Tragic Love (2 page)

A light tap raps on the door. Drake has me panting when he breaks free from my lips to hear Jeremy inform us that a blue Mini Cooper pulled up in front of the house, so we quickly make ourselves presentable and then I make a mad dash down the back steps to prance toward the street.

Delilah opens her car door and her waves of long, blonde hair blow in the warm breeze. As she steps from the car, I recognize the friend I’ve been missing. My feet start to move as I run further down the driveway. Delilah lets out a little squeal as she pulls me into a tight hug. I wrap my arms around her shoulders and pull her tightly to me. My eyes begin to leak with tears as the reunion with my best friend overwhelms me.

After several long moments, we break our embrace and study each other at arm’s length. Delilah is a couple inches taller than me, which still classifies her as short, but it’s her womanly figure that has me shocked. Delilah has the perfect hourglass figure. The last time I saw her she was anything other than curvaceous. Her boobs have now grown a lot; she can no longer be mocked by jerks about her flat-as-a-board chest. Her waist is still tiny, but she now has hips and a butt. I almost question if she got plastic surgery because she looks completely different; ample in all the right places. If it weren’t for her beautiful, blonde hair and Caribbean blue eyes, she would’ve been simply another person on the street.

“What are ya lookin’ at, doll? Do I look that different?” Delilah says with a deep southern twang residing in her voice.

“You! I can’t believe you are here and you look so…” I’m still in shock as I hold the car door open.

“This is what college can do to you, not that I’m complaining. I finally have a rack to be proud of. A nice, healthy C cup, but my rear… Honey, you could park a car in the shadow of it.”She dramatically turns to the side, sticking her ass out for me to see.

I release a huge laugh. Delilah is always quick with her comments and I love her for it. “Well, according to all the magazines, having a perfectly round, full ass is exactly what guys like these days. Look at Jennifer Lopez; I would say yours is as perfect as hers,” I respond, trying to lift her spirits.

Delilah comes from a long line of southern beauties and pageant queens. It’s been ingrained in her DNA to always care about her appearance. She’s always getting ragged on by her mother to keep herself up for appearances sake.

“Speaking of difference, I didn’t think it was possible for you to get any skinnier. Look at you. You’re nothing except skin and bones. And your skin, it’s so pale.” A concerned look is plastered all over her face and I know what she is referring to, yet that is so not the case. Well, it is, but it isn’t. It’s the growing fear taking up residence in the pit of my stomach.

“Yeah, well…it’s not what you’re thinking,” I try to assure her. “What college has done to you, Sulfur Heights has done to me.” I stare down at my feet, unable to look my best friend in the eye. She knows I had some problems living with Robert, which is why I now live with Drake, but she has no idea what really happened in that house. I’m not sure I can ever tell her. This is the kind of secret you keep until the day you die. I told myself earlier that today was going to be a good day. Robert isn’t going to ruin me today. So I pull myself together a bit and try to change the subject. “Enough of this depressing talk, let’s get you settled.”

We pull a couple of bags from her backseat, but I know that is not near enough for Miss Delilah. She usually packs this much when she’s staying over a day, but for the summer, she should have at least seventeen more bags.

“Where’s the rest of your stuff?” I ask, lifting the garment bag onto my shoulder.

“Well, my car can hardly hold what I need so I had the rest of my stuff over-nighted, and I should get it by tomorrow.” Delilah gives me a wink as we make our way up the drive, holding hands like we used to when we were six.

It feels so good to have her here. I’ve missed everything about Delilah. We’ve been connected at the hip since we were kids and there’s nothing we wouldn’t do for each other. I always wanted to have a sister growing up and am fortunate to say Delilah has been my sister from day one. Now, I’m truly lucky because I have two girls I claim as my sister. Delilah is the older, mature sister I’ve always looked up to for advice, and Darcie is my badass older sister who will always beat the crap out of someone for looking at me the wrong way.

“Put those bags down, babe. I’ll come get them,” Drake says while wiping his hands on an old grease rag.

Delilah’s breathe hitches once she takes notice of my very sexy boyfriend. She’s seen pictures of him, but they do not do him justice because my man is H-O-T, hot.

“Oh, honey, is that Drake?” Delilah leans in to whisper in my ear.

