her. Somewhere over that last few weeks his heart and mind had come to the agreement that she was the one. Now he just needed to get her on board with the idea. He knew she loved him too, she was just afraid to let herself believe it. And then that tool John had shown up. Fuck. It took everything inside of Parker not to pummel his face. A woman like Delilah deserved to be loved and cherished. Not be cheated on and treated like a commodity.
Parker went home and changed, he was due into work in a few hours, but seeing as Delilah shut him out, he decided to go in a little early to get his mind off things. He needed to focus on something else for a while, or he might just explode with the rage building inside him.
Chapter 13
Delilah knew she’d hurt Parker, but she needed time to understand what was happening. She’d only been in town for six weeks, so the feelings she was trying to make sense of scared the crap out of her. Part of her was still struggling with guilt. Guilt for not visiting Momma Belle… Guilt for wanting a man so soon after walking out on her engagement… Guilt for not having any idea what she was supposed to do now.
After running some errands in town, Delilah sat at the kitchen table staring at the wooden box. What would the next one say? Would it be happy words or more disappointment? Snatching the next one out, Delilah tore through the envelope.
Delilah,
I am not sure what to say. Everything you have done, from the time you were born until now, has made me proud. But I received news today that you were engaged. I presume to that useless man John. I know you think you’re in love, but I think you want to believe it’s love. Maybe it’s because you never had a father in your life, lord knows I tried to be both parents the best I could. I know you had questions about who your dad was, but your mom never told me who he was and then she was gone. I tried so many times to find out, but I came up short. Regardless, I am digressing. You are a remarkable woman, a woman who deserves so much more than what John gives you. You can’t see it, why would you. You’re blinded by false love. That man treats you as though you are beneath him. Forcing you to put your career on pause so he can find his own first. What kind of man does that? Not someone who is in love.
I know it doesn’t matter what I think. But I KNOW there is someone better for you. I’ve seen it with my own eyes. But you must learn this on your own. Just know, I’ll be here to catch you when you fall. Because I know he will break your heart. It’s only a matter of when. I hope it’s before you get married. Would make things so much easier for you. Either way, I’ll be here waiting for you. Until then, I love you baby girl.
All my love,
Momma Belle
p.s. Don’t shy away from something good when the time comes. You deserve the best, Delilah.
Momma Belle had known all along John wasn’t right for her. Delilah folded the paper up and tucked it back into the box. She laid her head down on the table, the tears flowing like a broken faucet. She wished Momma Belle was here now so she could ask her what to do. Delilah had no friends here anymore. Hell, she had no friends anywhere. John had truly isolated her from everyone and until now, she hadn’t realized it. Done feeling sorry for herself, she decided to go out. After a nice hot shower, she pulled on a pair of jeans and a cropped top. Slipping into her worn boots, Delilah grabbed her keys and headed out.
A smile stretched across her face as she pulled into a parking spot. Downtown Florence was a picture frozen in time. The old buildings reminded her of something from decades ago. Slipping her phone and wallet into her back pocket, she headed towards AlaBrew – a local bar most of the college kids hung out at, but it would serve her purpose tonight. Because all she wanted to do was drink away her sadness.
She’d been at the bar for a bit when a young man approached her. “Hello, I’m Jackson. I don’t recognize you, are you new to town?”
Delilah turned to the handsome man propped against the bar next to her. He was attractive, but she didn’t feel the least bit interested. “Newish. I’m Delilah Greyson. My grandmother lived in St. Florian, I grew up here, but left after college.”
“Ah, I see. Well, can I buy you a drink?”