by L. J. Woods
“Why? Cause you’re too weak to leave him even though he’s fucking half the town?”
“Daaamn,” Delilah says behind me.
Nani’s eyes go wide before she excuses herself to the kitchen. My mom looks mortified.
“Gabriel,” she says, her eyes moving between us. “Honour your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”
“Yeah, that didn’t work out so well for me.” My hand is on her back as she mutters and the look on her face tells me she thinks she won. But when we get to the door, I wait until she’s finished to say my piece. “Guess I’m not welcome in heaven then.” Then I let the door go. “And you’re not welcome here.”
A clap comes from behind me and when I turn around, Delilah’s giving me slow applause, like I’m Braveheart and in a way I am. Fighting for my own independence. “Wow, Gabe,” Delilah says. And I’m thinking the same thing looking at her.
“Did she leave?” Grandma Daniels asks in the kitchen doorway.
“Leave?” Delilah laughs. “Gabe kicked her the fuck out!”
If she was anybody else in this town, she’d call me disrespectful. Ungrateful. But not this girl. She’s not like the rest of them. To prove my point, Grandma D throws her kitchen towel on the counter and runs out the door. I’m about to call her but Delilah stops me, waving her off. “Let her go,” she says with a shake of her head. “She’s only hurting herself at this point. Still can’t believe your folks never helped her out with the booth. Never mind, I can.”
I can’t even contain myself, a wide smile spreading across my face when I realize what I’ve done. Like cockroaches, they’ll be back, but at least I’ve started the process of extermination. It’ll take a few rounds before they’re gone for good but with Delilah by my side, I can handle it.
“What?” she asks, my eyes boring into hers with my hands on her waist. “You okay?”
To answer her question, I press my lips to hers. The Daniels were always my family and Dee’s on my side like Elijah was. And now I get to thank her for it. “Think she’ll be back?”
“Your mom? Yes.” She smirks. “My grandma? Not for a while.” That’s all it takes for me to back her into that closet, closing the door behind us. “What’re you doing?”
“Shut up, Delilah,” I groan, my hands roaming over her soft curves, her tits, that ass. “Just enjoy it. Enjoy us.”
It’s a couple of weeks before Grandma Daniels suggests going back to my folks. She lays out good reasons, like what the fuck I’m gonna do for money.
What am I gonna do in general?
The sound of Delilah hitting a grind on the rail across from me brings me back to reality. She looks like a treat in those baggy jeans and that black tank, tied at the front. My hoodie falls off her shoulders and while I’m used to her wearing Elijah’s clothes, sorry man, mine look way better. She wobbles on her landing.
“Tuck your knees!” I call.
Swivelling around, she scrunches her nose. “What? You skateboard now?” I shrug, my eyes on the line of skin at her waist. Smooth. Soft. Mine. I want it. She smiles as if reading my mind before she skates over. “Whatever, I’m gonna own the skate game. With my vagina.” She chops her crotch to make her point.
I chuckle. “Not if you don’t tuck in your knees.”
“I’m serious.” Dee takes off again, my hoodie sliding off her shoulder as she skates around me, popping an Ollie, a Kickflip. “I’m gonna own a town like New York or LA.“ She spreads her arms wide. “Or Barce-fucking-Lona!” It’s like a weight lifted off her lately, her body language telling me she feels freer than ever. All it took was shaking our folks. I’m proud of her for leaving her folks behind. She doesn’t need that baggage.
“You will.” Leaning back, I watch as she does her thing, knowing she’ll own it anywhere she goes.
“I’m serious, Gabe.” Her voice whips around me as she does another lap. “Let’s get the fuck out of here.” She stops in front of me, her board sliding along the concrete. “Why are we still in this fucked up town?”
“We’re at the edge of Brome-town.” The edge being it connects to Clementine so she’s not wrong.
Pulling her closer to me, that shock still ignites my body. She groans, “You know what I mean.”
“Alright, let’s do it.”
Her face brightens. “Really?” Then her brows lower, a firm voice coming out. “On Monday. We say fuck this town for good. We pack our shit and we go.”
