Finding Solace

“Rumor has it that it’s more than casual,” Billy says.

“Why do I get the distinct impression that you’re enjoying this a little too much?”

He shrugs. “Because I am.”

“Fuck you, man.”

“Hey. Hey. Settle down. She’s a grown woman with needs,” Delilah says.

Grabbing Billy’s cowboy hat from the hook across the cab from me, I put it on and sink in the seat. I lower the brim, and say, “No. I do not want to hear about my mom’s needs, so let’s end this now.”

Her hand taps my leg, and then she lifts the brim of the hat. “You might have to get used to the idea of her dating, but I’m surprised she hasn’t mentioned him to you or that you haven’t seen him hanging around.”

I grumble, “He’s smart enough to stay away from my mom.”

The sound of her laughter fills the truck, and then Billy joins in, and says, “While you’re in town.”

“I’m not in a hurry.”

Delilah looks at her lap, but from this angle, I see the smile on her face. Billy bursts into our moment, and adds, “It’s been good to have you around again.”

“It’s been good to be around again.” Leaning forward, I give her elbow a little squeeze. “How are you doing up there?”

Looking back, she flashes that sweet smile like she’s been saving it for me all day. “Good.” Her eyes tell me all I need to know and remind me of how they shined at two in the morning after we finished another round of fun under the covers.

“Can we just get it out in the open because all this sexual tension between you two isn’t so subtle, if you know what I mean.”

I chuckle. “No, what do you mean?”

“It’s obvious I interrupted something this morning. I’m curious if what I walked in on started last night.”

Leaning back, I lower the hat to cover my eyes again. “Sorry. I’m not one to kiss and tell.”

Delilah is laughing, and then I hear her say, “Don’t look at me like that, Billy Langston. A girl has a right to keep some secrets, even from her friends.”

The truck stops, and he shifts into park. I sit up, hanging the hat back on the hook. But as soon as I shift forward to get out, he says, “You two are ridiculous. It’s obvious what’s going on here. Let’s just hope the whole town doesn’t get wind. Boy willy, they’ll have all sorts of stuff to occupy their time and talk about.” He hops out of the truck and shuts the door.

My eyes meet Delilah’s before she gets out. We both know we can’t avoid what we so easily avoided talking about last night for long. Her smile has faded. Reaching forward, I touch her arm. “Don’t worry. It’s going to be okay.”

We’re suddenly on the downward side of the high we were riding as a damper is put on our fun. It felt good to feel careless for a night, but nothing good can last forever. And then I look around, falling into my old self.

Three garage doors on the right side for large load trucks.

Two sets of double doors in the far back corners.

Four doors at the front entrance.

“Jason?”

I look behind me. Delilah is standing there with a curious look built into the tilt of her head. “What’s on your mind?”

“Nothing.”

“Billy wanted your help over there.”

“Okay.”

I start to leave, but she asks, “Where do you go in that head of yours when you disappear like that?”

“Nowhere good.” Habits are hard to break.

I help load some bags of chicken feed, then slam the tailgate closed. Billy had already loaded the rest of the supplies. While he pays, Delilah leans on the side of the truck, her boots kicked out, showing off those long, tan legs of hers.

Two cowboys walk by and blatantly check her out, causing jealousy to run through my veins, striking deep in my chest. I step over her boots, straddling her legs, and then lean forward, caging her in. “I don’t like all these eyes on you.”

Her arms come around my neck, and she stares at me, seeing right through me. “I only care about your eyes on me.” Leveraging herself against me, she kisses me as if she has a point to prove. Maybe she does.

I do too. I don’t need to prove it here, but I’m no fool. Wrapping my arms around her waist, I lift her, and when her legs wrap around me, I kiss her deeper, getting lost in the sensual caress.

“I knew it,” Billy says from behind me. “Break it up and save it for later, preferably when I’m not there.”

We start laughing, the kiss broken but replaced with smiles. We don’t make it out of the parking lot before he asks, “So you guys are a thing again?”

It’s strange that labeling something grounds a feeling that was freeing just minutes earlier. I stare out the window. I’m not sure what to say, so I’ll let her say what she needs and back her on it. But I have a feeling that conversation is going to happen now whether we want to have it or not.