Always Second

Chapter 22

When it was nearing 8, Delilah threw on jeans, sneakers, and a Harvard hoodie on. Deciding to be thankful for once, Delilah hesitantly opened her room door and made it to the living room to see Scarlett sitting on the couch.

Looking up from her magazine, Scarlett's eyes went wide, but masked it, trying act normal. "Hey, how're you feeling?"

Delilah immediately went up to her and hugged her by surprise, taking away Scarlett's breath. Instantly hugging her back, Scarlett started sobbing in Delilah's arms. 

"You know, I don't ever say it enough Scar, but I truly am thankful for having you in my life. You are the first person that has ever been there for me and I hope you know how much I love you."

Scarlett started crying even harder as she uttered incoherent words. "You do don know  hww muuuc I luv yooouu." Tears escaped Delilah's eyes as well as the two stayed in the other's arms for several minutes. As the tears finally dried up, Delilah pulled back to see Scarlett's face who was frowning at her. 

"Do you know how much you put me through every year on this day. I was literally worrying for you the entire day." Delilah gratefully looked back with apology in her eyes. Huffing out a big breath, Scarlett was about to go on as she glanced at the clock and gasped, "It's already 8. You'd better hurry downstairs, Jace is waiting!!"

Delilah laughed all the while Scarlett pushed her out of the apartment. What happened to her heartfelt lecture?

During the elevator ride down, Delilah started to freak out a little. Yeah she wanted to see him, but, what was she going to say. She had never done such on her birthday before. What was he going to do and what should she do? Ugh. She could never get answers.

When the elevator finally made it down, Delilah made her way out of the lobby and immediately  spotted Jace leaning against his car with jeans and a jacket on. His hair fell over his forehead and as if he knowing that she was there, he instantly looked up and smiled at Delilah. Suddenly, the entire world stopped and Delilah was lost in time. It was just the two of them as she walked over to Jace. 

Walking over to Delilah, Jace pulled her into a big hug. He saw that her eyes were red and swollen and her face looked drained. It pained him to see her have to go through so much. He nuzzled his head into her neck, smelling her intoxicating scent of honey and milk.

"Happy Birthday." Jace said, a bit muffled.

Delilah lightly chuckled as Jace's face was in her neck and was kind of tickling her. "Thank you." Her arms were over his neck and her forehead was resting on his shoulders. 

They stood there a bit longer before Jace detached himself from her, "We should get going, I have a surprise for you." 

Delilah looked intrigued, "What is it?"

"It's a surprise for a reason, Lilah. I can't tell." Jace opened the door for her and closed it after her, jumping into the car.

"You'll see when we get there."

As they made it to the spot where Jace first asked Delilah out on a date, Jace made Delilah wear a blindfold before she got out of the car. Delilah frowned at him but he insisted stating that she would ruin the surprise if she didn't. With Jace guiding her, Delilah walked with her arms attached to his.

"This is kind of freaking me out a little."

Without answering her, Jace nervously chuckled. He didn't know what she would think but he hoped she would like it.

"Here, stand here for a bit and don't take it off until I tell you to."

Delilah stood in the spot he left her and heard him walk away. She heard rustling noises as Jace finally told her to take her blind fold off.

Gently peeling the blindfold off her eyes, Delilah looked up and gasped as she Scarlett, Savannah, Mason, Tyler, and Ashton standing in front of her. They started singing Happy Birthday to her as Delilah looked at them all with a grateful smile and put her hands together under her chin. 

When they finished up with the song, Jace brought the lit up cake closer to her for her to blow. Leaning closer to the cake, Delilah blew it out and chuckled as everyone clapped their hands. Hugging Jace by the side, Delilah got up on her tippy toes and kissed him on the cheeks. "Thank you."

"And thank you all for coming. I really appreciate it."

They all smiled back at Delilah and nodded. Scarlett ran towards her and almost knocked her over with a hug. "Happy Birthday, Lilah. I love you so much."

"I love you, so much." Scarlett kissed her cheek as Delilah let go of her to hug Savannah who came over to hug her also.

"Happy Birthday Lilah." Kissing Delilah's cheek to, all the boys came over and did the same thing.

Jace stared at Delilah who was smiling and smiled back. He was glad to see the smile that he loved on her face again. "Come on guys, let's cut the cake."

As Scarlett took over to cut the cake, Delilah took Jaces hands in her's and hugged him. "You have no idea how much I appreciate this. Thank you."

Swaying her in his arms, Jace chuckled. He felt so comfortable having her in his arms and he never wanted to let go. He kissed the top of her head. "I would do anything for you." 

Putting his hand on her chin, Jace lifted her head up and stared into her enchanting blue eyes. "You deserve the world. I want you to know that."

Delilah nodded at him and gave him a grin that stretched from ear to ear. She couldn't understand why he would do so much for her, but if he felt anything as the way she felt for him, then she could understand where he was coming from. All she wanted to see everyday was that happy smile plastered on his face and all she wanted to hear for the rest of her life was his beautiful laugh that was so carefree and filled with happiness and rumbled throughout her body. If she could have those two things, she would forever be happy in life. 

Please vote and comment. I would love to hear your thoughts