Steal Me (Haunted Roads Book 1)

by India R. Adams

  “Well, she’s drunk—”

  “No,” Tucker interrupted. “It’s not just that. She really cares for you. I mean, she cared for Kenny, but… something’s different here. She looks at you differently.”

  “I’m not him. I can never be her Kenny.”

  “I know, and you’re not trying to be him. I think that helps. Cole tried—”

  “What? Were they together?” The thought of taking something from that guy ripped through me. There was still a lot to learn about him, but I already considered him a great friend.

  Tucker shook his head. “No. Key word, tried. He loves her more like a sister but wanted to ease her pain, so the kid tried to replace Kenny… Lilah, being no fool, saw right through it.”

  I thought of the advice Cole gave me that first day of school: And whatever you do, don’t lie. That explained the unexpected hug between the two.

  Tucker asked me, “Do you wish she didn’t have Kenny in her past?”

  “Yes, but not for reasons you may think. I wish she never had to be hurt so deeply.”

  “Tonight, seeing how deep that hurt goes, do you regret falling for her?”

  I studied Delilah’s brother, not sure where this conversation was going.

  He grinned. “I’m not stupid, Maverick. I know you’ve fallen. Why do you think I pushed her?”

  Tucker stupid? That’s the last thing I would think.

  “No, I don’t regret it, not that I had a choice. If you want the truth, I think I began falling the first time I saw her. Never will I forget her lying in that chair.”

  “She’s not done healing, if she ever will be,” Tucker said.

  “Maybe that is why she clings to me.”

  “What the hell does that mean?” He sounded a little offended.

  I stood my ground. “I seem to be the only one who believes she will heal.”

  Tucker’s expression fell with the realization. “You’re right.”

  I wrapped my arms around her. “And she’s not broken.”

  “Is that how you think we treat her?”

  I nodded firmly, hoping he wouldn’t punch me for calling him out. I was surprised to feel anger, but I opened my mouth and continued. “After my dad died, everyone looked at me differently, like his death was all I had become—the leftover of a devastating situation. I wanted to scream, His death happened. I’ll never be the same, but damn it, it’s not who I am. Stop seeing a dead man every time you see me. I’m. Still. Here.”

  Tucker exhaled rapidly, and his eyes looked mystified. “Jesus. All we have done is see Kenny when we see her.”

  “Don’t think I’m a dick, but… Kenny’s gone. This young woman in my arms is still here.”

  Tears burst from Tucker.

  That made me feel like shit! “Damn, I’m sorry—”

  He was gasping, “No, don’t be. Fuck—I mean, crazy. He was my best friend, Maverick.” Tucker was trying to swallow but was choking on the effort. “I miss him so fucking much. It was such a rough night when he—I didn’t realize what I was doing to her. All I saw was him.” He wiped his face, which kept leaking. “But I won’t anymore. I give you my word.”

  A grating voice uttered, “Sick.”

  I pulled Delilah to her knees and held her as she puked again. Tucker rubbed her back as he cried. I was trying to hold her hair and console Tucker at the same time. “You’re not broken either, Tuck.” He nodded while Delilah kept purging. We looked so pathetic I started laughing. “We’re a sloppy mess!”

  Tucker started laughing through his tears. “Asshole.”

  “Don’t you mean crazy?”

  “You’re lucky I didn’t say worse.”

  In the morning, I woke to a deep, grumbled whisper, “What the fuck is going on in here?” Tucker and I, both still on the bathroom floor with Delilah covered in a towel, opened our eyes to see a big son of a bitch the size of my dad. He was an intimidating, more filled-out version of Tucker. Both men had dark-brown hair with dark eyes and a no-bullshit presence.

  “Hi, Daddy.” Delilah’s voice was froggy from throwing up all night.

  Oh, goody. This should be fun.

  The giant softened in a heartbeat. “Hi, baby. You okay?”

  “Not sure. I got a little drunk, and I think these two babysat me all night.”

  “Who are you?” the angry father inquired.

  I looked up, holding his daughter to my chest, which seemed like a horrid idea as the seconds ticked by. “I’m Maverick, sir. Sorry to be lying here with your daughter.”

