We pulled up outside the Whitmore real estate agency right before 8 AM, driving slowly along the brown and orange fallen leaves packed into the gutter before I put the Cadillac into park and turned the engine off.
Lily paused, watching as I pulled the keys from the ignition.
“What?” I asked.
“You don’t have to come in. It’s just work.”
I shrugged, tugging the sleeves of my hoodie up my forearms. “It’s your first day back.”
She smiled as she gathered her bag from the back seat, bringing herself closer. “And I can walk in on my own.” She kissed my cheek.
Sue me for feeling a little protective of her. She was finding her feet again, and I wanted her to have a smooth landing when she did.
I rested my wrist on the steering wheel as I watched her and then looked past her shoulder at the office. Through the glass front doors, I could see her mother and the other busybody who worked in reception eyeing the car with scrutiny. Her mother’s gaze narrowed with spite when she recognized the loud car was mine.
Still not a fan. Noted.
“I’ll be fine, Dean,” Lily said, cupping my face in her hands to pull my attention to her. “See you at four o’clock?”
I let out a disgruntled hum in agreement as I read her face. There wasn’t a hint of sadness, worry, or fear in her eyes. Like something had clicked into place last night. Or her poker face was better than I thought.
Don’t be that guy; trust your girlfriend. And kiss her properly before she leaves—
Lily had already climbed out of the car with a little wave before I jumped out of my door. As I strode around the front of theCadillac, she watched me curiously from the sidewalk until she realized what I had in mind, and her face lit up with a smile.
“You thought you could get away that easily without a proper goodbye?”
She shook her head. “You’re ridiculous.”
“I’m in love.” I stopped in front of her, cupped her face, and kissed her.
Fuck what people thought about PDA. Fuck what her mom thought too.
Lily’s hands curled around my wrists and slid down my forearms as she tilted her head back, kissing me softly until she slowly stopped.
“I should get inside before I change my mind about starting work today,” she muttered, eyes lifting from my lips.
I raised an eyebrow.
She looked like she was considering it as she played with the drawstring of my hood, but then she blinked and stepped back. “Nope. No. Don’t give me that look.”
“What look?”
“You know exactly what look.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “Like you’re undressing me with your eyes.”
I folded my arms and leaned back on the Cadillac, tilting my head in coy curiosity. “Wasn’t aware I could do that… But now that you mention it.”
A blush crept to her face, and her lips threatened to curve up. “I’m committed to getting back into a routine, starting today, and I will see youafterwork.”
I nodded once, lazily dragging my eyes down in a way that made her fidget on the spot.
“Ohmy god, okay, bye.” She turned and headed for the office, shaking her head to herself before calling back over her shoulder with a smile. “Say hello to Sofia for me.”
Mom had texted on the drive over that she needed a lift to a vet appointment with her puppy, Bella, today for vaccinations. Truthfully, like any other time I had visited her, I wasn’t looking forward to it; to lying to her face and pretending our life hadn’t gone to shit because of my choices.
My thumb drummed faintly on the steering wheel as we drove to a vet in Bensonhurst. I tried to stay present, with Mom in the front seat and Bella on her lap, but my mind was preoccupied. Distant. Mom was talking, but I couldn’t concentrate on what she was saying.
How much time do I have before I’m arrested—before Mom has to figure out how she’ll do things on her own when I’m gone... Mark is using her situation to blackmail me, but what’s stopping him from telling immigration after I’ve been sent to prison—?
