barbara

“They were trying to run, trying to hide. But the rock would not hide them; the dead tree gave no shelter.”
― Stephen King, Carrie

“Herondales." Zachariah's voice was a breath, half laughter, half pain. "I had almost forgotten. No other family does so much for love, or feels so much guilt for it. Don't carry the weight of the world on you, Jace. It's too heavy for even a Herondale to bear.”
― Cassandra Clare, City of Heavenly Fire

“Zach: Are you close with your brother? He’s partially to blame for the wrong number thing, isn’t he?

* * *

Me: Kind of. Yeah, we’re close. My mom worked at the hospital so it was usually just us two fending for ourselves.

* * *

Me: Okay, so I shouldn’t say fending for ourselves. That makes me sound like a dick and unappreciative of all my mom did. We just spent many nights just the two of us because my mom was a hardworking single lady and she wasn’t searching for a man to put a ring on it because she. Is. Fierce.

* * *

Zach: I bet your mom is the shit.

* * *

Me: She really is. You should meet her sometime.

* * *

Me: Oh, awkward…I’m talking about meeting the family and we’re not even officially a couple.

* * *

Zach: We’re not?

* * *

Me: We are?

My phone lights up with a call from Zach.

“Are you saying we aren’t dating?” he says before I can say anything.

“We are…”

“Are you saying you’re wanting to see other people?”

“No…”

“So then we’re a couple.”

I’m quiet, unsure what to say. I’m so scared to label this, which is stupid, I know.

“Delia?”

“Yes, Zach?”

“Do you not want to be?”

I take a deep breath and push out the answer I know is right, even though my head is saying otherwise. “No. I want to be a couple.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. I’m just…scared. I know I shouldn’t put that all on you, but you’re kind of the reason I’m scared. I like you, Zach—a lot—but what if this doesn’t work out? What if we jump in too soon?”

He sighs. “Remember when we were talking about our exes? About the lack of fireworks?”

“Yeah.”

“I swear to god, someone is going to swoop in and take my man card for this shit, but I felt them with you. When we first kissed, I knew right then you were worth jumping in with both feet and taking a risk.”

I don’t let myself overthink his words, wanting to keep my head level and clear.

“What if I’m not worth the risk?”

“We’ll never know if we don’t take it.”

“Say you’re a couple already, Dalilah!” Robbie’s voice comes loud through the speaker. “He paused the movie during an epic scene!”

“How many times have I told you that her name is Delia. Deal-ya. Get it?”

“You talk about me with Robbie?” I ask.

“Sometimes.”

“Say yes! He looks like someone kicked his goat!”

“Shut the fuck up, Robbie!”

I laugh. “If I say yes, will he stop shouting?”

“YES!” Robbie shouts again.

“I’ll take the risk, Zach, but you better be worth it.”

“You’ve seen my Harry Potter underwear—you know I’m worth it.” Then he whispers, “Wink.”
― Teagan Hunter, Let's Get Textual

“It had happened so naturally, this fall into Winn. Like I was out for a short drive, and when I looked back to where I’d started, instead of traveling yards, I’d gone miles.
Deeper and deeper, until there was no turning back.
I was in it with this woman.
So fucking in it.”
― Devney Perry, Indigo Ridge