Ruthless by Shelia M. Goss Page B

today. I promised myself that.”
    â€œWell, I can just call Keisha and have her take me home, since I’m such a bother.” Delilah reached for her purse to look for her cell phone.
    Sheba picked up the cell phone on the counter and waved it around in the air. “Is this what you’re looking for?”
    â€œYes. Now, if you’ll pass it to me, I’ll be out of your hair shortly.”
    Sheba disobeyed. “Look. I’m sorry. I’m missing Uriah. You’re quite demanding, and my nerves are just shot, okay?”
    â€œWell, don’t take it out on me. I’m just an innocent victim of your wrath.”
    Sheba raised her eyebrows. “Innocent, you are not.”
    â€œOkay, I admit, I can be a little demanding.” Delilah held her fingers inches away from each other.
    â€œYou can lie to me, but you can’t lie to God,” Sheba said as she handed Delilah her phone and then took a seat on the couch, next to her.
    â€œLord, forgive me for lying. I know my little sister is doing all she can to make me comfortable.”
    â€œThanks. Sometimes all a person needs is to feel appreciated.” Sheba thought about the scant attention she felt her husband was giving her. He had missed their last two chat sessions due to work.
    â€œHow long is your husband supposed to be gone?” Delilah asked.
    â€œFive more months. I don’t know if I can take this. We’ve never been apart more than a few days.”
    â€œWhat are you going to do when you get that itch?” Delilah asked.
    â€œItch? If I’m itching, I better be taking my behind to the doctor.”
    Delilah laughed. “No, silly. I’m talking about the urge. The urge to do what grown folks do.”
    â€œPray. Read my Bible. Bug you. Something to get my mind off it.”
    â€œDavid seems to be interested in you. It wouldn’t hurt to see what he’s about. Maybe Uriah’s not here because you’re supposed to be with another man,” Delilah said without blinking.
    â€œThe only reason why David is interested in me is because I’m off-limits. If I was single, he wouldn’t look at me twice. I don’t have time to be a pawn in a rich man’s games. Besides, I love my husband too much.”
    Delilah pouted. “Well, who said anything about you falling in love with him? I’m talking about getting your groove on. I’m sure with a body like his, he can work it.”
    Sheba laughed. “If you’re that interested in David, maybe you should make a move on him yourself.”
    Delilah looked away. “He’s not my type. Only one of us can be the center of attention, and he’s too arrogant for me.”
    Sheba swung around to face Delilah. She placed one of her legs under the other. “I said I wasn’t going to say anything, but since you’re all up in my business, I’m curious. Is it true you had an affair with that preacher and that’s why you were shot?”
    â€œLi’l sis, don’t believe everything you hear. I know none of those Holy Rollers would risk spending the rest of their lives in jail for shooting me.”
    â€œBut that’s not the question I asked you.”
    â€œWould you look at me differently if I told you that yes, I did?” Delilah bit her bottom lip. “Samson Judges tried to convince the church that it was my fault that he and I had an affair. I didn’t make Samson do anything. He slept with me because he wanted to. I made a mistake. I was foolish enough to think he cared for me. I thought he loved me. He led me to believe that he did, anyway.”
    â€œSomething tells me you’re not as innocent as you would like for me to believe, but if that’s the story you want to go with, then so be it.” Sheba tilted her head to the side.
    Delilah batted her eyes. “Surely, you’re not calling me a liar.”
    â€œWell, if the shoe fits.”
    â€œNone of my