I'm hanging out by the pool with Daniel – his idea, not mine, something about needing to get some sun. The guy is in theatre, so he's in between auditions with nothing to do during the day, and Delaney's working today. Since I'm still lying low for the next couple weeks, that means I'm at the gym and riding the bike, just not publicly. And today, it means I'm hanging out at the pool with Daniel, who's pretty cool.
We're sitting in loungers in the sun and Daniel is telling me about Delaney and what she was like in college. "Totally type A," he says.
"Any boyfriends I need to have murdered?"
"Ooh, possessive," Daniel says. "I like it. But mum's the word on boyfriends. I'm afraid I don't kiss and tell and neither does Delaney."
"So you're saying there's someone I'm going to have to kill, then," I say, and I'm about to continue when I hear Anja's voice as she comes down the walk. "Goddamn it."
Daniel peers over the edge of his sunglasses. "Is that Delaney's wicked stepmother?"
I groan. "It's my mother," I say. As usual, she's dressed in something ridiculous – this time it's some kind of purple sheath dress with weirdly shaped cutouts that expose her body, something no son wants to see. And shoes with silver spikes along the heels. Behind her trails the biggest douchebag-looking guy I've ever seen, his dark hair gelled back and an orange spray tan. He's wearing a half-sheer t-shirt and a pair of stretch pants that look like they could very well be Delaney's.
I walk out the gate to meet the wicked witch and her evil minion. "Morning, mother," I say. "Showing up here in true classy form, I see."
"I came to get my things, while your father is at work," she sniffs.
"I'll tell the housekeeping staff to watch the silverware," I say.
"I can see your attitude hasn't improved any."
"It's improved plenty," I say. "But with you here, it's quickly souring."
"So you haven't come to your senses, then," she says. "You're still persisting with this disgusting relationship."
Anger surges through me, and I struggle to maintain my composure, only because my mother would love more than anything to elicit a reaction from me. That would be exactly what she wants, and I'm not inclined to give her anything she wants. "It's ironic that you find mine and Delaney's relationship disgusting when you're obviously with this little troll here."
Anja's eyes narrow as she looks at me. "You leave her now, or you're out of my will."
"Is there anything left?" I ask. "I'd always just assumed you spent it all on vodka and cigarettes."
"You smoke?" Orange guy, formerly silent, speaks, looking at her in shock.
"No," she says, her voice terse.
"Oh, she does a lot of things I'm sure you're not aware of," I say. "Yoga is only the newest fad. Mother, I'd appreciate it if you would write me out of the will. That way I can trust that I'll never have one of these little visits from you again."
"You've always been an ungrateful little shit," she says. "You're nothing without me. I raised you."
"Yes," I say. "Despite your best efforts to the contrary, you raised a son who through some twist of fate was able to land a girl like Delaney. And I don't mind telling you to just go fuck yourself."
"You don't talk to me that way," she says, but I turn to head back to the pool.
"I'm calling up to the housekeeping staff now," I say. "I'm sure it would be best if one of the security guards escorted you while you pack up your things."
She unleashes a barrage of curses at me, but I'm not listening as I return to the lounge chair beside Daniel.
"Well, that was dramatic," he says.
I settle back against the chair and close my eyes. "I'm Gaige O'Neal," I say. "Would you really fucking expect anything less?"
Later, I sit in the oversized chair in the guesthouse living room. Delaney sits on my lap, snuggled up with her face buried in my neck. A year ago, if you'd have told me that I'd be happily cuddling with a girl, much less Delaney Marlowe, I'd have told you to go fuck yourself. Yet, here we are. And it feels good.
"Daniel said he conned you into laying out by the pool with him today," she says. "He was totally scoping you out."
"Well, I'm a hot piece of ass," I tell her. "Make sure you don't forget it."
Delaney giggles. "I'll try not to," she says. "So Anja showed up, huh?"
"With the yoga instructor she's seeing, Paul or something," he says. "Your poor father."
She's silent for a minute. "I think he might be more relieved than anything, honestly."
I pull her away from me and look at her carefully. "You think there's actually hope for us, then?"
"Like, happily ever after and all that?" she asks. "I don't know if it'll work, Gaige."
"Well, shit, at least no one can say you're not honest." I bristle at her words.
"No," she says. "Let me finish. I don't know what the future holds or anything like that. I don't know if it'll work. But I know that when you find someone that makes you think about the future that way, you have to jump with both feet, and give it a shot."
"You're such a fucking romantic," I say.
Delaney slaps me. "It's not going to be all rainbows and sunshine, you know," she says.
"God, I fucking hope not," I tell her.