Love Me Like I Love You

by Willow Winters

  Delilah rested her free hand on my chest and rubbed her thumb back and forth. I felt the coolness of her hands through my shirt, but even as cold as they were, it warmed my skin.

  “Well, it depends if you ask Makenna or me. If you ask me, Makenna tricked me into drinking so much. It wasn’t my fault that the fire department had to be called because she was stuck in a tree, and it was definitely her fault that I made brownies and then tried to get them out without an oven mitt. That’s what the scar is from.”

  A loud, surprised laugh rumbled in my chest. “Makenna was stuck in a tree?”

  “Yes. I have a picture of Mak up there. It’s great. But again, it wasn’t my fault.”

  She pointed at me and made her eyes really round, and my laugh continued to grow. “Would she say that it was your fault?”

  “You know what I want?” Delilah leaned forward, trying to distract me with the pretty and mischievous smile on her face.

  “What?”

  “To dance.”

  I rose from the barstool with her hand still in mine and led her to the dance floor. An upbeat, fast-paced country song was playing. Mom had taught me how to dance at a young age. It was something I’d never told anyone about until I got older and knew it would impress the girls.

  I took her to the edge of the dance floor, and we watched the couples two-step past us until I found a break in the floor and spun her out and then back in. She landed against my chest with a thud and wide, surprised eyes.

  “You can dance,” she said as I swept us across the floor.

  I held her a little tighter with every song change, and every laugh that bubbled from her lips brought my mouth closer to hers. She was pressed against my body so tightly, there wasn’t a chance even a piece of paper could be wedged between us. I never looked anywhere but at her eyes. Her hand around my neck coasted up and down my skin.

  When the song slowed down, I moved us to the edge of the floor and swayed with her in my arms. Then I slowly lowered my head to meet hers. Her fingers tightened in my hair as our lips met. My hand fisted in the back of her shirt as I licked the seam of her lips asking for entry. She opened her mouth and our tongues clashed together.

  It was loud with the music and other patrons, but I could hear her soft moan as if it were on blast in my ears. The kiss sped everything up at the same time as it slowed everything down. It was entirely too much, setting my need for her on fire, and not nearly enough, as I wanted so much more.

  I’d mostly chalked up my mom’s romantic stories about my dad to her missing him, and I’d rolled my eyes when she told me one day a kiss would change everything.

  Fuck. She was right. I wasn’t ready to admit it to myself, but some deep, dark part of me knew Delilah had changed everything.

  Chapter 20

  Delilah

  I didn’t speed through the property the next morning as I drove my golf cart to my parents’ house. It was as if I was out on a leisurely stroll with a silly smile on my face. I leaned out the side and tilted my face toward the sun, soaking in the rays and the goodness of the day. My lips still tingled from last night.

  I pulled my red convertible in next to Mom’s pink Hummer. I slipped my sunglasses on top of my head and floated along the stone path to the front door. Whatever chaos was happening inside could be heard as soon as I got to the steps leading up to the front porch. I smiled and was grateful I’d listened to Mom and let Tuck have his fun last night.

  I rolled my shoulders back, releasing the last of the tension from the Shayla situation. We hadn’t heard from her since the arcade, and for all I knew, she could’ve packed her bags and hit the road again. It was time though, no matter what, to find out how I could make sure nothing like this ever happened again.

  I opened the front door and walked into the house, following the noise to the kitchen. Mixing bowls and measuring cups were everywhere. Bowls of gummy worms, whipped cream, and M&M’s were spread out over the counter. Tuck and Calvin were sitting at the kitchen table with plates towering with waffles sitting in front of them. The waffles were topped with the candy, and each boy was practically vibrating in his seat with excess energy.

  Colt sat at the table with his own stack of waffles, sans gummy worms, with a cup of coffee and the Hawk Valley Gazette open in front of him.

  “No gummy worms for you, Colt?” I asked by way of a greeting.

  “Not on my waffles, I’m a grown man,” he said while snagging a gummy worm off Tuck’s plate and tearing off a bite. He grinned at me and raised his mug in greeting. I walked toward Tuck and kissed the top of his head.

