She gives me a side hug and joins Wes, a few paces ahead, who is still talking to Rhys. They separate and go to their respective cars while I join Rhys at his Defender.
How didit go from kissing Lilly good morning and feeling on top of the world to being completely fucked up within five hours? Standing in the lunch line, I see Kat eyeing her—this is not good.
Wes leans in. "Kat is going to make your life hell, dude. Or more like Lilly’s. She suspects something but can’t put her finger on it."
I haven’t told him yet what Kat said to me this morning. He’s perceptive and definitely correct on that account. Kat has become a problem.
"I know."
As I holdLilly’s hand under the table, everything falls back into place. I spent the entire day looking over my shoulder, expecting my ex to stalk me.
Finally alone with her in the car, I exhale a long breath. As soon as the dome light turns off, I reach for Lilly’s hand and say, "I swear that nothing happened with Kat."
She angles her body toward me.
"I know." Her voice is soft, and her thumb gently strokes back and forth over our intertwined fingers. "I...I was just...I’m not good at this."
She sounds embarrassed, and I give her hand a squeeze. If she knew what a fucking mess I was, she wouldn’t feel that way.
In a low tone, she asks, "What did she want?"
I press my lips together briefly before speaking. "She kind of tried to change my mind."
Lilly turns her face forward, and I can see the hard lines around her eyes.
"Not because she loves me or wants to be with me; it’s all about her image. She had this whole thing about prom and whatnot planned out in her head, and I screwed that up for her." I’m not sure if I’m making the situation better or worse. I neglect the fact that Kat has some suspicion about Lilly having something to do with all of it. Logically, I should tell her, but I want to protect her so badly. I may not be able to hide her from her stalker again, but at least I can keep Kat’s craziness away from her.I hope.
Hesitantly, Lilly turns back. "What did you respond?"
"That I’m done pretending. We’re over." Without intending to, my tone is hard, almost angry.
"I bet she didn’t take that well," Lilly says cheekily. My confident girl is back, and I’m so relieved I could cry.
Yes, I’m man enough to admit that.
"She did not. She’s used to getting what she wants." My amused tone fades, and I add, "We need to be careful around her."
Lilly huffs out a breath and looks away from me.
"Cal?"
"Hmm-hmm?"
"You’re it for me." She has to get that.
Lilly’s face is illuminated red from Bones’ neon sign. She stares ahead for several heartbeats then shifts toward me, placing both hands on my cheeks. "I know. I do. It’s just a lot right now. Everything is so new, and I’m not used to this relationship stuff—to being jealous or insecure when it comes to a guy."
Her hands fall to the middle console, and I take them in mine. "Me, neither, babe."
The rest of the week,Lilly and I fall into a routine. First school, then practice, and because Dad is still out of town, Lilly spends the evenings with Mom and Natty. I’m glad she is making an effort, because even if Mom hid it well, she did notice the shift in her daughter.
Once Mom and Natty are in bed, I sneak across the hall, and for a few hours, it’s the two of us. We’re in our own world where we don’t have to pretend. That time is spent witha lotof making out. And fuck, she is good at it. I can’t get enough of this girl. Never in my wildest—extremely graphic—dreams did I imagine the feel of her lips on mine being this mind-blowing. On more than one occasion, I have to stop us from going further, which always ends with Lilly’s grumbled whimper of protest. Not that I want to put the brakes on. Hell, I think, at this point, I’m more acquainted with cold showers and my hand than any guy should ever be, but I need to do this right. I’ve waited too long for this—for her. Then, there is our double truckload of baggage we need to work through if we want this to work long-term.
Coach is at a conference,so I don’t have practice on Friday. Looking forward to a few hours alone with Lilly before Mom and Natty get home, I head to my car and come to a dead stop when I spot Kat leaning against it.
My steps slow until I’m right in front of her. "What do you want?"
She saunters toward me, hips swaying, and places one hand against my abdomen as if my icy tone was an invitation to grope me. "I just want to see if you have reconsidered yet?"