Her confused voice isn’t doing anything for my lie. The ten feet between us isn’t either, or the fact she’s not moving. She stays put even when I motion for her to come closer.
Faking a laugh, I wave my hand at Locke. “She’s shy. One sec.”
With long strides, I stand between any view Locke would have of Lily. She’s shorter than me, probably no more than five foot five, and it’s the closest I’ve been to her since leaning over her books together in undergrad.
My breath catches. I haven’t forgotten what she looks like in this proximity; the freckles on her cheeks placed so flawlessly they seem purposeful and planned, lashes long around her eyes.
“What are you talking about?”
Her dry voice cuts me out of my daze. She tiptoes to catch a glimpse over my shoulder, and I snap back to the problem I’m dealing with.
“Please.” My hands hover over her frame. “Do me the biggest favor and play along.”
Lily’s face scrunches, as if she’s annoyed. I’ve never seen this expression from her. “Why would I?”
I reel back in shock. A pain hits the inside of my chest. It’s not that she has to agree. I’m just surprised she doesn’t.
It’s been a while since we talked outside of latte orders and café loyalty points. But the time we spent on our comms project felt like more than just two students completing an assignment. I know it was more. The fact that I walked into this café last semester, saw her standing at the espresso machine, and told myself it had to be fate, is proof.
I couldn’t bring myself to bother her during her shifts when she seems so stressed. I figured that, eventually, we’d be able to reconnect. And maybe I’d get the nerve to ask her out this time around.
I never would’ve guessed our conversation would be caused by Locke, or that when it happened, she’d look more disgusted with me than sentimental.
“Did I,” I say while Lily tries to glance behind me. I can’t bring myself to care about my half-brother right now. Something’s wrong here—with Lily, and it’s more important. “Do something wrong?”
Her brown hair shifts to the side when her head tilts. A smile finally makes its way onto her face, and for a second I feel relief that maybe I misread the situation.
But the grin morphs into something more sarcastic and inauthentic. My stomach drops.
“Are you serious?”
“I-”
“I’m leaving.” Lily sidesteps towards the door, and I instinctively place my hands on her shoulders. I let her go just as quickly but the warmth of her skin lingers on mine.
“Please.” What am I asking for? A cover-up with Locke, or a chance to figure out why she seems so annoyed with me? “Five minutes. I’ll do anything.”
Her hazel eyes bounce around, at her feet, back at her coworker who she must’ve swapped with, to my table at the window. The crease in her brows start to smooth out. “Anything?”
“Yes. Anything.”
She crosses her arms and looks around again. During the long seconds before she speaks, I stare at the crease in her lips.
“Fine. But remember, you said anything.”
“I know.” The spot she chewed on is a darker red than her lip stain.
There’s a pause.
“You don’t.”
Before I can process what she could be implying, she successfully sidesteps me. I straighten my bearings, turn around, and catch up to her just as she flashes a smile at Locke. It’s a vision I hope I never have to see again.
“Hi, I’m Liliana. His project partner.”
six
LILIANA
