Page 12 of Bleed Me

Her arms suddenly tightened.

Instead of reading her, as I should’ve, I was in hog heaven! That was until I remembered her brother being present. I slowly pulled away to see his shocked face and winced. “Sorry.”

Delilah was touching my face, studying me, but Tucker laughed. “Are you twotogether?”

No longer paying attention to me, Delilah gazed at him. “You look happy.”

“Hell yeah!” Tucker stated. “This bastard’s been pining over you, driving me nuts! And he’s become the suckiest wingmanever.”

Delilah’s eyes found mine. “For me? No girls ‘cause of me?”

I spoke the truth. “None of them compare.”

Tucker asked her, “Is this what you wanted to talk to me about?”

Delilah started to shake her head, but then stopped. Appearing somewhat disturbed, she looked to me then her brother, asking, “And you’re truly happy with this?”

Tucker jumped out of bed and group-hugged us. “Yes, I trust Kenny. That means you can, too.”

Youth isn’t all that it is cracked up to be. I don’t know why so many older people want it back. It was a blind time in my life. Even though I didn’t think I was selfish, I was. I ignored Delilah’s hesitation and jumped into a relationship with her that, deep down, I knew she never wanted. I let the love she had for her brother blanket the love I had for her. I used her emotions—her need to keep her brother smiling—and made Delilah mine.