Bad Seed

“Delia?” I asked. “Is everything ok?”

“Everything’s fine,” she said, though I wasn’t one-hundred-percent convinced.

I hopped out of bed and started for her bathroom. I turned on the shower and stepped in, reluctant to wash her body from mine. My head was swirling, drunk with the passion I had just experienced. It was the same every time. She was not only the perfect distraction, but the perfect addition to my life. She gave me a high I’d never felt before. Not even on my drunkest nights on that damn tour bus. I scrubbed myself down quickly and got out, then grabbed a towel and wrapped it around my body.

But when I came back into the bedroom, Delia wasn’t on the bed.

“Delia?” I asked. “Where’d you go?”

The apartment was silent as I started walking around.

“Delia? Where are you?”

Panic began to fill my chest as I crossed her apartment and checked the other room.

“Delia?” I asked, as I threw open the door.

I strode over to the door to see if it was open, but there was something taped to it that caught my eye. I tore the piece of paper off the front door of her apartment as my eyes scanned it, and suddenly it all made sense.

Drake,

It means a lot that you came to my graduation. I’m not sure who invited you, but I’m glad they did. But Drake, as much as I might want to, I can’t do this. You're in recovery and I have a life I’m about to start. Maybe our futures will bring us together again, but for now the time isn’t right. Not for you, anyway. Focus on you. Get back on your feet. Tackle the adventures you have coming your way. Leave me in your past for now.

I called a cab so I could go get my car from campus. I needed to clear my head. Tell Elsie I said hello.

Delia

I crumbled up the note and tossed it into the garbage can. My chest hurt and it took me a moment to realize that it was from the disappointment I felt standing there alone in her apartment. She was letting me go and it hurt like hell. I’d never before wanted anything more than a good fuck from any woman I’d been with after losing Shannon. Until Delia.

She thought she was doing the right thing by not complicating my newly found sobriety, but I needed her. I needed her and I wanted the fuck out of her. I walked through her apartment and shut the door behind me. I made my way to my truck, stopping just shy of the door. I looked out along the horizon, toward the direction of my farm. I was torn between wanting to go after her and convince her we could be good for one another and wanting to go home and wallow in my self-pity. For once in my damn life, I chose to do something constructive.

CHAPTER 24

Delia

I was sitting in my car on campus as my stomach began to flutter. I placed my hand on my stomach, imagining what that little bean looked like flipping around in there. I knew it was too early for me to be feeling the little one, but it didn’t stop me from imagining what it would feel like.

Sighing, I leaned back into the seat. My mind was being pulled in so many different directions. I knew Drake needed time to get his sobriety on a solid track. I knew he wouldn’t be able to handle something like this. The pressure alone would throw him back into his drinking again. I truly felt I was doing the best thing for him.

And whenever he got his feet firmly under him, we could sit down and talk.

He had gotten this far without me, so I knew he could take himself the rest of the way. Drake was stronger than any man I’d ever come across. There were multiple people that relied on him, and I didn’t want to become another one. I didn’t want the pressure of getting someone pregnant to be the thing that spiraled him back into his drinking.

I wasn’t sure if I could handle being that in his life.

My phone rang with a number I didn’t recognize. I hesitated to pick it up, fearing it could Drake. I grabbed my phone and my finger hovered over the green button, debating on whether or not to take the call.

I drew in a deep breath as I answered it.

“Hello?” I asked.

“Hello, is this Miss Jakobson?”

“It is. With whom am I speaking?” I asked.

“This is Elliott Hart. I’m calling from Rescue House Counseling.”

I perked up at the name as I sat straight up in my seat.