TWO

DELILAH

The asshat smiles at me, a full blown panty melting, dazzling smile, and doesn't take his eyes off mine. "Hey There Delilah I've got so much left to say. If every simple song I wrote to you would take your breath away I'd write it all." 

He blinks and that is just the distraction that I need to snap out of his trance and escape this nightmare I'm currently living. I spot a path at the back of the crowd and high tail it out of there. Tessa follows close behind me. I can feel those hazel eyes burning a hole in my back as we head down the path to Tessa's beach house where the after party will be happening later tonight.

We enter the house through the back deck and I head straight to the bar that is currently set up in the kitchen. I pour myself a shot of 100 proof whiskey from a bottle tucked beneath the counter quickly tossing it into my mouth. Embrace the burn. Tessa laughs manically beside me.

"Okay, clearly, it was more than just sex to him." Tessa deadpans grabbing my arm and forcing me to look her in the eyes. "He was singing to you, Lilah, that song was for you."

"I don't know what you're insinuating. I told you everything that there is to know."

"Mmhmmm. Sure you did. Lilah, you should have seen his face when you started running away. He looked crushed. I'm surprised he didn't hop off of the stage and chase after you."

"Crushed? Hardly, I think you're being a teensy bit overdramatic. In an hour, two tops, he'll be fooling around with one of those groupies in your spare bedrooms. I'd bet money on it. Is it hot in here or is it just me?"

I wave my hand in front of my face like a fan, looking about frantically. I open up a nearby window, letting the cool night breeze seep in and taking a deep breath of the fresh ocean air. I'm definitely feeling that last shot. If I have to see him though, I don't want to remember it tomorrow, so maybe I'll have one more, just in case. I grab the bottle and forgo the shot glass this time, no time for that right now. He could be walking in here any minute.

Tessa sighs studying me, "You love him don't you?"

She eyes me knowingly and I scoff in denial. "What, no. No. Definitely not. That's ridiculous." I look everywhere, but her face. I'm such a terrible liar. I really need to work on that or he is going to see right through me. I hear the door open and close several times, and lots of voices entering the house.

"You can lie to yourself Lilah, but you can't lie to me." She exclaims. "Here let me fix you before he gets here." She grabs a napkin and quickly runs it beneath my eyes removing the rogue mascara there and smoothing my hair. Was I crying? Oh God, this is going to be a disaster.

She laughs and whispers, "Now that I think about it, you two were so obvious. I can't believe I didn't see it. Just try to keep it together for a few hours, okay?" I hop onto the counter quickly munching on a few chips and then grab one of the fruity drink concoctions she had pre-made, taking a sip. "I should just go home." I tell Tess desperate to leave, just as I hear heavy footsteps coming towards the kitchen.

The kitchen door swings open suddenly and I forget how to breathe. Tyler and Liam walk in, looking as tasty as ever. They have gotten taller and their boyish good looks have a manlier edge to them now. Toned muscles on their tanned arms along with a few tattoos peeking out from beneath both of their sleeves. I'll be honest, I want a closer look. Maybe a taste. Am I drooling? What the hell, I force myself to focus my eyes down at my hands instead of his defined muscles, studying my nails in an attempt to seem unaffected by his presence. I am loving this black nail polish I decided to use this morning.

"Hey Ladies," Tyler says smiling, pulling me out of my inward spiral. "It's been a long time." He reaches around Tessa pulling her into a hug and then wraps his arms around me. I hug him back and smile at him genuinely. Tyler always made time to chat with me while they were away. He was never too busy or too famous to text hello. Of course he isn't the guy I was sleeping with.

"Hey Ty. You didn't mention you were coming home when we talked last week." I squeeze his arm teasingly, "Where did all these muscles come from?" I glance up to see that Liam is still standing in the doorway. His hazel eyes burning holes in my face before eyeing Tyler's arm still wrapped around my shoulders.