  “Have fun, bud?”

  He nodded frantically and Calvin joined in. I looked over my shoulder and found Mom in the kitchen, humming as she did the dishes. The butterfly apron she was wearing was spotted with batter and chocolate. I’m sure that was Tuck and Calvin’s doing, because she could wear the nicest couture in the world while making the messiest dish, and she’d still come away spotless.

  My dad came into the kitchen and kissed my cheek as he shuffled over to the coffee pot. He looked like he’d gone through the wringer last night. I chuckled, debating whether I should ask what the boys had gotten up to. I walked over to Mom and wrapped my arms around her shoulders. I glanced back at Tuck and Calvin, sitting at the kitchen table, and they were slurping up the gummy worms from their plates and throwing M&M’s at each other.

  “Think you gave them enough sugar, Mom?”

  “None of that tone out of you, missy. That’s what good grandmas do. It’s in the handbook. Spoil the children and give them all the sugar before they go home. Calvin’s mom asked if she could pick him up later this afternoon, and I told her that you would be delighted to watch him.”

  My jaw dropped. I looked at the kids again. “You did this on purpose?”

  She shrugged. “Think of it as payback for the dent in the side of the garage when you were a kid. I know it was you and Colt, not the squirrel family that you tried to lie about.”

  Colt sputtered and spit out his coffee. “I told you they didn’t buy it,” he yelled.

  I shrugged, mimicking Mom’s nonchalance. “I thought the pack of rabid squirrels living in and damaging the garage was perfectly believable!”

  Mom snorted. “Right. Well, this is just a little justice for what you and your brother put your father and me through.”

  I kissed her cheek. Even though I was going to have to do something to take the energy out of these boys, I was grateful that she spoiled Tuck.

  I clapped my hands. “Okay, boys. Pack up and put on your tennis shoes. We’re going hiking.”

  The boys picked up their plates and raced to take them to the sink before scrambling out of the room to change from their pajamas into normal clothes. I sat at the table across from Colt. “What are you doing here so early?”

  He put down the paper and his mug of coffee before scrubbing his face. “It’s been busy at the station. I’m also…” He paused and glanced to the side. “I’m also following any lead I get about Shayla. I’m going to find her, and I’m going to do it before she finds you again. So with all that, I haven’t been leaving the station until late, when the store’s already closed. Unless I wanted some ketchup and beer for breakfast, to Mom’s house I go.”

  “Colt,” I said quietly and glanced over my shoulder to make sure we were still alone. “I think she’s gone. She hasn’t resurfaced or contacted me again. Go home, get some rest, and go freakin’ grocery shopping. If you’re over here every morning, all the girls in town will think you live with your mother.”

  He laughed and shook his head. “I’ll get to the store today, but I’m not going to stop looking.”

  Before I could reply Tuck and Calvin came running back into the room. I was thankful I’d dressed in leggings and tennis shoes when leaving the house, or I’d have to go change. “Let’s hit the trail,” I said.

  “Thank you for letting me come over.” Calvin wrapped his arms around Mom.

  “Love yo
u,” Tuck yelled as he raced out the door.

  “Love y’all,” I said as I followed the boys.

  They ran ahead and up the trail, and I followed more slowly behind them. Tuck knew these trails like the back of his hand, and while I never wanted him to go too far ahead of me, those kids needed to run a little bit to work off all that sugar.

  As I crested the first hill on the trail, I could see the top of my house and the top of Gunner’s across from it. I stood there staring at the peak of the roof as if I could see him. I couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across my face and the warmth that was sliding through my veins. I ran a finger over my lips, the lips he’d kissed just last night. This wasn’t a good time to start something, but denying him would be like denying myself water when stranded in the Sahara.

  I soaked in one more moment of dreaming of him before continuing along the trail and climbing over the hills, chasing the distant laughter of Tuck.

