She smiled. “That’s exactly what I wanted to hear you say.”
And that’s what I did. I told her what she wanted to hear because I was still unsure how I’d raise above it. We both turned when we heard my phone ding, indicating I had a new email message.
“Can you please hand me my phone?” I asked, wiping my eyes one more time.
“Sure.” Veronica turned, reaching for my phone on my nightstand. “Here you go.”
Glancing at the phone, I saw it was a message from Professor Whitman. “Oh my gosh! He responded.” I quickly swiped the notification on my screen.
My eyes scanned the page looking for the key words that would indicate I could go.
“What did he say?” Veronica leaned closer to me, trying to get a glimpse of the message.
“Um . . . yes! He says he had two people drop out last minute, and they really need to fill the spots.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful news, Delaney!” She threw her arms around me.
“I can’t believe it.” I hugged her, and we rocked back and forth, the excitement pouring from me. Pulling back, I said, “Does that mean I can go?”
She laughed. “I’ll talk to Martin right away, but I’m sure we can send you.”
“Thanks.”
She brushed away a stray tear. “Of course. I’m happy we can do it.”
Things were looking brighter. Even though I was avoiding what I wanted most, a trip to New York City was what I needed. The time away would allow me to get my head straight. It would allow me figure out if I really wanted to be with Luke, and if I was ready to change the person I’d become.
Chapter 8
Fall Semester—Senior Year
Luke
I glanced at my phone, seeing Delaney’s name pop up on the screen. Staring at her picture, I contemplated whether I should answer it. Summer had come and gone, and she hadn’t bothered to call or text me, other than to tell me she was going to New York for a photography summer camp. I guess she was back in town.
“Hello?”
“Hey, whatcha doing?” The silkiness in her voice automatically melted the hardness that had formed over my heart.
“Just got out of the shower.” I hit the speaker button and finished towel drying my body. I slipped on my boxer shorts and then pulled on a pair of athletic shorts.
“Really? Need any help?”
A low laugh released. Her offer told me one thing—she was ready to pick up where we left off. “Maybe.”
“Well, I could use some help.”
I rolled my eyes. Of course she could. “Sounds like you’re driving.”
“I am. Just left Target, and I have a car full of stuff.”
“How convenient.” I grabbed a jar of gel out of the cabinet and rubbed some on my palms before running my fingers through my messy hair.
“So, that’s all I’m good for? Unloading shit out of your car?”
“You’re good for more than that, and you know it.” She giggled, and I imagined her tossing her long strands over her shoulder as her head tilted back, exposing the length of her neck, which I’d love to kiss and lick.
“If you say so.” I pulled on my t-shirt and went to my room to find my shoes. “It’s going to cost you.” Glancing at my phone, I noticed it was a little after four in the afternoon.
“How about a round of hot sex afterwards?” Her voice automatically shifted from flirty to enticingly sexy.
I rubbed my crotch feeing the rise in my shorts. “I like that idea, but I’m starving. How about a pizza and six pack of beer?”
“Okay. I can buy that for you, as long as you call it in since I’m driving.”
“You got it.”
“See ya in a little while.” The Texas twang in her voice had me thinking of all the things I wanted to do with her. All the things I missed doing with her.
“Bye.” I hung up the phone and screamed. “Damn it!”
How did she have that power over me?
What was it about Delaney that had me doing things I told myself I wouldn’t do?
Fifteen minutes later, I was in her car with a pizza and on the way to get a six-pack of beer
And that’s what I did. I told her what she wanted to hear because I was still unsure how I’d raise above it. We both turned when we heard my phone ding, indicating I had a new email message.
“Can you please hand me my phone?” I asked, wiping my eyes one more time.
“Sure.” Veronica turned, reaching for my phone on my nightstand. “Here you go.”
Glancing at the phone, I saw it was a message from Professor Whitman. “Oh my gosh! He responded.” I quickly swiped the notification on my screen.
My eyes scanned the page looking for the key words that would indicate I could go.
“What did he say?” Veronica leaned closer to me, trying to get a glimpse of the message.
“Um . . . yes! He says he had two people drop out last minute, and they really need to fill the spots.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful news, Delaney!” She threw her arms around me.
“I can’t believe it.” I hugged her, and we rocked back and forth, the excitement pouring from me. Pulling back, I said, “Does that mean I can go?”
She laughed. “I’ll talk to Martin right away, but I’m sure we can send you.”
“Thanks.”
She brushed away a stray tear. “Of course. I’m happy we can do it.”
Things were looking brighter. Even though I was avoiding what I wanted most, a trip to New York City was what I needed. The time away would allow me to get my head straight. It would allow me figure out if I really wanted to be with Luke, and if I was ready to change the person I’d become.
Chapter 8
Fall Semester—Senior Year
Luke
I glanced at my phone, seeing Delaney’s name pop up on the screen. Staring at her picture, I contemplated whether I should answer it. Summer had come and gone, and she hadn’t bothered to call or text me, other than to tell me she was going to New York for a photography summer camp. I guess she was back in town.
“Hello?”
“Hey, whatcha doing?” The silkiness in her voice automatically melted the hardness that had formed over my heart.
“Just got out of the shower.” I hit the speaker button and finished towel drying my body. I slipped on my boxer shorts and then pulled on a pair of athletic shorts.
“Really? Need any help?”
A low laugh released. Her offer told me one thing—she was ready to pick up where we left off. “Maybe.”
“Well, I could use some help.”
I rolled my eyes. Of course she could. “Sounds like you’re driving.”
“I am. Just left Target, and I have a car full of stuff.”
“How convenient.” I grabbed a jar of gel out of the cabinet and rubbed some on my palms before running my fingers through my messy hair.
“So, that’s all I’m good for? Unloading shit out of your car?”
“You’re good for more than that, and you know it.” She giggled, and I imagined her tossing her long strands over her shoulder as her head tilted back, exposing the length of her neck, which I’d love to kiss and lick.
“If you say so.” I pulled on my t-shirt and went to my room to find my shoes. “It’s going to cost you.” Glancing at my phone, I noticed it was a little after four in the afternoon.
“How about a round of hot sex afterwards?” Her voice automatically shifted from flirty to enticingly sexy.
I rubbed my crotch feeing the rise in my shorts. “I like that idea, but I’m starving. How about a pizza and six pack of beer?”
“Okay. I can buy that for you, as long as you call it in since I’m driving.”
“You got it.”
“See ya in a little while.” The Texas twang in her voice had me thinking of all the things I wanted to do with her. All the things I missed doing with her.
“Bye.” I hung up the phone and screamed. “Damn it!”
How did she have that power over me?
What was it about Delaney that had me doing things I told myself I wouldn’t do?
Fifteen minutes later, I was in her car with a pizza and on the way to get a six-pack of beer
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