“Where?”
“Anywhere! North. South …”
“There’s not much up North.”
“I don’t fucking care!” She chews on her lip, looking down and I know that look. She’s about to say something she’s finding hard. “As long as it’s with you. But don’t get me wrong, I’ll go without you, Gabe Godfrey. I don’t want to, but I will.”
“Fuck that.” Pulling her forward, I plant a kiss on those perfect lips. “I’m going where you go.” There’s nothing left in this town for me besides her. No hockey. No money. No family. She’s my future now.
“Good.” A smile stretches across her face before she pulls away, hopping back on her board. “Get the next grind on your phone, will ya?”
“Keep telling me what to do and you’ll pay for it.” When I reach for my phone, it buzzes in my hand and while I expect it to be Adam answering my apology, my Mom’s name flashes instead.
“I hope so!” Delilah jumps for the rail.
Mom: Need you at the sermon. Speak on our behalf and you get your spot back on the team.
“Gabe?” Delilah calls.
I’m about to ignore the text when another vibrates my palm.
Mom: And your account.
“Woah,” Delilah peers at my screen over my shoulder. Not that I have anything to hide. “Is she for real?”
“I dunno,” I mutter, staring at the screen as if it’ll all make sense. Getting my hockey career on track would mean getting the rest of myself back on track. It’s the only thing next to Delilah I care about. “I’m calling her.”
“What? No!”
Bringing my finger to my lips, I shush her, the phone already ringing. She folds her arm but she stays close. Mom picks up on the fourth ring. I know she’s by the phone, watching before she answers.
“Gabriel,” she says as if we’re gathering for a meeting.
“How can you get me back on the team?” I cut to the chase.
“We can pull strings for you Gabriel, you know this. As long as you play our game. You’re not a Godfrey without your family.”
“Yeah, ‘cause you’re a fucking god without them!” Delilah whispers. It’s sharp. Warranted.
“One sermon,” Mom says.
Something tells me the rest of their congregation has no idea what the fuck I’ve been up to. They still throw emotional stones at Hazel for what happened at the festival. Neither of us has seen her since besides a few texts to Delilah’s phone. She won’t even show her face.
“What’s in it for you guys?” I ask.
Mom sighs, her voice lowering and I’m not sure if my dad is in the background or not. Don’t care. “You know how much family means to our congregation. And right now, with your recovery, you’re the perfect story of a backslider coming home. Keep up appearances and your future will be back on track.”
At least she knows I’m not stupid. Turning to Delilah, she’s shaking her head, telling me to tell my mom “no.”
But it’s one sermon. One sermon that might put me back in my career. One sermon that can change everything. It’ll give me my passion back. Another reason for me to live so I’m not just obsessing over Delilah and her endeavours. It’s hard enough to give in, harder when my girl is telling me something I don’t already know. There’s a pull to join the team again and before I know it, the word flies out my mouth. “When?” I ask.
“Excellent I’ll—”
“When?”
“Sunday at noon. We’ll—”
&
nbsp; “See you then.”
Silence fills the air when I end the call. When I look at Delilah she’s staring at me with narrow eyes before her shoulders drop. “You okay?”
I didn’t expect that. It stalls me. Gets me to actually assess how I’m feeling and while I’m optimistic, a weight I haven’t felt in a while is back and it’s heavier. “I dunno.” Her hand comes to my back and I reach for it, pulling it tighter.
“You don’t have to go back there,” she says.
“I know.”
“Will you stay here?”
“I dunno.”
“‘Cause I’m serious. I’m leaving this town with or without you.” She searches my eyes for an answer. “I want this to work, but I can’t stay here.”
“I know.” Pulling her close until she’s on my lap, I smooth a strand of hair out of her face. It gets her to soften that tough exterior again before I bring her lips close to mine. “Guess we should savour every moment.”
Going back to that church isn’t the best idea. Neither is fucking Delilah in a wide-open skatepark but when she lets me lay her on the ground, there’s no stopping me. And when I plunge into her, her back against the cold concrete, it makes everything okay.