I refocus my attention on Tyler, trying my best not to even look Liam's way. "You like these huh?" He smirks and flexes his pecs for me. "And I couldn't tell you, we wanted to surprise you guys! It was kind of last minute anyway, we decided to take a break from touring this year. You know, so we could graduate with our friends and all that jazz. So, surprise!" He does jazz hands dramatically and I laugh at his silliness. Same old Tyler.

"So, what are you gorgeous creatures up to? I didn't see you at the concert." He asks glancing between Tess and I. Time for me to put on a show. My mom had me in drama and modeling classes since I could walk. I shoot him a dazzling smile and hop off the counter. Mom didn't put me through years of drama classes for nothing.

"Well, we're just about to go dance. Right Tess? And we had to get ready for the party." I nudge her with my elbow and give her a pointed look.

She glances around at the boys, and laughs. "You know Lilah. She loves to dance when she's wasted." I scoff. She's such a traitor tonight.

"Already wasted?" Ty raises an eyebrow at me. "You always have been a lightweight."

Tessa laughs, "You have no idea."

"I am not wasted," I take a sip of the drink I'm nursing, "but I fully intend to be."

I smirk, pushing off from the counter and patting Tyler on the chest. "Catch you later boys." I take Tessa's hand and wave at them casually over my shoulder with the hand holding my fruity drink. I'm careful to avoid touching the tall brooding boy still standing by the door who has yet to utter a single word.

Crossing the hall we make it to the group of girls already dancing their hearts out on the makeshift dance floor. Tessa grabs my waist and I shake my hips with her to the beat. Twirling and laughing I almost forget the elephant in the room, until I feel his eyes on me again. I glance around casually to spot him, after laughing at a joke that Tessa made.

Feeling large hands on my hips that don't belong to Tess, I purse my lips wondering who they belong to. To see who is touching me I lean back into a broad chest and look up at him over my shoulder.

Familiar brown eyes peer down at me full of lust. I smile at him, feeling another set of eyes watching from the side of the room, glaring daggers at the hands now firmly gripping my hips.

"Hey Princess, want to go somewhere a little more private?" He drawls while tracing his fingers down my arms that are currently up holding on behind his head. 

"Jeremiah, it's never going to happen. We've talked about this. We're just friends." I say emphasizing the word friends while turning my body around to face him.

"We don't have to be. Let me show you a good time Delilah. You won't regret it." He deadpans.

I spot Liam across the room. There are several girls attempting to chat him up already. I'm surprised it took him this long. He replies to one of them, a bored expression on his handsome face and never taking his eyes off me. I quickly look back at Jeremiah and offer him a small smile. "I'm not that kinda girl, and I'm not wanting to date anyone right now. Remember? Besides, I value your friendship Jeremiah. I don't want things to be weird between us." I pat his shoulder. "I'll see you later. I need some air." I smile and walk towards the kitchen to grab another drink and a bottle of water. I then let Tess know that I'm headed out to our spot on the beach for a breather.

I feel those hazel eyes watching me as I slip out the back door and down the wooden steps. I need to think. The alcohol is making my mind blurry and seeing him in person is just too much for me. There's this tension in the air tonight that I just can't place. I've never felt like this around anyone else. I walk over to a spot on the shore line where we always used to hang out as kids. There is a jetty that juts out to the side where we used to snorkel and palm trees sway in the breeze behind me. I plop down on the sand and take my flip flops off, tossing them to the ground next to me. In the distance, I can already see his tall figure heading my way. Great. So much for clearing my head.

I turn back towards the ocean and focus on steadying my breathing before he gets here. I can do this. I just have to convince him that his presence doesn't affect me anymore. Then he'll leave me alone. Maybe we can even go back to being friends eventually. It should be easy right? 

He sits down beside me pulling his legs up in front of him and resting his arms on them. He hasn't spoken yet and the silence is deafening. Do I ignore him? Or should I say something first?

