“In Texas,” Delilah continued at little more than a whisper, glancing around as though she was afraid she’d be overheard. In Texas. About as far from New York as you could get without leaving the country.
I was beginning to put together a picture that made my heart hurt.
“Then college,” she added with dignified determination.
I’d never seen Delilah so vulnerable before. Not that we’d seen all that much of each other, but from what Ihadseen, and what Theo had told me—all of which I believed, since he hadno reason to lie—she seemed like a completely different person right now.
“That takes guts,” I said. I almost addedinvite me to graduation. Right now, Iwantedto see Delilah cross that stage in the stupid robe and hat. Because she so clearly wanted it.
“I’m not brave,” she continued, looking down at her hands in her lap. “Corey’s brave for me, though. I know Theo thinks I’m doing this to spite him, but I’m not. I’m doing it for me.”
I’d definitely thought spite was part of the motivation, but I didn’t anymore. This was too honest.
The fact thatIcouldn’t see the appeal of Corey—aside from the good looks—didn’t mean there was nothing to see in him.
Hell, maybe he loved Delilah. Maybe Theo and I had both gotten this all wrong.
“And I just want my wedding to be a nice day,” she went on. “You would notbelievewhat I had to talk Mom down from. Be grateful Theo didn’t drag you to the French Riviera.”
“Isn’t that a little overdone?” I asked. As always, I didn’t actually have any idea about these things.
Delilah shrugged. “It’s been overdone long enough to be fashionable again. Especially if it was a Hargrave wedding.”
She straightened a little as she said that, a hint of pride squaring her shoulders.
“Okay.” I gestured at the papers covering the table. “So all this is…?”
“Seating charts, menus, guest preferences and relationships and stuff. There are more people coming for the actual wedding,” shesaid. “I have to make sure they’re all seated in places where they won’t start fights and none of them are served anything they’re allergic to or don’t eat. Then I have to write all these place cards.” She waved at the silver-edged cards I’d noticed earlier. “I don’t know where to start.”
I looked at the papers, then at Delilah, then at the papers again.
I sighed. Unfortunately for me, she had the same eyes as her brother, and I’d never been able to resist Theo. No force on Earth could have stopped me saying the next thing that came out of my mouth.
“Lucky for you, I’m an archivist.”
10
THEO
When I walkedinto the kitchen, the sight in front of me completely wiped the hour and a half I’d spent with my mother from my mind.
Simon and Delilah were both sitting at the table, heads bent together, poring over papers and making notes in the margins. In what looked like perfect harmony.
If I’d been asked to imagine a less likely scenario, I might have added the tooth fairy or Bigfoot. Anything short of that seemedmuchmore believable.
Before I could say anything—before I could figure out what I couldpossiblysay—Simon looked up. The smile that broke over his face as soon as he saw me made the tension holding my shoulders up around my ears melt all at once.
“Hey, beautiful,” he said as I took a step closer. I almost stumbled, catching myself at the last second.
After the conversation I’d just had with Mom, the idea of falling into Simon’s arms and not ever leaving had never been more appealing.
Delilah looked up before I could respond, squaring her shoulders, eyes narrowed at me. She shuffled an inch closer to Theo. If she’d been a dog, she would’ve been making a warning growl.
Ofcourseshe’d want Simon now that she thought I had him. I’d never been able to have anything without her taking it. That was why she was marrying Corey, wasn’t it?
Well, she couldn’t have him. Anything else, fine. I’d given up arguing with her over taking things from me twenty years ago.
Not Simon. Simon was worth fighting over, and I’d claw her eyes out before I let her have him.