“Yes, ma’am,” I whisper back with a proud ring to my voice. Normally, it’s Delilah with the stunners on her arm, and now she’s in complete awe of the man heading our way.

Drake walks down to the end of the driveway, lightly kisses me on the lips and then extends his hand to Delilah. “Hi, I’m Drake. Nice to meet you.” He flashes his perfect smile and I’m sure Delilah’s panties just melted off. I release a little giggle, knowing exactly how she feels. When I first met Drake two years ago, my panties did the same thing. I was simply less obvious about it.

Delilah grabs his hand a little shakily. “Likewise, doll.” And just like that, she has composed herself enough to properly function and walks with me up the driveway. Her parents’ pageant dollars hard at work.

***

Drake carries Delilah’s bags into her room and leaves us to get reacquainted. I give her the small tour of her room and show her where the bathroom is. She comes from money and is used to having better accommodations, but she seems perfectly content in my old room. I help her get clothes out of the garment bag and start hanging them in the closet. Then the girl talk starts.

“So you need to fill me in on this Drake situation. I know you’ve let him have his way with you because how could you not, but what you didn’t do is provide me with the details.” Delilah stands in front of me with her hands on her hips, trying to give me her best scolding look.

“You’ve been here all of ten minutes and this is what you want to talk about?” I ask, trying to avoid the conversation. As exhilarating as our first time was, I’ve never explained it in detail to anyone. Our life that way is private.

“Hello…” Delilah is getting annoyed as she rolls her eyes at me. “We’ve been friends for twelve years; of course I want all the details.”

I sit down on the bed and start to reminisce in my mind about the first time Drake and I made love. It was very romantic. He wanted our first time to be special and knew how important the moment would be for me, for us. Of course I was a little scared, but once I got over the initial pain, it was just wonderful.

Feeling a little silly, I open my eyes, my cheeks are on fire. I look down to shield my red face and whisper, “It was perfect. Drake was perfect. I will never forget it, but I’m not telling you.”

Delilah grabs my hand and is completely captivated by my expression. “Well, if it’s so absolutely amazing you can’t even talk about it, I hope it’s like that for me.”

I look at her with a little shock. Delilah is gorgeous and has never had a problem getting the guys, even when she wasn’t so ample in certain areas, so I’m a little surprised she has never had sex. Plus, she’s had a serious boyfriend for the last six months. A man she met at college, and she’s still telling me she’s never had sex with him. According to her, Emerson Knox is the bee’s knees— her words not mine.

“Are you telling me you’ve been with Emerson for over a half a year and you’ve never had sex?”

“Not everyone is looking to sleep with the first guy who looks their way, Presley. I’m honestly surprised you would assume I would just let my innocence go after hanging onto it for so long. I was raised to be a lady and, as my mama says, ‘A lady always saves herself for her husband. That’s what’s pure. That’s what God wants’.” Delilah has always been dramatic and I merely shake my head and laugh.

“Okay, so here are the one hundred thousand dollar questions. Did it hurt? How big is he?”

An obnoxious sound comes from my throat. I’m in absolute shock from her questions. Seriously, if I were drinking something at that moment, I would’ve spit everything all over her face. I was totally not expecting that.

“His size is none of your business.” I smirk, knowing it’s huge, well, it feels huge to me. I really don’t have anything else to compare it to. “And yes, it did hurt the first time, but once you get over the initial pain, it’s the most incredible feeling in the world. Can we stop talking about this now?”

“Yes, for now.” Delilah winks and pulls me off the bed. “I want to meet everyone else you talk about, especially Darcie. She sounds like fun.”

I’m not as excited as she is. It will take a lot for Darcie to tolerate Delilah and her southern bell, lady-like personality. When you look up polar opposites in the dictionary it’s their pictures you see, but I am more nervous for her to meet Jake. Like everything in Sulfur Heights, he will be a rude awaking to Delilah’s perfectly manicured existence.

Chapter 2

Drake

I leave as soon as I shut the door and head for the safe haven of the garage. I’m so glad Delilah came to stay with us, but I am concerned how she’s going to fit in. According to Presley, she has the perfect life with amazing parents, living in a large mansion, and has everything handed to her. Up until her parents died, I get the distinct impression that is how Presley grew up. It wasn’t until she moved to Sulfur Heights that she realized there is real evil living in this world.