He clears his throat and I put on my most bored expression and turn in his direction tilting my head to the side to study him. "Hey Asshat. I almost didn't recognize you without your throngs of screaming fans. Why did you follow me? Is there something you need? You know following girls around in the dark is creepy right?"

I take a sip of my fruity concoction and scrunch my nose up at the bitterness. What did Tess put in here? I should've stuck with the coconut rum. He smirks and pulls a bottle out of his jacket pocket, offering it to me. I take it from him, careful not to touch his hands. Then take the top off before putting it to my lips and taking a small drink. I go to hand it back to him and he puts his hand around mine holding it in place. I freeze staring into those hazel eyes while sparks are dancing up my hand that he's still holding. He sets the bottle back in his jacket pocket and continues rubbing a small circle on my hand with his fingers. I quickly pull my hands away.

"I guess I deserve that." He chuckles. "I just-," he starts talking then glances away unable to finish his sentence. "Delilah," he sighs, running his hands through his hair and then looking back at me. "Dels." He looks pained. Nervous.

"Why are you here, Asshat? Just spit it out."

He takes his hand and uses it to caress my cheek studying my face as if he's memorizing it. "I just, I miss you Dels." I frown, clearing my throat while looking away and pulling his hands away from my face. "I know I messed up, okay. I just, I didn't..." he starts what I assume will be an explanation and I interrupt him. I'm not ready to forgive him and frankly he's always been a great bullshitter. 

Suddenly, I'm on my feet, furious, "Are you shitting me right now? You haven't even spoken to me in 15 months. You didn't even say bye to me when you left. Now, you think you can just waltz back in here singing some sappy love song and I'm supposed to do what? Swoon? Did you think I'd just instantly forgive you and climb back into your arms?"

He frowns looking down at the ground in front of him. "No. I mean, I hoped you'd give me another chance. I thought maybe you'd give us a chance." He pauses looking up at me, eyes full of regret. "Are you with that guy now? The one you were dancing with earlier."

I scoff. "That guy? You've known Jeremiah since kindergarten. Don't pretend you suddenly can't remember his name. You haven't been gone that long. And who I'm with now is none of your business." I shuffle my feet, hastily dusting off the sand from my pants, grabbing the bottle from his jacket pocket, before stomping down the beach. He quickly hops up, collects my flip flops and follows behind me.

"Dels wait. Please. Can we just go back to how things were before I left? I miss you. Please don't make me beg. You're my best friend. Please. Let's be friends again." He tugs on my arm twirling me around.

I scowl, laughing at him humourlessly. "Friends don't sleep with each other. They certainly don't sleep together and then vanish for over a year without a goodbye." He's out of his mind if he thinks I will let him back into my life so easily.

"Then let's start over okay. We can be friends again. We don't have to fool around. We can talk and hang out, just like we used to do before we started messing around." He waggles his eyebrows at me.  "Come on, you know you missed me too." He steps closer facing me and resting his hands on my hips, hazel eyes full of hope. He glances from my eyes to my lips and starts inching towards them. Holy Shit... He has lost his mind. He's trying to kiss me. This man is going to drive me insane.

"Are you kidding me? Being friends is never going to work." I say pulling his hands from my hips and pushing them back towards his sides. "It hasn't even been thirty seconds since you said you wanted to be friends and you're already trying to kiss me. Friends keep their hands and their lips to themselves."

He smirks confidently and nods towards Tessa's beach house. "Jeremiah wasn't keeping his hands to himself. Will he get a scolding too?"

"You've mentioned him twice now. If I didn't know better I'd think you were jealous of Jeremiah."

"Me, jealous? I can have any girl in that house that I want." He states confidently, folding his arms across his chest.

Two can play this game. Smiling, I step closer to him and put my hand on his bicep, squeezing gently. I lean in to whisper in his ear, "But you don't want any of those girls do you?" I nip the bottom of his ear with my teeth and run my hand down his arm before stepping back.