  “You’re lucky her brother is practically spooning you, or I’d have to beat your ass.”

  “And you look more than qualified to get the job done, sir.” I brown-nosed for my life.

  Everyone started laughing, including the big bastard standing in Delilah’s doorway. The tension was broken, and I got to live another day—until thoughts of Bailey blew through me. “Peanut.”

  “Excuse me?” Delilah’s dad was confused.

  Tucker explained, “Maverick’s little sister,” as I pulled out my cell and dialed in a panic.

  When my home phone picked up, I heard a timid, “Hewwo?”

  My eyes closed in guilt; her Ls were absent—she was upset. “Bailey.”

  “Yo not in yo bed, Mavowick. I wooked for you.”

  Ouch, that stung.

  “Are you okay?”

  “I’m having ceweal. Whewe awe you?”

  Note to self: teach Bailey my number. “I’m with Delilah.”

  “You are?” Her voice perked up, and that was my savior. “Can I see Dewiwah?”

  Delilah’s hungover as hell. “Umm, maybe later. How’s Mommy?”

  “She’s sweeping.” Her voice was timid again.

  Sleeping? Damn it! I felt my first sign of anger toward my mom but hid it from Bailey. “Okay. Don’t go outside. Watch some TV. I’m coming home, Peanut.”

  “Then I get my fwuit shake?”

  “Yep, then I’ll make your fruit shake.”

  “Kay, bye.” She hung up.

  Delilah was sitting up, worried. “Is she alone?”

  “No, my mom’s home, but—uh—I’m sorry. I gotta go.”

  “Of course. Go. I’m good. My dad and brother will nurse my hangover. Is your truck here?” Delilah was a mess yet still so kind.

  “No, we rode with Tucker.” I was desperate to get home.

  She turned to her brother. “Will you give him a ride?”

  Tucker got to his feet. “Let’s get you home.”

  I helped Delilah up and, not wanting to let her go, handed her over to her dad. “Nice to meet you, sir. Sorry to rush out—”

  He interrupted, “If your mama is home, why do you look so worried?”

  “My mom—well, I’m sorry. I have to go.”

  The words were too hard to say out loud. I’d never talked about my home situation to anyone and realized I didn’t want to. I got out of the bathroom and heard Tucker following me down the stairs.

  Tucker’s car had barely stopped when I leaped out and ran to my front door, my keys in hand. I didn’t realize Tucker was on my heels till I tripped over a broken step on my front porch. “Whoa!” he yelled.

  I stumbled then looked back at him. “Yeah, I need to fix that step.”

  After unlocking the door, I yelled, “Bailey!”

  Scooby Doo slippers came skipping around the corner. “Yo home!”

  I scooped her up as if her life had been in danger. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t home for you.”

  “You’re squeezing too tight,” Bailey complained, Rs already back in her speech.

  A hand touched my shoulder. “She’s okay, brother. Let her breathe.”

  Bailey was pushing against my chest. “You’re squishing me.”

  I eased up on my intense embrace. “I’m sorry, Peanut. I just missed you.”

  Refusing to let her go, I walked Tucker to his car. “Thanks, man. Appreciate the ride.”

  “I appreciate your help las
t night. Sorry to have kept you from Bailey.”

  “Will you bring Dewilah over?”

  I looked at Bailey, who was looking at Tucker, waiting for an answer.

  Tucker smiled. “You like Delilah?”

  Bailey nodded. “She gives good hugs.”

  Tuck and I both laughed. He nodded. “Yes, she does. I’ll tell you what. If it’s okay with your brother, I will bring her and my hammer to fix your front step.”

  Bailey grabbed my face as she always did to get my attention. Forehead to forehead, she said the magic word, “Cookout.”

  “Tucker doesn’t like burgers,” I joked.

  “The hell I don’t! See you at two.”

  Because of my little sister, I had to leave a young woman who had captured my heart.

  Because of my little sister, that young woman would be coming to see me soon.

  A silver Ford one-ton with a side magnetic sign reading “Ward Construction” pulled up. Delilah, Tucker, and their dad got out, pulling lumber and tools from the eight-foot bed of the truck. Bailey ran out the front door, squealing, “Delilah!”

