“Because he is as big a player, if not more than you. So you won’t win. Listen, I have to check in with Delphia.”
Angie turned serious for a moment. “Is she at her house?”
“No, she’s upstairs. Why?” Angie wasn’t slow, and me and Delphia hadn’t had the time or space to talk about what we were. She was busy trying to stay alive, and I was busy trying to keep her safe.
“No reason. I figured she would be with you.” Her eyes covered the length of my body quickly as she gave me a quick smile.
She knows we’re more to each other. She can tell.
I smiled back. “Great. Send me the article when you finish it. I’m out.” I gave her a quick hug as I felt her eyes on me as I marched purposefully up the stairs.
Leaving Delphia alone for too long now would be a bad idea.
When I got up to the room we used as Church, she was on the phone.
Mia gave me a wave and headed down the stairs with her briefcase. Most likely, she had a court date as usual.
So I made myself quiet and sat down.
“I know, Mom. I know I can,” Delphia spoke into her cell as she gave me a nervous half smile. “I’m fine here. Yes. It’s okay, I’m going back to work.”
My head tipped up and I locked eyes with her as I slowly shook my head as in fuck no, you aren’t going back to work.
Delphia shook her head at me and went on, “I am. I can’t be scared. Mom, I have to go. I have a friend here. You can come by and see me if you want to. Bye. Bye, Mom.” Delphia put the phone down as her cheeks flushed rose.
“Parents worried?” I picked up her fingers, bringing them into mine.
“Yeah. They are.” Delphia looked down at the floor and stretched her leg back and forward along it.
“I don’t blame them for being scared for you. Let them come by my place. The more people looking out for you and the more people who know the better,” I suggested.
“I know that logically, but it’s just not hitting my brain right.”
“It wouldn’t be hitting mine right either. How do you feel about the article coming out?”
“I feel—” Delphia faced her head to the sky as she tried to hide the tears from me. They trickled down her face anyway. “I feel like I might not ever be free. I want to be, but it’s so hard. I can’t even grieve my brother because of all this stuff. I don’t know.”
The rough pads of my fingers rolled over the smoothness of her skin as I reached to wipe away the tears. I let her get it out of her system. I wanted to tell her about Murphy, but it would just feel like some pity party, and that’s the last thing I wanted.
After a few minutes, she stopped crying, and I took her hand in mine. “Feels like anything you and I have together is falling to the back burner with all this mess. I want to be with you, but I feel like it's the wrong timing.” My eyes gravitated to the window across the room, avoiding her gaze.
“Feels like it is.” Delphia let out a sigh. “Maybe when all of it’s over it might be okay.”
Her apprehensive response reignited the hesitation I felt about us getting together.
Rocky was causing problems in more than one way.