Thirty-Six
Delilah
Whoever says love isn’t easy, isn’t lying.
Shit. Is that what this is? Love?
Is that why I’m up at eight o’clock on a Sunday morning? In a megachurch I hate while I’m sending my boyfriend off to war? Okay, church isn’t war but with Gabe’s parents, it feels like it. And it feels like he’s about to surrender.
He paces the stage, the mic turned off in his hand as he reads from his phone. I’m distracted by his black suit fitted to his frame, thick neck popping out from his collar. His suit hides his tattoos like this church hides the real him. It waters him down, turning him into an obedient sheep. While he thinks it makes him powerful, he’s much more god-like without it.
He goes over his sermon another couple of times before the church fills. People whisper when they see me, some church-goers still chatting about Hazel and Gemma. Sammy. Nothing good. Nothing that tells me Pastor Godfrey will get what he deserves. With Gabe’s family dangling his future in front of him I’m not sure he ever will.
My grandma takes a seat beside me in the second row. Her usual. Nani’s eyes fall to the white crop-top I’m wearing. This one has a little ruffle on the arms so it’s not exactly casual. With my grandpa’s chinos, I look pretty spiffy. So what if I’m still wearing my Chucks? I’m not here for a fashion show, I’m here for Gabe.
Gabe’s in his spot on the stage, scrolling through his phone. When he looks up, that stern face turns into a smile. Giving him a smirk, he returns it with a wink, and man, I’m gonna miss this guy. More than I missed Nix. As much as I miss Elijah. That burn comes back to my nose and I’m fighting it. Have to fight it all through Pastor Godfrey’s boring introduction and hymns. Gabe looks as bored as I am but he keeps his eyes on his phone while I’m undressing him with my eyes. If Jesus can read my mind, I’m surprised he doesn’t strike me down.
Looking around the room, they all look enthralled by what his dad is saying. Even after all the drama at the festival. Even when they all know he’s a liar. Somehow, he still has that power. It’s hard not to glare as he stands there with his head held high, his back straighter than the cross behind him and it makes me fucking sick.
God, I hate this town. And I can’t wait to get the fuck out.
“My son has come a long way,” Pastor Godfrey gestures towards Gabe. “I’m happy to have him here to tell his story and to inspire you all about forgiveness and finding your way.”
Murmurs and whispers come from the crowd as Gabe stands. Whispers that I’ve heard on campus. Whispers I expect from high schoolers.
“I heard he lost his way and went to rehab.”
“Might have been that Delilah Daniels girl.”
“Heard she seduced him to the devil’s side. A true Delilah.”
I’m trying to be the bigger person and not let my emotions take over me but let me tell you something, that shit is hard as fuck. When Gabe reaches the podium, he grips the wood, looking over the crowd. Minutes pass and he doesn’t say anything. Not even when I give him a loud, “Whoop!”
Is he freezing up?
“Amen, Gabe!” I yell, taking a cue from my Grandma but she taps me on the leg to shush me. Gabe’s eyes meet mine. I nod, telling him he can do this. Telling him to shoot for his dreams even if I don’t understand his route. Our eyes locked, I smile, then he smirks like that day in the forest.
“You all know Pastor Godfrey. My dad.” His voice comes out strong and boisterous and boy does he know how to command a room. “And Penelope. Penny. My mom.” He gestures to the crowd in front of him, his mom across the aisle from us in the front row. “My family.” The crowd applauses, some even standing and I’m starting to wonder if I’m hearing the same words they are. “Well, they’re frauds.”
Daamn.
Pastor Godfrey stands up, gasps coming from the crowd.
Gabe pulls the mic from its holster. “Yeah, they’re a fraud of a family and real-life fraudsters too. Who do you think funds our home? Our lifestyles? My parents’ trips. Not Jesus.” He chuckles. “It comes from the money you put into those golden baskets every Sunday. From your hard work. From your word-of-mouth. Your praises. Don’t worry, my dad won’t admit it, but I got the receipts.”
Oh shit. I’m at the edge of my seat like I’m back at his game. My grandma’s hand falls to my lap as if she knows I’m fighting the urge to get up there with him. Mariam was right, wherever she is. Gabe’s the only one that can do this.