  The bushes to my left rustled, and I turned my head to see if a deer would make an appearance. When I moved to Hawk Valley, I couldn’t believe how close deer would come to humans. I’d been here for a long time now, and I still got giddy every time I spotted a little Bambi. I craned my neck and squinted to see the animal through the trees and shrubbery dotting the dirt trail.

  I gasped when I caught a glimpse of what was making the noise. I looked back to the trail where Tuck and Calvin were. I couldn’t see them.

  “Delilah,” Shayla said. The black tank top underneath the too-large hoodie had holes and stains. Her jeans were hanging off her slim hips, and her hair looked as if she hadn’t showered for a while.

  I didn’t know if I should yell Tuck’s name to see if he’d respond or if I should stay silent and hope I could get her to leave before he saw her or she saw him.

  “Shayla. You need to leave. You aren’t welcome here.” My hands curled into fists. I had the urge to wrap my sweater more tightly around me for comfort.

  She stepped closer to me and laughed. Her teeth were caked with plaque, and I could smell her breath from a couple of feet away. Tears stung my eyes, and my heart clenched painfully for the girl I’d once loved as my own sister. I couldn’t see her beneath the person standing in front of me.

  I shook my head and wiped a tear from underneath my eyes.

  “You’ve always been pathetic,” Shayla hissed between her clenched teeth. Her nostrils flared as she breathed rapidly. I flinched when she raised her hand to absentmindedly scratch her neck.

  I wanted to look up the trail again, but I didn’t want to call attention to it. Unfortunately, she knew me too well. “I know he’s up there with that other kid. I want to talk to him. He’s my son.”

  “He’s my son. Blood doesn’t always equal family. It doesn’t matter to him that he didn’t grow in my belly. I’ve raised him and loved him as my own. I will do whatever is best for him.”

  “What’s best for him is to be with me, you stupid bitch!” Shayla yelled.

  “You’re high,” I said. Her eyes were bloodshot and her pupils were blown; I could hardly see the color of her irises. “You will not see him like this. Get sober. It will be over my dead body that you get near him when you’re like this.”

  Her eyes flared wide, but I stood my ground. I took care of everything my son needed, and right now he needed someone to protect him from the harm that Shayla could cause. I’d fight until my dying breath for him.

  She ran at me and I held up my hands to defend myself. Shayla slapped me across the face. “Shayla. Walk away.”

  “He’s my son,” she cried and my heart splintered.

  “Get sober,” I pleaded.

  “I will burn your whole world to the ground,” she promised. She ran at me again, shoving me. Before I could catch myself, I fell back and my head landed against something hard. And the sunshine from the day slowly faded to complete darkness.

  Chapter 21

  Gunner

  “Thanks, man,” I said, shaking the delivery guy’s hand. “This is great.” I took my wallet out of my pocket and slipped a bill into Tony’s hand.

  He looked down at the bill in shock. “This is too much, sir.”

  I waved him off. “I really appreciate the fast delivery and quick setup. You had it done by the time I made it out here after the phone call. Thank you.”

  “Sure,” Tony said. “Any time. If there’s anything else you need during the off-season, call us and let us know. I’ll deliver whatever you need.”

  “Thanks, man.”

  Tony walked off the baseball diamond and headed toward the delivery truck sitting in the front parking lot. I usually stayed in a major city during the off-season and had a pick of trainers and pitchers to work out with, but I didn’t have that here in Hawk Valley, so a brand-new pitching machine it was.

  It was state of the art and nothing like the batting cages at an arcade. It was designed for professional hitters, but it had the capacity for slow pitches as well. When I left, I knew Tuck would get plenty of use out of it.

  I cleared my throat due to the unexpected emotion that bubbled to the surface as I thought about leaving. An image of me racing around the bags with Tuck on my shoulders, as Delilah cheered, gripped me and wouldn’t let me go. Even if I was playing in Austin, I still wouldn’t see them as much as I wanted to.

  I’d kissed her last night and had no idea where this was going in the future, but I knew I wanted to at least try, and see if something was there. To see if that kiss was a fluke or if it’d be like that every time I tasted her.