  Lilah opened her arms and caught my Peanut with a big smile. Her dad said, “I heard you have burgers.”

  Bailey was ecstatic. “Yes! You want one?”

  “So, this is Peanut?” Lilah’s dad asked.

  “Yes! That’s me! I’m Mavowick’s little sister.”

  A big hand reached out. “I’m John. Nice to meet you, Maverick’s little sister.”

  She laughed, and it was music to my ears. “That’s not my name, silly! I’m Bailey.”

  He threw his hands in the air, exclaiming, “Oh, I thought your name was Maverick’s little sister!”

  “Mavowick is my big brother.”

  “Is he a good big brother?”

  To not hurt my feelings, she whispered her answer. “Yes, but he squeezed me too tight this morning.”

  Delilah’s eyes watered instantly. “That’s ’cause he loves you soooo much.”

  Bailey dramatically rolled her hazel eyes. “He tells me every day. Mavowick also says he’s the luckiest brother in the world.”

  Lilah put her forehead to Bailey’s. “My brother says the same thing to me.”

  “Wow.” Bailey sounded amazed.

  I walked to Tucker. “You didn’t have to do this.”

  “Don’t mention it.”

  John put out his hand. “Gotta earn our burgers, right?”

  We shook hands. I was grateful for the help and the lack of pressure to give answers. My shock continued as my mom opened the front screen door and called out, “Maverick?”

  “Mom! Hey, I’d like you to meet some friends.” I pulled Delilah, who was still holding Bailey, to the porch steps. “This is a friend from school, Delilah. This is my mom, Jessica Hutton.”

  Delilah shook her hand. “So nice to meet you, Mrs. Hutton.”

  “Call me Jessica, sweetheart.” My mom didn’t want to hear her last name, painful reminder that it was.

  John and Tucker joined us. “Hi, I’m John Ward, and this is my son, Tucker.” They all shook hands, and I felt as though my mom and I had some normalcy for the first time since my dad died.

  The men got started on the porch, which needed more work than I had originally thought. Tuck must’ve seen it because he’d brought the tools we needed. When we were done, I started heating up the coals for our “cookout,” as Bailey called it. I heard a sound that made me freeze. I couldn’t believe my ears. My mom was coming out the front door with Delilah, both carrying trays… laughing.

  John watched me as I turned away and tried to swallow away my emotions. Tucker leaned in and whispered, “What is it?”

  Barely able to talk, I managed, “She’s laughing.”

  John quietly asked, “How long has it been?”

  Not facing the girls, I choked out, “Since he died.”

  Bailey was beaming, following them. “I made sweet tea!”

  My shoulders shook as I laughed and wiped some sort of wetness from under my eyes. I took a deep breath and told everyone, “You guys are in for a treat.” I turned to face my dream, Lilah. “Bailey makes the best sweet tea ever.”

  “I make it extra sweet,” Bailey proclaimed.

  Mr. Ward eyed the pound of sugar at the bottom of the pitcher. His eyes bulged from their sockets. “Dear Lord.”

  Delilah walked to me with a tray, smiling, but then stopped. “What’s wrong?”

  I took her tray, set it on the table, and pulled her to me. My arms—and love—wrapped around her. “Thank you, thank you.”

  Tucker and John went to my mom. “Need some help?”

  I took Delilah’s face in my hands and gently touched my lips to hers.

  She smiled. “You finally kiss me, and you do it in front of my brother and dad?”

  I held her again, rocking her. “It should show you I have the best of intentions.”

  She inhaled deeply. “It does, Maverick. More than you know.”

  Before I could ask Delilah what she meant, my mom asked, “You okay, baby?”

  “Yes, ma’am. Couldn’t be better.”

  My mom smiled. “Good. I’m starving.”

  I coughed out my surprise at her words.

  Bailey cheered, “Yay! Mommy is finally hungry.”

  A silent moment took place as Bailey’s words sank in. The Wards would know, with my earlier reaction and now Bailey’s, that we were seeing a side of my mom that we hadn’t witnessed in some time. Mr. Ward handled it with class. “Never too late, I always say.”

  With that, conversation started back up, and we had a hell of a cookout.

