Chapter 49
Then she knew where she’d go. There was only one place she wanted to be. With Delaney.
* * * *
Tara pulled to a stop in front of Delaney’s house and turned off her car, but didn’t get out. Delaney’s Jeep was in the driveway, which was good; it meant she was home. But Tara didn’t know what she was going to say. Can I stay with you?was on the tip of her tongue, but if she was only in town for Amanda’s wedding, then why even bother hanging around any longer? Why not hit the road now and be done with it?
In that case, goodbyeseemed to be in order, but Tara wasn’t ready to put Delaney—or Wildwood—behind her just yet.
She was still sitting behind the wheel with the car idling, the air conditioner running to keep the summer heat at bay, when someone tapped on the driver’s side window. Powering down the window, she looked up to find Delaney grinning down at her.
“Hey, cutie,” Delaney said. “I thought we agreed to meet at A & LP;rsquo;s in like seven hours. Unless you rsquo;re hungry now?nrdquo;
Something in Tara broke at the kindness in Delaney’s words, the softness in her face. Sudden tears filled her eyes and the world blurred around her. With a sniffle, Tara sighed. “God, I—I mean, my aunt…” In a tiny voice, she whispered, “She kicked me out.”
“Bitch did what?” Delaney scrunched up her face, as if that were the craziest thing she’d heard in a long time. “What the hell for? There some kind of drunk quota you didn’t meet to stay there, or something?”
Tara forced a laugh. “Yeah, right? No, for…well, for going out with you.”
Once the words were spoken out loud, they sounded stupid. Tara tugged the key out of the ignition and pushed open the driver’s side door in anger, forcing Delaney to take a step back, hands up as if trying to calm her down. But Tara was pissed. She slammed the car door shut as hard as she could, then fought the urge to yank it open and slam it again.
“Hey, hey,” Delaney started. “It’s cool, really—”
“No, you know what?” Tara asked, letting her emotions boil over. “I’m too fucking old for this shit. I’m going to be with whoever I want to be with and I’m not going to let her or anyone else bully me around. I’m sick and tired of pretending. I’m here for me.”
Delaney nodded, her red curls bobbing. “Damn straight.”
But like a summer storm, Tara’s rage fizzled out as quickly as it had flared, leaving her drained and weary. Leaning back against her car, she covered her face with both hands and sighed. “I just—when’s this going to stop, you know? Tell me that. When’s it get better? I thought I was past all the…the name-calling, the finger-pointing, the homophobia. I mean, God. She actually said she didn’t want me sleeping in the same room with Amanda. My own cousin! What the hell? Like she’s even my type!”
It was meant as a joke, but it came out sounding sad and bitter, and Tara choked back tears when her voice broke. Did Marlene seriously think so badly of her? After all this time? Did it ever get better?
“Oh, honey.” Suddenly Delaney was there, her arms wrapped tightly around Tara’s shoulders as she pulled Tara into a comforting hug. Her lips were cool and damp on Tara’s forehead, soothing, her words murmurs against Tara’s skin.
Softly, Tara whispered, “I need to go.”
“No, no.” Delaney rubbed her hands down Tara’s back and held her close. “You’re in no shape to drive and, besides, we have a date tonight. You can’t stand me up.”
Tara snickered, then sniffled, wiping her nose with the back of her hand. “The whole reason I’m here is that stupid wedding, and now that I’m not welcome, I should go home.”
Taking Tara by the shoulders, Delaney held her out to look her in the eye. At first Tara didn’t want to meet her gaze, but Delaney was insistent, ducking her head and forcing Tara to look at her. When she did, Delaney asked, “What happened to ‘I’m here for me?’”
Tara shrugged and dropped her gaze. “It’s the last weekend of August,” she pointed out. “Where the hell am I going to find a place to stay in Wildwood on such short notice?”
Delaney turned her around and pulled her back into another hug. Tucking her chin onto Tara’s shoulder, she asked, “How about that place right there?”
Meaning her apartment, where Tara had stayed the night before.