“You don’t have to sound so stunned.”
“I am. He stares down the mailman every single day.”
“Maybe he knows I’m not a threat.”
“Maybe.” She looks at me, and something in her expression shifts. “Or maybe he’s starting to trust my judgment.”
The words hang in the air.
I should respond to that. Acknowledge what she just admitted—that she’s opening a door she’s kept locked for a long time, and she’s opening it for me, which means?—
Instead, my phone buzzes.
Dean:Got Rex home. Jo’s making dinner if you want to come. Also your car is still at my place.
Right. My car.
“I should go,” I say, standing. “My car’s at Dean’s.”
“Right. Of course.”
“But maybe...” I hesitate. Every alarm in my headis going off. Don’t do this. Don’t open a door she’s going to walk out of. “Maybe Rex could come visit Ruffy sometime. Officially. Instead of breaking and entering.”
Delilah’s mouth curves. Not quite a smile, but close. “I think Ruffy would like that.”
“Cool.”
“Cool.”
We’re both terrible at this.
Ruffy follows me to the gate, not guarding now but...escorting. Like he’s making sure I leave properly.
“Bye, Ruffy,” I say.
He huffs.
“I’ll take that as progress.”
Delilah’s still on the porch when I close the gate behind me. She lifts her coffee mug in a small wave.
I wave back.
Then I walk to Dean’s house with the wedding song finally taking shape in my head.
She crashed into my life like chaos in a storm,Made me want to open doors I’d sworn I’d keep closed...
It’s not finished. It’s probably not even good. And I’m trying not to thinkabout the fact that I just described Dean and Jo’s love story using words that fit mine and Delilah’s just as well.
But for the first time, it’s honest.
And that’s a start.
Even if that’s the most dangerous thing I could be right now.
NINE
DELILAH
