I look at Wade. “I don’t know what to say to that.”
I don’t acknowledge him, but from my peripheral vision, I see Lachlan walking over with his smoothie. I don’t look up at him when he takes the chair across from me, either. I keep my focus on Wade. He doesn’t even notice anyone else has joined us. Maybe he does notice, but since the shop is so crowded, there’s no reason for him to think it’s Lachlan.
“You don’t have to say anything.” He scoots closer to me. “I just feel like if you can give him a chance, maybe you can give me one too.”
I glance away and look at the hallway that leads to the back door.
“Delilah,” Wade says after a moment. When I turn my face again, I catch Lachlan’s glare. Again, I ignore him.
“I can’t,” I whisper. “I’m sorry. I just can’t.”
“Am I not enough of an asshole for you?” Wade asks.
That makes me laugh. I bite my lip and glance up at Lachlan again, who now looks more amused than he does angry. He raises his eyebrow as if waiting for me to respond to that.
“If you want me to be an asshole. . .”
I bite back a laugh. “Wade, you wouldn’t even know how to be an asshole, and I like that about you.”
He exhales. Lachlan shoots daggers at me.
“So. . .?”
“It’s complicated.”
“Look, we’ll both be out of town the next few days. Just. . .when we get back here, go on a date with me. A real one. . .”
“Not gonna happen,” Lach says, his voice menacing.
Wade’s eyes widen for a moment and narrow, as he stands up and turns his body in Lach’s direction.
“You know what, asshole?” Wade says. “If it weren’t for you, she’d be dating me.”
Lach’s lips twitch. “But she’s not.”
“I can wait,” Wade says with a shrug. “She’ll get tired of the way you treat her, sooner or later.”
“Maybe. Maybe not.” Lach crosses his leg, setting his ankle over his knee, as he leans back in the chair. “The fact still remains that she’ll be with me.”
“Until she’s not,” Wade shoots back.
Lach’s face immediately darkens, but he remains seated. “If you want to believe that, that’s on you, but I’m telling you right now, she’s never going to fucking date you.”
“Just because I’m a nice guy. . .”
“It has nothing to do with you being a nice guy,” Lach says, his green eyes hard as he uncrosses his leg and leans forward in his seat. “She won’t date you because you’re not me. It’s that fucking simple.”
The words that sting me, make Wade laugh. I look away. I know it only hurts because he’s right. The last three years have proved it. Still, the fact that he knows it and says it so callously, hurts. I wish it didn’t, but I can’t change what he makes me feel. I take a breath and focus on remaining calm, and not showing him how much his words affect me. I keep my eyes on the back door the entire time I sip on my smoothie.
“Mark my words, ‘Lachlan Duke,’” Wade says, as if Lach isn’t real and sitting right here. I glance over again. “Sooner or later, you’ll lose her again, and I’ll be here, waiting to pick up the pieces.”
Lach’s jaw clenches but he doesn’t respond. He continues to shoot daggers that I know would be fists if we were outside.
“Text me,” Wade says to me.
I nod in acknowledgment. When I don’t look at him, he exhales heavily and walks away. The moment he walks away, I spring up and go to the back. Marissa’s office is tiny, but she has a comfortable chair. I set my cup on her desk, settle into the chair, and close my eyes. I’m trying not to kick myself for my actions, but it’s hard right now. I shouldn’t have signed that document. For him, I’d do anything, but my sanity isn’t something I’m willing to lose.
I’ve been fine here. I’ve missed him so fucking much, but I’ve been fine. And I know some people, like Marissa, make the argument that simply surviving isn’t truly living, but for me it is and I’m okay with that. For so long, I wanted to bring him here, and now that he’s actually here, I just. . .I don’t know what I feel. If I wish him away, I’d miss him. If he stays and continues to tarnish the place that has brought me peace, I’ll hate him. I take a few deep breaths. I’ve survived worse and I know I’ll survive this. I just wish I didn’t have to.
