Delilah’s voice is full of pleading and agony, the sound like a knife to the gut. I can imagine her expression, her beautiful face full of heartache, her bottom lip trembling with the threat of tears. I clench my jaw, fighting the urge to barge into the room and end the conversation. If it wasn’t crucial to let her speak, I’d have interfered long before now.
“I understand,” Benjamin says, his tone cool.
“I’m so sorry. I never meant to lead you on or to hurt you. I value what we have—your friendship and your trust. It means the world to me.”
“I understand, Delilah, and I appreciate your honesty.”
Benjamin’s use of her full name is an attempt to put distance between himself and my girl. As much as I like the idea of their emotional separation, it’s hurting her.
“Let’s just forget I said anything, okay?” he asks.
When Delilah remains silent, I push away from the wall. He better not have made her cry, or I’m going to fucking beat the shit out of him. She did the right thing by not stringing him along by the balls, and I’ll be damned before I let him punish her for it.
I grip the handle and turn it, pushing open the door. The scene that greets me is tense but controlled. Delilah sits on the bed with her head bowed, but she lifts it, her gaze finding mine. Benjamin’s attention zips to me, his features tightening.
Delilah’s eyes are dry, her composure intact. Lucky for him I won’t have to kick his ass while he’s trying to recover.
“McKenzie,” I greet. “I see that you’re still alive.”
“X.” He gives me a curt nod. “Yup, I’m still breathing.”
Delilah slides from the bed and turns to face Benjamin. “I’ll see you later, okay?”
His eyes dart from her to me and back again. “Yeah, sure.”
She goes rigid, right before she leans down and throws her arms around him. He hesitates at first, but eventually returns her hug. For the first time, I’m not jealous at this interaction. Because I know it’s her way of saying goodbye, not just to him, but to the possibility of them ever being together.
After they separate, Delilah makes her way over to me. I’m quick to snake my arm around her waist and pull her to my side. She goes willingly, her body melting into mine at the contact. The stress from dealing with my father dissipates, along with the anger toward Benjamin for hurting her.
I’m feeling quite sane, which is a novelty for me.
“Ready?” I whisper into her hair.
Delilah nods and gives Benjamin a wave. After acknowledging him as well, I guide her from the room and into the hallway, shutting the door behind us.
“How much did you overhear?” she asks.
Her forthright has me fighting back a smile. “Enough.”
She rolls her eyes. “I’m not surprised. You don’t know what boundaries are.”
“When it comes to you, they’re non-existent.”
“If you say, ‘I told you so’ about Ben, I’m punching you in the dick.”
I raise my hands in mock surrender. “I’m not saying a word, little raptor.”
“Good.” She releases a sigh, her shoulders dropping. “Can we get out of here? I just need a break from all of this.”
“Are you up for grabbing something off-campus?”
“Anything, as long as we can get away from the fraternity for a while.”
“I’m on it.”
She looks up at me, a smile on her pretty mouth. “Thank you.”
Her gratitude is welcome but unnecessary. After surviving and recovering from the last Trial, I’m more than ready for a change of scenery. We make our way through the grounds of the University as the sun sets.