  Chapter Ten

  Monday, back at school, I found myself in unknown territory. Yes, Delilah and I had had a great weekend, but we were on different turf now. I wondered if she would become the recluse Delilah I sometimes interacted with while on school grounds. There were many painful memories in those hallways. A lot of… Kenny. If I could feel his presence, I knew damn well Delilah could.

  Apparently, I wasn’t the only one not sure how to proceed. Delilah was standing next to my locker, holding books to her chest with a hint of insecurity. That was when I knew our weekend had been the beginning of a new us. She still wanted me, even with a ghost circling her at school.

  I smiled at the sight of her.

  She smiled and exhaled, softening tense shoulders. “Hi.”

  I gently touched her face, making sure this angel truly existed. “Hi.”

  “Thought… maybe… you would want to walk me to class?”

  I kissed her forehead. “Anything you want.”

  Delilah looked bashful. “You always say that to me.”

  “And I mean it… Lilah.”

  She gasped at her nickname then softly said, “That was nice.”

  I didn’t try to hold her hand as I walked her to class. I respected her possible hesitations on Kenny’s old stomping grounds. Knowing more about Delilah, and starting to learn Tucker’s ways, I suspected Kenny had been a force to reckon with and left behind a wake felt by all who knew him.

  Lilah needed to be the one to set the pace at school. I had already pushed us forward when I’d kissed her over the weekend, and again in the hallway when I’d called her by her private nickname.

  In class, it was practically impossible to focus on what Mr. Bristol was jabbering on about, because every time I stole a glance at perfection, Delilah was staring right back at me. I mouthed, “What?”

  She looked at my mouth and wetted her lips. It was done innocently enough, but it sent the blood zooming to my groin area like a rocket ship. I knew the timer was ticking down to when denying those lips would become impossible. No longer was I going to let alcohol or anything get in my way. The next time that girl asked for a kiss, damn it, I was delivering.

  After class, I said, “Smoke’s coming out your ears, you’re thinking so hard,” as we walked to our lockers.

  She smiled, leaning into my arm. “It’s just—”


  When she stopped talking, I stopped walking and faced her, concerned. “What’s wrong?”

  Big brown eyes looked up at me. “Nothing. I just haven’t been this happy in… a long time.”

  “Good.”

  “I was thinking—”

  “Did it hurt?” I smirked.

  “What? Oh, shut up! NO, it did not hurt to think, thank you very much. I was just thinking, we, you and I, we’ve never been… alone. And I would like for us to be.”

  Those simple words were telling me so much. Delilah didn’t feel pushed or rushed by me if she was the one asking for more. I was so thankful for my restraint, which had given her ample time to catch up to my wants and needs. “Anything you want,” I whispered.

  She looked down and whispered in return, “I want you.”

  Sweet Lord.

  My fingers tilted her chin up so I could look into her eyes. “When?”

  I thought about that word again. When did your world turn upside down? And when will you turn my world right side up?

  Lilah looked deep into my eyes. “Now.”

  I had already told myself that if she asked, I would deliver. My hand quickly grasped Delilah’s, and we walked right past our gape-mouthed friends. I led Lilah out the front door of our school and to my truck. Without uttering a word, I opened the passenger door and helped her in. Lilah stayed as quiet as I did while I drove us to somewhere private; she only scooted closer to me, leaned on my arm, and held my hand. Her cheek rubbed on my shoulder as she watched me with eyes that were asking for something. I kept looking at her while driving, trying to read her needs. I was barely able to keep my eyes on the road, and that only got worse as her hand reached up, softly touching my lips. Taking one hand off my steering wheel, I grabbed those fingers and kissed them, trying to express how I felt about her.

  Gentle eyes simply peered up at me as we drove down a deserted dirt road, almost to our destination. When those eyes began to glisten, I was thankful to see the spring Bailey and I had found, and I pulled over next to a huge tree that looked like bent fingers reaching to the sky. Without taking her eyes off me, she slowly unbuckled and faced me. Delilah rose up onto her knees, making her a couple inches taller. Looking down at me, Lilah delicately caressed my face with tenderness as she searched with her eyes. I held still, trying to understand what she was experiencing, what she was seeing.