His dad straightens his white blazer as he walks towards him, getting ready to take the mic but Gabe’s not having it. He walks down the carpeted steps, pulling the mic away. “Here’s something else he won’t admit.” He chuckles again, low and menacing, like that devil I met in the hall and I’m so fucking here for it. “A lot of that money goes to his celebrity friends. You know, the Garbashians, the Weebers, the Easts … but it doesn’t go to their support. Well, unless you count supporting their drug habits.”
Some churchgoers start to leave as Gabe makes his way into the aisle but he’s on a roll. “Wait, no, stay. I haven’t told you about how they told you all I was on a missionary trip when I was in rehab.” He laughs again but his parents don’t look amused. His dad starts to approach him before I’m up from my seat.
“Delilah!” My grandma calls but I don’t care who sees me climbing the stairs to stop him.
When I get to his dad, a grin comes across my face. “Going somewhere?” He won’t dare do anything drastic in front of thousands of people.
Gabe continues while I stall. “Or how he had relations with women other than his wife. Some underage. One of which he tried to pass off on me making my dad a fucking liar. He’s lying to all of you.”
“Delilah,” Pastor Godfrey growls. One that almost matches his son’s. “Get out of my way. Now.”
I snort. “Hell no.” He’ll have to move me.
“Gabriel!” His mother stands, the audience in a tizzy. It’s buzzing like the cafeteria on campus. Like their team won the game.
“They don’t love me,” Gabe continues. “They don’t love you. Love is what I have with Delilah. You know, the girl you all hate? I love her. What we have is nothing like God’s love, no, it’s so much fucking better.” When I turn around, he’s standing in the aisle, his eyes on me as security tackles him to the ground. “Go ahead!” Gabriel says into the mic. “Silence me!” He laughs like a fucking maniac and for some reason that makes my heart thud.
“Get the fuck off him!” I yell, storming to the guard. Gabe’s mic cuts as he’s yelling into it and that gets the crowd to cheer. Stopping in my path, I look around me.
“Get them out of here!” Someone calls. “Possessed!”
Are they still on his dad’s side?
After all this?
/> My grandma stands to her feet, her eyes wide as she looks at the commotion around us. Some people pray, others scowl at us. Gabe’s on the floor, his hands behind his back like he’s some kind of criminal.
“Get them out of here!” Pastor Godfrey calls, fuelling the fire. He’s like final-stage, boss-level. It’s gonna take a lot more than that to take this wannabe god down. “There’s no salvation here for them!”
The crowd agrees, yelling and shouting our way.
Fuck this.
My Chuck comes to the bodyguard’s back and while he hardly budges, it’s enough to distract him so that Gabe can push him off. My grandma comes over and when the bodyguard is about to tackle him again, she puts her hand up, stopping him. She takes us both by the arms and leads us down the aisle and out of the room.
“You two go home,” she says at the doors, fixing her giant blue hat.
“You’re staying?” I ask.
She frowns but I keep my challenge before there’s a warm hand on the small of my back. “Let’s get out of here,” Gabe says.
“Definitely.”
The sunlight makes me squint as we make our way into the chilly fall air. Gabe’s arm around me, I don’t know where this leaves us, but I’m happy he walked out of that church.
“Did you mean that?” I ask, chewing on my lip. “What you said in there?”
“Every word.” With a glance back at the door, he starts to lead me away. “Come on. There’s no changing their minds.”
“What about hockey? Your money?”
“We’ll figure it out. As long as I have you, we’ll figure it out.”
“Delilah!” A familiar voice calls my name, my head turning to a thin girl in cut-off shorts. A plaid shirt hangs off her tiny waist, killer thigh-high boot pressed against a red Beetle. One that reminds me of …
“Hazel?” I blink.
“Shit,” Gabe mutters.
“What the hell happened to you?” I ask. Her hair is out of her ponytail, long to her ass, silky in the sun. She looks the opposite of the Hazel I know. “Whatever it is, I’m here for it.”