I keep walking, adjusting my grip on the samples. “Not now, Jared.”
He pushes off the wall, falling into step beside me. “Come on, man. Haven't seen you at any parties lately. Where've you been hiding?”
“Working,” I say flatly.
“Right. The toilet project.” He smirks. “With Greer. I bet that’s fun.”
Something in his tone makes me stop. “What about her?”
Jared holds up his hands. “Nothing, nothing. Just impressed, that's all.”
“Impressed?” I eye him warily.
“Yeah. Never figured you'd partner with someone just to fuck them. She’s a tease, I’ll give you that.” He shrugs like he's discussing the weather. “Strategic, though. I respect it.”
The samples nearly slip from my hands. “What did you just say?”
“Relax, it's a compliment.” Jared leans in, dropping his voice like we're sharing a secret. “She'sfeisty, not your usual type, but I can see why you want to smash that. Those legs, right? And the whole uptight thing she does—bet she's wild once you?—”
I drop the samples on a nearby bench, hands suddenly free.
“Take it back,” I say, my voice low. “Now.”
Jared blinks, genuinely confused. “What? Come on, Troy. Don't tell me you're actually into her for real?”
“Delilah's ten times smarter than you'll ever be,” I say, stepping closer. “She works harder than anyone I know. And she doesn't need her daddy buying her way into competitions.”
The confusion on his face shifts to something uglier. “Jesus, she's really got you whipped, huh?”
“No, she's got me seeing clearly for the first time.” I shake my head, a harsh laugh escaping me. “You know, I've known you for what, four years? And I never realized what a complete loser you are.”
Jared's expression hardens. “Watch it, Hawkins.”
“No, you watch it.” I don't recognize my own voice, raw and sharp. “You don't talk about her like that. Not ever. We're done.”
He stares at me for a long moment, then his lips curl into a sneer. “Seriously? You're throwing away years of friendship over some random girl who probably won't even stick around after the competition?”
“She's not random. And we were never friends.” The realization hits me as I say it. “Friends don't try to tear each other down. Friends don't brag about their connections while others are working their asses off. Friendssupporteach other.”
“Oh, and she supports you?” Jared scoffs. “She barely tolerated you a month ago.”
“She challenges me,” I counter. “Makes me better. When's the last time you did that for anyone?”
He steps back, studying me like I'm a stranger. Maybe I am—to him, to myself. I don't know anymore.
“Is she really worth losing all this over?” he asks, gesturing vaguely between us. “Worth throwing away your reputation, your social life? ‘Cause I promise you people will be on my side.”
I think about Delilah—hunched over blueprints at 2 AM,arguing passionately about sustainable materials, the rare smile she lets slip when she thinks I'm not looking. I think about how she pushes me, calls me on my bullshit, sees more in me than the carefully constructed image I show everyone else.
“Yes,” I say simply. “She is.”
I gather up my samples and walk away without looking back.
Behind me, Jared calls, “You're going to regret this, Hawkins!”
35
DELILAH
