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Are you serious? That was the best part. You standing up to her and putting her in her place was amazing, Del. Is that why you left like you did?
Delia:
I thought you were mad at me. I needed to get away. It was safer to leave.
Marcus:
Can I tell you something? Warning you before I do that it’s probably inappropriate?
What could he have to say? And do I want to know? I stare at the phone for a long time before I reply. He’s probably wondering what happened.
Delia:
What’s that?
Marcus:
Watching you stand up for me was hands down the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen in my life. And you’re sexy on a normal day, Del, so that’s saying something. And I don’t know that I could ever be mad at you. I’m not that guy.
Is he for real? He thinks I’m sexy? Why is he lying?
Marcus:
And before you convince yourself that I’m lying to you, know that I don’t lie. I don’t care what you’ve been told in the past. What lies that bastard who hurt you spewed. You. Are. Sexy. And when you’re ready, I’ll be first in line to prove it to you.
Well, fuck. Is he hitting on me? Is this flirting? Is it a game for him?
Marcus:
I can almost hear your thoughts, Del. You are a strong, sexy woman. And when you showed that assertive, take no shit side, it turned me on like nothing else.
Delia:
I don’t really know what to say to all of that.
Marcus:
You don’t have to say anything. I wanted you to know, that’s all. I’ll check on you tomorrow. If that’s alright with you?
Delia:
Of course it is. Good night, Marcus.
Marcus:
Good night, Beautiful.
I put the phone down, shaking my head at what just happened. Marcus thinks I’m sexy? And strong? In what world is a tired, emotionally unstable, formerly abused woman sexy or strong? Add to all that three boys with attitudes, and I’m not a catch. Hell, I don’t think I’m anything special, just a woman trying to survive. And he knows there’s a threat looming over my head from my ex. Why would he want to get involved with that? Is he nuts? Is that what’s wrong with him? His ex played with his mind and it’s now warped? That has to be it.
But as I turn out the light and get under the covers, I can’t help but think about the what ifs. What if I had met a man like Marcus first? What if I never knew what it was like to feel someone raise their hand at me in hatred and anger? What if I had gotten out before it felt impossible? That thought stops me. No matter how horrible my life might have been, I wouldn’t trade a new past to not have my boys. They are the best part of me, and I regret nothing about having them. Only that they witnessed the worst of humanity in their father.
“No more thinking about that asshole, Delia Marie. He’s the past. He’s gone. You have a future. He didn’t steal that from you.”
With that mantra, I close my eyes and dream about a tall, handsome man with dark piercing eyes and hair I want to run my fingers through. A man who would never hit me and who tells me it turns him on when I’m a little bitchy. It’s a good dream.
CHAPTER FOUR
MARCUS