I’ve been working with Jeremy to restore my newly acquired 1971 Chevelle. The best graduation present ever. Reggie and Jeremy happened to come across it several months back and the entire family put in money to buy it for me. Now I’ve been living in the garage to give the car some much needed TLC. Jake has been trying to get me to race, yet I don’t want to tear my beauty up. I love the races, looking at all the cars new and old, but I’ve never had any desire to race myself. I’m the loner in that regard because everyone in the family lives for it.

I linger on the walk because it is a perfect day to work outside. Spring is in full swing, gradually moving to summer. Everything is green and growing; full of life. Of course, once the weather gets nice, the punks start hanging out on the streets again. I’ve kept to myself while growing up, only being around my brothers and some of their friends, always careful not to get involved with anyone who is a part of the drug world. It doesn’t leave too many people in Sulfur Heights to be friends with because they are either dealing or using, but I feel fortunate to have the family I have. My brothers and I learned a life lesson the hard way, growing up with a mom who was addicted to drugs, and I’m glad none of us have gone down that road.

Jeremy is working on removing the transmission when I reach the garage. I quickly move over to help him as we torque the nuts to get them loose. We have spent hours together in the garage, but only really talk when it’s related to the work on the car. It’s been a long time since we’ve had an actual conversation about anything other than cars. I know he and Jake talk a lot and at times he talks to Reggie, yet we’ve never had that kind of relationship. Honestly, I’m okay with it. I know he’s my brother and will do anything for me, so why spend time being concerned about it. Presley doesn’t think it’s normal, but I tell her it’s just how he is.

We spend a good amount of time installing the new transmission. When we finally get it replaced, Jeremy and I stand back with a little twinge of pride. I clap him on the back, gesturing to a job well done.

The sky is starting to change to dusk when we take a break from the car. I tell Jeremy I’m going into the house to get a drink when Darcie comes tearing up the driveway in Reggie’s Camaro. As she exits the car, I can already see the wheels working in her head. She’s taking note of the Mini Cooper parked in front of our house, curious of its origin.

“Who the hell drives that?” Darcie asks with a little cynicism to her voice as she points to Delilah’s car.

“That belongs to Presley’s friend from Memphis, Delilah St. James. Remember she’s staying with us this summer for a school internship or some shit like that,” I remind Darcie.

“Oh, yeah. So what do you make of this girl?”

I let out a laugh. I honestly can’t wait for them to meet. “She’s nice, you know, in that raised with manners, doesn’t curse and regularly goes to church sort of way.”

“Oh, great! That’s just who I want to spend my summer with; some bible beating goodie-goodie who will be praying for my soul every time I say fuck or shit.” Darcie rolls her eyes dramatically and starts to rub the scar on her left wrist. Her tell tale sign of agitation.

I drape my arm around her shoulder and try to comfort her as best as I can. “Just think, Darcie, we’ll have a summer of free entertainment once she meets Jake.” We start to laugh hysterically when we think about the train wreck to come. If there is anyone who Delilah will be praying for it will be Jake. He can insult a woman in the first ten seconds of meeting her and he doesn’t even need to speak a word.

“Thanks for reminding me. That
will
be the best entertainment anyone could ask for.” She focuses her attention to the creaking back door as Delilah and Presley make their way down the stairs.

When they walk down the stairs, I gaze at my beautiful girlfriend. Her long, brown hair is blowing in the wind, lightly whipping against her face. I focus on the swing of her hips and start to get hard thinking about how good they feel riding on top of me. Oh fuck! I need to focus on something else, anything else. I turn my attention to Darcie and watch the showdown.

The worry line above the bridge of Darcie’s nose speaks volumes as Delilah and her size each other up. It’s almost like a
Clash of the Titians
moment or some shit. They look like they are ready to cat fight, but then not. Strange. Delilah is smiling, but it seems forced. I don’t understand girls, everything seems so catty. Darcie is very protective of Presley since they met and now Delilah is invading her turf, and by the look on Darcie’s face, she’s ready to pounce. It’s all quite amusing. If Jake were here he would be assembling a mud wrestling pit in the backyard. Ha! The thought cracks me up. Presley shoots me a nasty glare and I straighten my face then come around behind her, wrapping her up in my arms. Exactly where she belongs.