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He smiled. “I want to. I-I feel lighter.”
Shrugging into her jacket, Delilah pulled her hair from the collar and suggested, “Awesome. We should have celebration sex and you can see how you feel tomorrow. Excelling at shit makes me horny and I owned that bar exam.”
Despite the heavy conversation they’d shared for hours, Leo laughed. It felt real.
“My place or yours?” he asked.
“Hmm. Mine. You don’t seem like the messy type and you’ve been moping a long time in yours, I bet. New digs, new vibe, new outlook on life. How’s that sound?”
Honestly, he replied, “Pretty amazing actually.”
Six weeks later, Leo helped Delilah move back to Indianapolis. When they had her settled, she went with him to visit his parents.
To say his mom and dad were shocked and confused by the introduction to Amelia’s lookalike was an understatement.
As was her way, Delilah diffused the awkwardness. “I know all about Amelia and that we could be sisters. It’s how Leo and I met. It’s all good.”
Leo’s father rubbed the back of his neck. “I was very worried about you for a moment, Leo.”
She stayed in his childhood home for a week and slept in the room Amelia had occupied after she was released from the hospital.
When it was time to drive her back to her place, Leo struggled with feelings he didn’t understand. He handed her from the car and she held his face in her palms.
“This is the end of the line for us, Leo.” He frowned and she leaned up to kiss him. “We talked. We fucked. You helped me move.” With a shrug, she added, “It’s been the best and most functional relationship of my life.”
“Then, why…”
“You know why,” she answered softly. “I stayed in that room and could feel her there. I found a notebook in the bedside table and, after reading it against my better judgment, I can say with all honesty that I genuinely hope the two of you find your way back to each other.”
“Delilah…”
“Leo, I’ve never known a situation like yours. Not outside a book or movie. Before I met you, I thought soulmates and destined love were total bullshit. Seriously. You’ve thawed my cynical heart. She’s a part of you, your family, your life. There are things you say and do that I now know are based on your experiences with her. She helped you grow into the man you are and it would suck for me to benefit from all the time and love she invested in you.”
Swallowing, Leo said, “She doesn’t want me.”
She stroked her thumbs over his jaw. “Silly man. Of course she does. She just doesn’t think she deserves you anymore. Women throughout history have been defined by their ability to carry children. Those of us who don’t want kids or can’t have them are subtly and not so subtly ostracized from those considered real women.”
“I don’t...understand. I told her it didn’t matter.”
“Leo. Amelia was eighteen, recovering from a traumatic experience, and dealing with a lot of new input. She was in pain. Thinking emotionally, not logically.” Rising to her tip-toes, she kissed him. “Live your life but I don’t believe the door to her is truly closed. I know that if we go much longer, I’m going to become a surrogate that you cling to and I’m way too sassy, selfish, and independent for that.”
“Can we still talk?”
With a wink, she nodded. “You’re still a client after all.” She dropped one more kiss on his lips and said, “You’re one classy motherfucker, Leo. See you around.”
Then Delilah walked around him and inside her building. He stood staring at the sidewalk for a long time.
Baylor held the rear door wide. “She broke it down perfectly. I’ve been wondering when someone was going to point out the obvious. It’s freezing out here. Get in the damn car.”
Shaken to his core, Leo did.
He returned to Massachusetts, packed up his life there, and went home to Illinois.
Taking the bar again was a bitch...but he aced it.
