Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Me: Sounds good.
Owen: Be safe out there.
I back out of the texts, lock my phone, and put it back in the cup holder. It’s time to get to the station and figure out what I’m doing today.
Chapter 16
Delilah
“You’re awfully quiet this morning.” We’ve settled into a routine over the past week. My time is split up fifty-fifty—my days are at home and my nights are with Fletcher. This time, I’m sitting on top of the bathroom counter watching as he shaves, mourning the loss of the slight beard he was growing. I knew it wasn’t going to last, the beard, not our relationship. It goes against regulation to have a beard too long. The only type of facial hair you can have is a mustache, and Fletch has made it known that he doesn’t like them. The good news is, neither do I.
“Not sure how much longer I can do this.” I didn’t see this coming, not from a mile away. My breakfast sits like lead in my stomach, trying to come up with the right words to say when Fletcher puts any doubts I had to rest. “Get that shit outta your head. This is not me ending things. That was poor wording without any context.” He drops the razor in the sink, grabs the towel from the counter, and wipes off his face, coming away clean shaven.
“We can agree on that. I thought my breakfast was about to come back up.” I take a deep breath, worry still sitting in the pit of my stomach. Mom never started a heavy discussion with Dad before he went on shift. Yet here I am, ready to poke and prod to get down to the root of whatever is bothering him.
“Fuck, Delilah, I’m sorry. We’re not going anywhere, we’re rock fucking solid.” Fletch moves in front of me, pushing my legs apart to wedge himself between them. “I’m talking about the guilt. It’s eating at me.”
My eyes look into his, finding the truth behind them, and while I’ve loved being sequestered away each and every night, he’s right. We need to come out and talk to my dad.
“I’m ready whenever you are. We’re two consenting adults. This isn’t high school, where our hormones are fueling our love for one another. We’ll tell him today after your shift at the station.” We’ve kept our relationship under wraps for a few reasons. We were just getting to know one another and wanted to see how deep this was, and my dad is his boss. Hello, alarm bells ringing in every direction possible.
“I want you to be sure. There’s a reason I’ve been holding back going to your father and laying it all out.” Our fingers entwine, and he places our hands on the tops of my thighs. “I don’t want to come between you and your father. You get that I don’t have my parents, and it hurts like hell. I’d never want that for you, ever.” This man, clearly, he’s been wrestling with his emotions over this for a while.
“Are you worried he’s going to make me choose between you and him?” I ask.
“Yeah, look at you and look at me. I’ve never once wanted to settle down. I take risks, enjoy the thrill of the chase. Fuck, I wouldn’t want you for me if the roles were reversed and you were my daughter. My job, while not being near as dangerous as it once was, shit could happen. I could be taken tomorrow, leaving you behind with a child.” His hand disconnects from mine, he places his big palm on my lower abdomen, and continues, “Would you want that for our child?”
My hand cups his jaw, thumb sweeping over his now smooth skin. “I want you, no matter what. If roles were reversed and we were talking about our daughter, yes. I’d want her to know what it’s like to live how she wants and love who she wants. Life is too short not to be happy. So, while yes, something could happen, it doesn’t mean it will.”
“Delilah.” He states my name like I’m his reckoning.
“Fletcher.”
“You saying you love me, woman?” I’d roll my eyes if this weren’t a serious conversation. How could he not see or feel the love I have for him? It’s everywhere in everything we do.
“Yes, Fletch, I’m telling you I am completely and utterly in love with you.” Regardless of what people may think or say, you can fall in love with someone in a matter of days or weeks. Love doesn’t have a time stamp, and your feelings don’t need to be validated by anyone who doesn’t belong in your relationship. So, while we may have jumped ahead in time from what others have done, it doesn’t mean anything less.
“Thank god. I fucking love you, too.” His lips land on mine, the palms of his hands cup my cheeks, and my hands encircle his wrists. Fletch takes over the kiss, our tongues tangling with one another. It’s full of depth, emotion, and understanding.