She smiles. “I think I like that deal.”
“Good, now for Star.”
We spend the rest of the day shopping, talking, and it’s the first time I’ve actually seen a glimpse of the real Delilah. The one that lies deep within the surface of the rich girl who has everything. She’s funny and easygoing, she laughs and jokes, if Hugh had seen this side to her, I wonder if things would be different. I wonder if he would have fallen for her, because I can see how easy it would be to do so.
Guilt swallows me up when I think about that, because I feel like I’m taking something from Star, from her, from Hugh, by not letting him see this side to her. If I wasn’t around, perhaps he would have. If he hadn’t had feelings for me, maybe he would have caught the great girl inside of her. Maybe if I go ...
“Can I ask you something?” I say, cutting my thoughts off because they’re really worrying.
“Sure,” Delilah says, as we load everything into the car.
“Why didn’t you ever let Hugh see this side of yourself? I want you to be honest.”
Delilah pauses, and then turns. She thinks on it for a moment, then exhales and says, “To be honest, I knew deep down Hugh and I would never work. I knew it, and even though part of me wanted it to and a bigger part wanted that for Star, I just knew that our worlds would never blend together. Even if he saw what I keep hidden, we still wouldn’t have mixed together in the right way. We both deserve someone who works for us, with us, not against us.”
I see what she’s saying. This is still her world, even if she let the best parts of herself out, it doesn’t take away the fact that she is who she is, and her family is who they are. Hugh never fit in, and she knew it. He knew it. Everyone knew it.
“I think Hugh is great, I really do, but he’s not the kind of man I see myself settling down with. Being with him made me realize that. He’s gorgeous, and don’t get me wrong, the female part in me wanted to climb that man like a tree, but the real side to me knew that’s all it was.”
I laugh. “I hear you. And it makes sense, what you’re saying. There is a great guy out there for you, Delilah. Someone who will fit into your world, but who will be exactly who you need at the same time.”
“I’m starting to doubt there is, but I’m hopeful.” She smiles. “Now, let’s go home because I really want to wear that outfit. What do you say? Drinks?”
“I’m in.”
We get into the car and head home.
I think I just made a new friend.
With the most unlikely person possible.
And I’m so happy about it.
“SO, THE NIGHT YOU MET Hugh, is the first time you’ve been to a party?” Eve asks, eyes wide as she takes a sip of her drink and stares at Delilah.
“Sadly, yes. I only did it because my boyfriend had broken up with me for a girl who was ‘worth’ more and I was angry. I got drunk and I went out, that’s when I met Hugh and thought hell yes, this’ll teach them all. I didn’t realize just how much that thought would come true.”
“Wow,” Ramona says. “Girl, you haven’t lived. You have to get out there, and stumble around with your friends drunk, and laugh, and eat at midnight, and do stupid shit. That’s what living is all about. That’s what friendship is all about.”
“Unfortunately, I haven’t had friends like that. We sip wine and talk about how much we spent in a day.”
Damn.
I’m happy we decided to come out tonight. We got home from the shop, I text all the girls and we organized Hugh to take care of Star so we could have a girls’ night out. He was happy to, and we got ready, I dressed Delilah in her epic new outfit and we came out. We’re at a local bar, having a few drinks, and I’m starting to think we need to find something even better to do with Delilah, so she has the night of her life.
“Girl, we are going to get you so drunk tonight, you’re going to want to come back every night for a repeat because you’re going to have so much fun,” Gabby cries. “Bartender, a round of shots.”
Delilah looks nervous, but she accepts the challenge and we all take a shot and laugh, and then we take another and laugh some more. Then we dance, we sing, we eat, and we have the most incredible night. By the time midnight rolls around, we’re all more than a little drunk and decide it’ll be fun to walk down to the local lake and go for a swim.
“Are you sure this is safe?” Delilah asks as we strip off our clothes.
Eve launches into the water, squealing with happiness as the cold hits her skin.
“Of course, we’re not drunk enough to have no idea what we’re doing. You can swim, right?” I ask her.
“Sure, I can swim. I’ve never ... swam in a lake before. There could be anything in there.”
“Girl, get your damned clothes off and get in the water. We’re going in!”
I strip my clothes off and then run and throw myself into the water. I hit with a splash, and the cold makes me rise up to the surface squealing. “Holy shit it’s cold. Delilah, get your ass in here.”
Delilah hesitates in her bra and undies, and then with a deep breath, she says, “Fuck it,” and runs toward the water. She jumps in and we all watch as her squeals of delight fill the quiet night.
She’s happy.
The first time I’ve seen her actually let loose and have fun.
We swim and splash, laughing and joking, and then we climb out and lie down on the grass, looking up at the stars in the sky.
“Truth time,” Eve says, laughing. “I love truth, not dare, so we’re skipping that part.”
“Sounds terrifying,” Delilah says.
“On that note, you get to go first.”
“Oh, wait, what?”
I laugh.
“It’s sort of like a never-have-I-ever game. If you’ve done it, you say truth, if you haven’t you say nothing. Here goes, have you ever had sex in a public bathroom.”
“Truth,” Ramona yells. “Hell yeah, baby.”
I giggle.
“Truth,” Poppy admits.
Nobody says anything else.
“Truth,” Gabby yells to the sky.
“Ladies,” Ramona shouts, “the rest of you need to get your shit together and get jiggy with it in a bathroom.”
“I’ll put it on my to-do list,” I grin.
“Okay, my turn,” Poppy says. “Have you ever had anal sex?”
“Truth!” Eve shouts.
“Ew,” Delilah says. “No way.”
“Truth.” Ramona chuckles.
“My god, nope.” Gabby shakes her head beside me. “No thanks.”
“Wow, so half of us are ass virgins, good to know.” I chuckle.
“Ew, Maggie.” Gabby nudges me with her shoulder.
“Okay, my turn,” I say. “Have you ever broken someone’s heart?”
“Ugh, truth,” Eve says.
“Truth,” Poppy adds on.
“Truth,” Gabby says.
“Nope,” Ramona says. “I’m unforgettable so they never get hurt, they just wish they could have me back.”
We all giggle.
Delilah says nothing.
“Nothing, D?” I ask.