The Return of Delilah

Chapter 17 Part 1

LIAM

I couldn't help but smile when I saw her. Wearing a pretty little red dress that shows off her curves to perfection and a silver necklace that sparkles in the dark of the night, she looked breathtaking. Her hair, now pitch black, was straightened with a little shiny little pin on each side. She looked youthful, innocent almost. Except for her bright red lipstick, tempting, just like her. Delilah's make up was subtle, she always knew exactly what suited her, though frankly, anything would have looked perfect on her.

I leaned back on my car, adjusting the cufflinks of my dress shirt as I watched Adrian walk up to her, giving her a single red rose. He extended her hand, just like I taught him to, and walked her up to the car. She's always been so graceful when she walked, the swaying of her hips subtle yet enough to drive any man insane.

Once in front of me, Adrian placed her hand in my own. Delilah blushed, her embarrassment obvious even in the dark of the night.

"You look beautiful," I murmured, placing a kiss at the back of her hand.

She didn't reply anything, only giving me a shy smile.

Christmas Eve had arrived and we were going to spend it with her parents. I wanted to do something for her after royally fucking up by thinking that maybe Adrian wasn't my son. I'd seen the hurt in her eyes as soon as the words were out of my mouth but by then, it was too fucking late.

Now I understood what it was like for her, trying to fix something she'd messed up. I felt the same way after hurting her so badly. Carissa had put the doubt in my head and even Chris spent days without speaking to me after that.

Though I pretty much had to beg her parents to let her spend Christmas with them, they obliged for Adrian's sake. I hoped that something good would come out of the reunion. She longed to have her family back, to ease some of the pain she'd caused.

We were quiet on our way to her parents and as she looked out the window, I would steal occasional glances of her. She was nervous, I could tell because she was rarely quiet. I placed a hand on her thigh and she gasped, surprised at my touch.

"It'll be fine," I said, rubbing circles with my thumb. She nodded, looking down at my hand that rested partly over her dress but also against her smooth skin. I felt the goosebumps that formed and realized despite the hell we'd been through, I still had a certain effect on her. 

We arrived at her parents, and as always, their home was decorated from top to bottom. I remembered helping them every Christmas since I met Delilah to the date. I saw her straightening up Adrian's vest and her hand trembling with nerves. My hand rested at the small of her back, feeling the delicate curve and the way her breathing gave a slight hitch.

I carried the bottle of wine, Leonard's favorite, and opened the door without knocking. They were expecting us anyways, and I didn't want to make Delilah any more uncomfortable. Delilah and I walked quietly into the kitchen while Adrian rushed over to his grandparents.

"Good evening," I greeted them, giving Maria and then Leonard a hug. They returned it, but didn't do much to acknowledge Delilah. Her face fell.

"Good evening," she said much quieter than usual.

Her dad nodded, but Maria didn't. "Here," she said, extending the gift that she had held onto during the whole ride to her dad. "Merry Christmas."

"We don't need anything," Maria replied, stopping Leo from taking the gift from her hands. Delilah's lips turned down unable to hide her sadness. I laced my fingers with hers as a demonstration of comfort and she accepted the gesture, squeezing my hand. It was surprising. She didn't want any physical contact with me since our argument.