I dialed Jaces number. I needed Bethys help.
"Hey. "
"Bethy with you?" I asked as I began cleaning up the kitchen.
"Yeah, why?"
"I need her help. Give her the phone. "
"Okaaay," he said. I heard him telling her it was me and that I needed her help.
"Hey, whats up?"
"Della is on her way back to me. I need rose petals. Where do I get a bunch of rose petals this late?"
Bethy squealed. "Shes coming back! Thats wonderful. Im so happy for you!"
"Focus. I need rose petals," I told her as I put the last dish in the dishwasher and turned it on.
"I will get you rose petals. Dont worry about it. Ill be by in about an hour. "
"Thanks," I told her before hanging up. I glanced over at the wall where the picture Id smashed once hung.
I quickly dialed the next number on my list.
"Hey, Rob. I know its late but the picture I brought you to frame---I need it. Now. "
"Its not ready and I close in the next hour. "
"A thousand dollars if you can get it to my place in two hours. "
"Shit. Okay, yeah. Ill make it happen. "
"Thanks. "
Hanging up, I walked to the bedroom and started stripping the sheets. I hadnt changed them because they smelled like Della. My girl needed clean sheets. Once I had my room cleaned I dialed one more number.
"Boss?"
"Jimmy, I need your help. Close the dining room early. Tell everyone that theres a private member meeting or some shit. Just close it. I need the kitchen staffs help. "
Page 32
Della
"You didnt have to rent a car. I was fine with the bike," I told Tripp again when we pulled out of the car rental parking lot.
"Yeah, I did. Trust me," he replied with a smirk.
I was tired of arguing with him about it. He had been determined to rent the car and now it was too late to change his mind. I leaned back in the seat and stared out the window. I would be in Rosemary in five hours. I wasnt sure if I would go to Woodss house or if I would go to a hotel. Maybe I could call Bethy. There was always Tripps condo. I could ask him for one last favor. Id asked him for so many already.
"Are we going straight to Woodss place?" Tripp asked.
"Um . . . I dont know. Maybe I shouldnt blindside him. I could just go see him tomorrow while hes in his office. That way I wont have to just show up at his house in case . . . " I couldnt bring myself to say in case hes with someone else.
"What? You getting cold feet now? Cant do that. You want to get your man, then go get him. "
"Im not sure if thats the way I should do it. "
Tripp shifted in his seat and cleared his throat. "Okay. Picture this: Woods is at his house with another woman. One he cant love like he loves you. You havent been gone long enough for that. Shes gonna get to sleep in his bed, where you belong, tonight. Unless you march up to his door and take back your man. "
The idea of this faceless woman sleeping in Woodss bed and touching him made me physically ill. No. He was mine. She couldnt touch him. He was mine first.
"Youre getting fired up, arent you? Ready to take back what belongs to you? I think its about damn time. Shame to let him sleep with her another night when he would rather be with you. Shes just filler. "
He was right. Woods wasnt in love with her. He had been in love with me. I could make him love me again. I could show him I wasnt weak. I was worthy of his love. I was going to fight for it. I would get him back---no one was sleeping over there tonight except for me. She was leaving. Id make her leave.
"Take me to Woods," I told him.
Tripp let out a whoop and patted my leg. "Attagirl. You got this," he said.
I sure hoped I did. If not, I mightve been on my way to making a complete fool out of myself.
When we were ten minutes away, I started having second thoughts.
"Maybe I should just go to your place tonight. "
Tripp let out a short laugh. "Uh, yeah, no. Woods is already going to want to hurt me when he gets ahold of me. Im not about to bring you back to Rosemary and take you to my place. "
"But if hes with another girl . . . "
"Della, do I have to give you another pep talk? Because I will. You can do this. You came back here. You wanted Woods enough to come back and face this. Its time to face it, baby. "
He was right. I knew he was, but I was scared of what seeing Woods with someone else would do to me. Id come so far this week. I didnt want to turn into a whimpering lunatic in front of him. I wanted him to see the new and improved Della. Not the girl he had gotten rid of.
"Hes gonna want to see you. I know you dont believe that but he will. Im a guy. I know these things. "
"He may want to see me, just not when he has another . . . " I couldnt say it.
"Remember, you arent gonna let her have him tonight. Youre back. "
I nodded. Right. I was going to take back what was mine. Even if it wasnt mine anymore, I was gonna fight like hell.
"Okay. Hurry before I change my mind again. "
"Two more minutes," Tripp said with a smile.
Those two minutes felt like hours. When Tripp finally pulled into Woodss driveway I almost wept with relief to see that his truck and my car were the only two vehicles there. That didnt mean he was alone, though. He could have brought someone there. The "she" in my mind still existed.
Tripp squeezed my hand. "Go get him," he said.
I couldnt talk. I was too nervous. I just nodded and opened the car door and stepped out. I hadnt even asked Tripp if he was staying and waiting on me or if he was going back to Macon to get his motorcycle. I couldnt think about that now.
I closed the door behind me and moved toward the stairs.
Then he drove away. I turned back to see Tripp pulling back onto the street. He stuck his hand out of the window and waved good-bye before speeding off. Hed just left me there.
I looked back to the front door and took a deep b
reath. Woods was in there. I was going to plead with him for a second chance if I had to. I was going to make sure I was the woman in his bed tonight.
The lights in the house were off. All I could see was a dim light in the bedroom. It almost looked like candlelight. Please, God, dont let it be candlelight. I gripped the railing as I walked up the stairs to the front door. He was never in bed this early. Maybe he isnt here. Maybe hes with Jace.
I reached the top step and stood there staring at his bedroom window. I was pretty sure that it was candlelight I was seeing there. It was flickering light. This was a bad idea.
No.
It wasnt.
He was mine, and Id be damned if I was going to let some other woman have him. I would shove the candlelight up her ass.
I closed the distance between me and the door and knocked several times, then stood back and waited. If it took a while, that meant he had to get his clothes on.
The door swung open and there he stood. He had on a pair of khaki shorts and a white button-up shirt. The sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. I loved it when he wore white. His dark skin was startling in white. I sucked in a deep, fast breath at the sight of him.
He didnt move. We just stood there, staring at each other. It had been almost three weeks since Id left. It felt like forever since Id seen his face.
"Hi," I managed to croak out.
"Hi," he replied, still standing in the doorway, looking like a beautiful fallen angel. Who had he gotten dressed up for? My nose caught a scent from inside and I stiffened. Someone was cooking. In the dark?
"Can I come in?" I asked.
He stepped back so I could enter the house. I didnt see her yet. But I smelled the food. Maybe she isnt here yet.
"Are you expecting someone?" I asked without looking back at him.
"Yes," he replied. His voice was low. He didnt want to tell me that. At least he was honest.
"Oh, Ill---" I stopped myself. I almost told him Id be quick. I almost apologized. I wasnt going to do that. I was here to fight for him. Not lie down and let her have him.
"You should probably call her and tell her that your plans have changed," I said, turning around and facing him.
Something flashed in his eyes but the stupid lights were off and I couldnt see him well enough.
"Whys that, Della?" he asked as he took a step toward me.
I stood my ground. He was hurt. I had hurt him but I was back. Dammit. I was back. "Because if she steps foot in this house I will have to kick her ass. " I snapped my mouth shut. I couldnt believe Id said that.