He closes his eyes and groans. "Delilah Jones, you will be the death of me woman." I laugh at him, rolling my eyes. "Do you want to go back to the party? I'll keep my hands to myself this time, I promise." He holds out his pinky for me to link mine through like we used to do when we were kids.

I link my pinky with his. "Okay, but only because I'm ready to go back anyway. And I'm going to hold you to that promise." We turn to walk back towards the party and I can't help but smile. 

 "You can hold me anytime you want." He says cockily and I laugh.

 "What did we just talk about, Liam?"

"Ooo so I'm Liam again?" He gently nudges me in the arm with his shoulder. "That's progress. Definitely better than Asshat. I'm moving right along." He smirks confidently.

We settle in the game room where Tessa and Tyler are already attempting to talk everyone left into a game of truth or dare. "Aren't we too old for truth or dare Tess?" I ask, with no intention of actually playing with them.

She ignores my question eyeing us as we walk into the room. "Where have you two been?" She questions looking between us suspiciously. "You're just in time for the game. Liam, you get to go first." Tessa demands leaving no room for him to refuse.

"So Liam. Truth or dare?" Tessa questions.

"Truth."

"Have you ever been in love?" She questions smirking. He narrows his eyes on her. "Pass."

Other girls playing the game groan in disapproval, obviously eager to hear any juicy details about his love life that they can.

Tess laughs, "You can't pass Liam. That's not how the game works."

He rolls his eyes dramatically. "Fine. Yes." He mumbles.

"With who?" She quickly asks.

"That wasn't part of your question, Tessa." He scolds her. 

 My heart hammers in my chest and I'm suddenly green with envy. I think back to the articles I've saved. I've never noticed him with any girls for longer than a day or two, did I miss something? The game continues on while I'm left wondering who this mystery girl could possibly be. Probably one of those models. Does he still love her? I'm brought out of the trance by Tessa calling my name.

"Lilah, Truth or Dare." Startled and not wanting to jinx getting caught by the human lie detector named Tessa, I choose Dare.

"Hmmm," she looks at me pretending to think really hard, placing her finger on her chin. "I dare you to kiss Liam." Clearly I've made a mistake.

My eyes go wide. "What? No. I'm not kissing Liam."

"You heard me girly. Kiss Liam, and it has to be for at least 30 seconds or it doesn't count. I'll time you." She states taking out her phone. I turn my head to Liam who is suddenly quite interested in the game.

"Fine." I shift onto my knees so that I can reach him better where he's sitting on the sofa. If I have to do this I'm determined to leave him wanting more. He's making no move to lean in closer, and I know what he's hoping for. So, I give him what he wants and straddle his lap, tilting his face up to look at me before slowly pressing my lips to his. Fireworks. I swear a siren could have gone off in the same room and I wouldn't have heard it. His hands are firmly holding onto my hips and mine have somehow moved from holding his cheeks to running through his soft brown hair. His tongue brushes my bottom lip gently asking for entrance and I let him in.

Things are starting to get pretty heated between us when I hear someone cough loudly behind me. I suddenly remember that there are other people in the room. I pull away and look around in a daze, my eyes focusing on Tyler who has a shit eating grin on his face. "We've been trying to get your attention for a few minutes. I thought I'd better stop you guys before clothes start flying off." I blush, pulling back from Liam who reluctantly removes his hands from me.

I quickly get to my feet and walk towards the door. "I'm done playing. I'm getting a drink." I murmur. I hear heavy footsteps following behind me and before I even make it down the hall Liam has me pushed up against the wall. His hands are on my hips, thumbs pressing into me, chest pushed up against mine, lips showering kisses down my neck then back up my jaw to my ear.

"Dels, just this once? We can go back to being friends tomorrow. Please. I need you now." He eyes the open door down the hall. I can feel just how badly he needs me pressed up against me.

I nod. "Just this once." He taps on my hips and I hop up wrapping my legs around his waist, his hands now firmly gripping my butt. I moan softly into his mouth as he carries me down the hall, shutting the door behind us.