“For what?”
“Just having my back.”
“I have your back and your front, sweetheart.”
That smile widens and this angel blinds me with her happiness.
“I heard that,” her father’s voice comes through the phone and we laugh.
“Dad, I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Okay, muff—I mean Delia.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“Hey, who is this guy?”
“Hello, Mr. Billingsley, Joel Yager.”
“The football player?”
I chuckle. “Yes, that’s the one.”
“You should have been picked up by a team.”
I stare into Delia’s eyes. “Sometimes our dreams change, sir.”
I won’t be giving up this dream. This one is going to happen.
“Treat her right.”
“I promise.”
“Dad, I’m going now.”
“Tomorrow, we talk.”
“Yes. Bye.”
He sends off and she makes sure the phone is dead.
We stare at each other.
“You were amazing,” I say pulling her close.
“I think I was.”
“Fuck yes you were.”
She rocks her head back, her hair falling like a golden waterfall behind her ears. “How did you do it?”
“Do what?”
“Snap me from that self-destructive storm I was tolerating in my life.”
“I just remember the person you were ten years ago and I knew she was still in there.”
“Thank you, Joel.”