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“Nothing much to tell,” I reply. I pull out the items from the shopping bag. It’s the usual things they have, full of healthy vegetables and things I know they’ll make into the best dishes I’ve ever tasted. I smile as I see the cuts of turkey. Turkey breasts mean Jennifer will be making jambalaya.

“Stay for dinner,” Jennifer suggests. I glance at her, and she has an affectionate smile for me.

“She’s entertaining her man-friend tonight,” Felix quips.

“I don’t blame you. Enjoy it while you’re young,” Cain teases.

Before I can argue, there’s a beep from my mobile. I slide it out of my pocket and smile when I see a message from Joseph.

Paladin: Hey, I know you’re with Felix and then coming to mine, but I’ve had something urgent come up. Do you mind me swinging by Felix’s house so I can get a Delilah kiss before I bail terribly on our night? Do you think you can stay with Felix tonight? I hate the idea of you going home when I’ve bailed.

I fire a message back to say it’s okay to meet me at Felix’s, and he replies with confirmation that he’s only five minutes away.

I shove my phone back into my pocket and put the shopping items in the fridge.

“Maybe I can stay for dinner tonight, if it wouldn’t be an inconvenience,” I say to Jennifer. I keep my gaze trained on the shopping items rather than looking at her.

“Of course! We’ll have dinner, and maybe we can all watch a film together. I’ll crack open the fancy ice cream,” she trills.

“Or we’ll have dinner, and then Delilah and I will talk in my room,” Felix grumbles.

“Now, now, we missed her too. I’m sure you can share her for a few hours,” Cain jokes.

“While you all argue about the plans, I’m just going to nip out for a moment. I’ll be back in a minute,” I promise.

I leave them joking and arguing in the kitchen as I walk out of their house and onto the driveway to wait for Joseph. It doesn’t take long for his car to turn onto the street. He pulls up at the side of Felix’s drive and gets out of the car, pulling me into his arms.

He kisses my forehead and then makes his way to my mouth. They’re perfectly indecent kisses to give me in the street outside my best friend’s house.

“I’m so sorry to cancel on you,” he murmurs between a couple more kisses on my forehead.

“Sounds serious. Where are you going?” I ask.

“Just something incredibly boring, and nothing for you to worry about. I’ll be back tomorrow, I promise. Are you sure you can stay with Felix tonight?”

“Yeah, I’m sure it’ll be fine. He won’t mind at all.” I smile. I know the minute we sit down to watch a film, or the second I say I’m not seeing Joseph tonight, Jennifer, Cain, and Felix will all be quick to offer for me to stay over.

“I’m so sorry for the flying visit. I need to get on the road, but I literally could not leave without seeing you,” he proclaims.

I chuckle. “Sounds like you can’t live without me.”

He pulls away from me and gives me a soft smile. He pushes some stray strands of hair from the side of my face.

“I really can’t,” he murmurs, tucking the hair behind my ears. “Much better, so I can see your beautiful face.” He gives me another kiss and then sighs softly. “I really have to go. Come to mine tomorrow after your shift?”

“I will.”

“You’ll definitely stay here?” he says, frowning slightly. I nod my confirmation, and he gives me another kiss, this one long and lingering, before he walks back to his car. He opens the door and pauses. “I love you, Delilah.”

“Love you too,” I reply.

He gets into the car and drives away, leaving me standing in the street. I let the smile on my face return to something normal, as I know if I go back inside with an ear-to-ear grin, they’ll tease me relentlessly. I turn around and blush when I see Felix.

“Couldn’t stay away?” he jokes as I walk towards him.

“He has to go do something, so I will see him tomorrow.”

“You staying tonight, then? Good old-fashioned sleepover in my room?”