  If we did see where this could lead, would she be interested in someone that spent nine months in and out of town? I hoped so.

  I opened the bag of baseballs Tony had delivered and fed them into the machine, but my eyes kept flickering toward the dirt road where my rental sat. Right across from Delilah’s. I wondered if Tuck was home yet and what they were doing.

  I loaded another couple of balls and scrubbed a hand down my face. It was time I started taking training seriously again. I always gave myself a few weeks off before I started working out hard again and keeping up with my skills, never letting that muscle memory die. I hadn’t made it to the big leagues on talent alone. I’d had grit, drive, and the fucking desire to make it happen.

  I wanted it and nothing was going to stop me from getting it. When I was released from the hospital with my new scars, not knowing if I’d ever bat again, it fueled me to prove everyone wrong. I would make it. I did make it. I didn’t do it only for myself but for Declan too. Because he should’ve been right next to me, swinging his bat and catching balls behind a batter.

  I should take this first workout seriously. And I vowed I would do that later today, but first, I wanted to see Delilah smile. I wanted to see that aimed at me. And even scarier than that, I wanted to impress her son.

  I jogged down the path toward their house and knocked on the front door. I knocked again when no one answered. I took a few steps back, pulling my cell from my pocket. I brought up her number and tapped the screen to call her.

  The line picked up after two rings, but what I heard wasn’t anything I’d expected.

  “G-G-Gunner,” Tucker cried. His breath was hitching through his hiccupped sobs. My mind started racing. Every horrible scenario played on a loop in a split second. Car crash. Her cousin with a gun. A fire.

  “What’s happening, Tuck? Are you okay? Is your mom okay? Where are you?” I fired off questions as fast as I could think of them. My throat felt clogged, and every muscle in my body was tensed for what would come next. I ran a hand through my hair, tugging on the ends, as I listened to Tuck crying and trying to speak. “Tell me what’s happening, bud.”

  “My mom,” he said and my heart stopped and my gut sank. I’d lost Declan. I was on the verge of losing my mother. I couldn’t lose Delilah when I’d just found her. But I couldn’t let panic set in; I had to be there for whatever Tucker would need.

  “What’s happening with your mom? Is she okay? Where are you?�
�

  “We’re on the trail. She’s not waking up and she’s bleeding.”

  “What trail? Where is she bleeding from? It’s going to be okay.”

  “The trail by my grammy’s.”

  I sprinted in that direction. I’d find them. “Good, good. I’m on my way, Tuck. I’m coming for y’all, I swear. Where is she bleeding from?” I kept my breaths even to be able to keep up the furious pace.

  “Her head,” he said.

  “Okay. This is what I need you to do. Stay with her and stay on the phone. I need to call 9-1-1 and I’ll switch right back over.”

  “Don’t leave me,” he whispered, and I could hear the fear in his voice. I knew the fear of losing everything.

  “I’m not leaving, I swear. I’m on my way to you. Do you know how far up the trail you are?”

  “No,” he said.

  “Okay, stay on the line, bud. I’m on my way. I’ll switch right back over.”

  “Okay,” he whispered. I ran through the front parking lot and down the winding paths that led to Delilah’s parents’ house to reach one of the trails that started near their home. I swiped my thumb across my screen as I ran and dialed 9-1-1 while keeping Tuck’s line connected.

  “9-1-1,” the operator answered. “What’s your emergency?”

  “A woman, late twenties on a trail at Castle Rock Inn. Her son found her passed out and bleeding from her head. That’s all I know.”

  “At Castle Rock Inn?”

  “Yes,” I said, frustrated by every second that kept me away from Delilah and Tuck.

  “We’ve already received a call. An ambulance is on the way. Please stay on the line.”

  “Can’t,” I said and switched back to Tuck, making a note to remember later that someone had already called. I knew Tuck was by himself. “Tuck? I’m almost there. An ambulance is on the way.”

  I reached the mouth of the trail and ran up the hill and down the curved path, and finally, finally, I spotted them in front of me. I stayed on the phone, voicing reassurances to Tuck until I reached his side and fell to my knees.