He nods his head. “I understand, son.”
“Do you want to go?” Delta whispers.
“Stay with me.”
“I’m not going anywhere. Why don’t we hide out in your room, hmm?”
I nod my head, weary.
“I’ll show you to his room. No one else is supposed to come to this side of the house.”
I lift her up, and she wraps her legs around my waist. I’m not going to let her go for a second.
“That’s one way to travel.” I can hear the amusement in Dad’s voice. It’s the first time I can remember him sticking by me through an entire meltdown. I’ll remember that moving forward. He opens the door, and I step inside.
“I’ll make sure you guys aren’t bothered tonight.”
“Thank you, Harrison.” She buries her fingers in my hair, raking her nails along my scalp.
I sink down onto my bed, melting under her attention. Burying my nose in her neck, I surround myself in her scent. It’s silent. I find myself drifting off. She pulls away, and I tighten my grip.
“It’s okay. We’re going to lie down.”
Spent, I let her push me down onto the bed and remove my shoes. I’m lethargic. It feels like I’ve run a marathon. My eyes drift shut.
“Go to sleep. I’m going to steal some of your clothes from the dresser and join you.”
The blackness of sleep begins to take me. I feel her slip into bed beside me, and I surrender to the darkness, content.
THE LIGHT STREAMING through the window makes me groan. I cover my eyes with my arm. “Morning, sunshine.”
I roll over, and Delta smiles at me. She’s beautifully mused in one of my school sweatshirts. Her bedhead makes me smile.
“Morning.”
“How do you feel?”
“Like I have a hangover.”
She winces. “I’m sorry.”
“No. I’m sorry that happened. Whatever Mom said ...” I shake my head. “I don’t feel that way.”
“I know.” She runs her fingers through my hair. “Once I had a chance to calm down, I realized that immediately.”
“You stayed,” I whisper.
She smiles. “I told you I was all in, didn’t I?”
“I didn’t want you to see me like that.” I shake my head.
“It happens. I was a mess myself, to be honest.”
She’s seen me at my worst, and yet she’s still here. I cup her face and bring her lips to mine. Devouring her, I pour all the emotions I can never fully explain into the lip lock. Whimpering, she yields to me. I roll her onto her back and slip my tongue inside. I want to brand her as mine. Parting for air, I study her swollen lips as I catch my breath.
“Is this some fantasy? Having your girlfriend in your childhood bed.”
“Yes.” I pin her arms above her head.