Page 31 of Rain or Shine
Philip, as Delaney called him, turns and tucks her into his side as he looks at me, eyes looking me up and down. “No problem here. Just having a conversation with my woman. Right, baby?”
I narrow my eyes at the way Philip calls Delaney ‘baby’ and how he’s holding her possessively. Something about this situation doesn’t sit right with me. My gut is telling me this is the guy who hurt her in the first place. Not that I know exactly what happened since no one had told me about it.
“Doesn’t look like she wants to be your woman,” I say, keeping my voice calm but firm. I’ve dealt with enough assholes in my life to know this type.
Delaney’s eyes widen slightly, and she tries to pull away from him. “Philip, please?—”
“I said there’s no problem,” Philip repeats, his grip tightening on her arm. “We were just leaving.”
I take another step forward. “She’s a teacher here. School’s starting in what, fifteen minutes? Doesn’t look like she’s going anywhere but into that building.” I point over my shoulder toward the doors without looking away.
Philip’s jaw tightens. “Who the fuck are you anyway?”
“The father of the children she’s carrying,” I reply without thinking. The words hang in the air between us, and I notice Delaney’s eyes widen in shock.
“Tyler,” she whispers, her voice strained, “please don’t.”
Philip’s face contorts with confusion. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
“You heard me, now get your hands off her.” I ignore the pleading look in Delaney’s eyes,my focus entirely on the man who’s touching her.
Philip looks between us, realization dawning on his face. “Is this true? You’re pregnant?”
When Delaney doesn’t answer, he releases her arm as if burned. “You fucking slut. That’s why you’ve been avoiding me? That’s why you refuse to be with me. You whored yourself out to this country hick, and got yourself knocked up.”
Before I can react, Philip’s hand flies up, and I see the slap coming. I move to intercept, but Delaney’s quicker, stepping back just in time. His palm whips through empty air, missing her face by inches.
“Get the fuck away from her,” I growl, positioning myself between them. I clench my hands into fists by my sides. Philip’s face twists with rage. “You think you can just come in here and?—”
“I think it’s best you get the hell out of here. Now.” I keep my voice low, controlled, though every muscle in my body is tense. I’ve seen this type before—the kind who thinks possession equals ownership.
Philip looks past me to Delaney. “This isn’t over. We’re not done. We’ll never be done.”
“We were never a thing, Philip. I’ve told you this. A handful of dates doesn’t equal a relationship,” she says. Her voice wavering, those small hands of hers grip the back of my tee. “Just leave me alone.”
Something shifts in Philip’s expression—a flash of something dangerous that makes me step forward.
“The lady told you to leave her alone. I suggest you stay away from her,” I warn him, holding his hatred-filled gaze.
Philip’s eyes narrow, calculating. I can see him weighing his options, measuring me against whatever he thinks he can get away with. I stand my ground, unflinching, letting him see that I’m not going anywhere.
“You don’t know who you’re dealing with,” he finally says, taking a step back.
“I know exactly who I’m dealing with,” I reply, keeping my voice steady. “The kind of man who puts his hands on a woman. You think it makes you big and bad to take your fist to her face? How about I take mine to yours?”
Philip’s face flushes with anger, but something in my stance must convince him he’s outmatched. “We’re not done here,” he says with one last venomous glance at Delaney before turning and stalking to a sleek BMW parked nearby.
Neither Delaney nor I move until his car pulls out of the parking lot, tires squealing as he speeds away.
“You shouldn’t have done that,” Delaney says quietly from behind me, her voice trembling.
I turn to face her, noticing how pale she looks, how her hands are shaking. “Why not?”
“Because now he knows I’m pregnant.”
“Are those his kids, and you were trying to use me?” I demand, anger boiling inside me.
“What?” She blinks.
