Always Second

Chapter 31

The next morning, Delilah woke up to her phone chiming with new messages. Groaning and getting up to check it, Delilah peeked through one eye and read the messages from Jace. 

Good morning. I'm back in town. If you're awake, I was hoping to treat you to breakfast. 

What do you say?

Yes, no?

Are you mad at me?

Delilah scowled as she didn't know how to reply. Did she want to see him right now? Some part of her did, but some part of her didn't. She was still screaming on the inside in agony. But knowing they needed to talk, Delilah texted back.

What time?

I'll pick you up in 30 minutes.

Ok.

Getting out of bed, brushing her teeth and her face, and throwing on some clothes, Delilah put on some makeup hoping to cover her puffy eyes. Her hair was still up in last night's updo and looked fine to her at the moment. Making her way downstairs, Delilah spotted Jace's car and got in. 

"Hey." Leaning in to kiss her on the cheek, Jace was feeling guilty. He should have been there for Delilah last night, but Chasity kept insisting that she couldn't bare to be alone at the moment and as Jace told her he'd called her parent's to come and be with her, she begged for him to stay with her until they got there. Worried about their daughter  Uncle Lin and Aunt Ella immediately got on a plane to spend a few days in Florida. Jace loved Chasity like a sister but sometime's she was too much for him to handle. She was too spoiled for her own good, her father would never hesitate to give her everything she wanted. Well, Jace guessed he was no different, but his parent's were never afraid to discipline him. 

"Hey." Delilah silently looked out the window evading his stares.

"So, what did I miss last night."

"Nothing much." 

Jace heavily sighed as he parked into the cafe lot and glanced at Delilah, "Are you mad at me?"

Pursing her lips together, Delilah shook her head. "I'm not."

"Yeah you are."

"I'm not." Unbuckling her seat belt, Jace unbuckled his as well, leaning over and started tickling Delilah's sides. 

Trying to evade his hands and laughing her head off, Delilah screamed at the top of her lungs, "Jace!! Stop, please!! No! No, more !!!"

Jace chuckled as he kept going, "I'm stoping until you say you forgive me."

"Ok, ok. I forgive you!!!"

Jace let go and smiled. "Good." Getting out of the car, he went around to open Delilah's door for her.

Looking at him peculiarly, Delilah stepped out of the car. "Thank you."

Placing his hand on her lower back, Jace kissed her cheek as they made their way to the cute cafe.

After Delilah and Jace ordered, Jace's eyes were trained on Delilah. "So, my family really wants you to join us for Christmas, that is if you don't have anything already planned."

Focusing her gaze on Jace, Delilah sighed. "Jace, I've already told you. I won't go to New York again."

"Just hear me out ok. It'll just be at my place, nowhere else, you won't run into him." Jace scowled as he thought about Roger. He so wanted to punch the dude in the face. "Trust me."

This was exactly what Delilah had been thinking about. Everything was getting more complicated by the minute. Delilah frowned contemplating what to do. "Jace...I, I-"

Jace was getting desperate and cut in. He didn't want to hear her refusal. "Please, Lilah. Please..."

Delilah shook her head, "Jace, you don't get it. I don't do Christmas. I don't even go to Scarlett's Christmas dinner." 

Jace scowled as he thought back to what Scarlett said. He thought Scarlett was going to take her for Christmas. So this is what she meant. Delilah didn't do Christmas at all.

Letting out a huff of air, Jace grabbed her hands from across the table. "Lilah, I know you grew up without celebrating these things and I'm sorry you had to go through that, but I'm not the same as them. I want you to be able to celebrate these special times, with me. I want you to share these special moments that I had growing up. Please, I want you to join my family and I for Christmas. We love you."

Delilah's heart melted, but she had to make sure of certain things before she made a hast decision. "Just you and your family?"

Nodding his head quickly, Jace was getting anxious. 

She chuckled as her resolve was fading. "You are too charming for your own good."

Jace smiled, "Is that a yes?"

Nodding her head, Delilah laughed throughout the cafe. "Yes, yes. It'll be my pleasure to join you and your family for Christmas."

As if catching the air, Jace fisted his hands in the air. "Yes!!! Haha!!"

"You are really killing my traditions here."

Widely grinning, Jace stared lovingly at the woman in front of him. "I'm just creating better ones. Happier ones."

Delilah's heart was about to beat out of her body as she felt him touch her heart. Every moment she was with him, he made her feel warm inside. He made her stomach flutter and created overwhelming emotions run wild inside of her. She couldn't help the smile and laughter that came out when she was around him. It was the first time in her life in a long time that she truly felt happy. He made her laugh at every turn and Delilah didn't know the last time she had ever laughed so hard in her life.

She knew she was making a selfish move by staying next to Jace, but she wanted him for a bit longer. Though she knew she should let him go, Delilah didn't know if she could. 

What did she get herself into?

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