I stumbled backward and fell onto my backside, the last of the laughter still squeezing out of me. Rose attempted to pull me up but failed miserably and ended up beside me on the hot concrete.
Footsteps sounded behind us. I turned around as Claire whacked me across the head. “I heard all of that, you idiots.”
“When did this group become so violent?” I asked, rubbing my scalp, though it didn’t hurt.
“You’re Claire’s emergency contact, too, because I’m terrible with my phone when I’m at the hospital,” Dean said, stretching out a hand to pull me up.
“Shaun’s mine, but now I think I should change it to Lincoln.” William lifted Rose to her feet and pulled her against his chest.
“Even though you don’t talk much”—Claire nudged me—“we’re listening when you do.”
I looked down at my feet and mumbled, “I’m sorry for not noticing.”
The adrenaline seeped out of me, clearing my mind and leaving me shuddering.
“Not entirely your fault. I’ve been neglecting you a little,” Claire said. “Dean and Hannah have been preoccupying me.”
“As they should,” I said, and smiled. I never wanted Claire to feel guilty about being happy. “You don’t have to worry about me.”
Claire came closer and whispered, “I do worry… a lot. But I’m a worrier. One thing I’m not worried about is whether you’ll find someone. Maybe Lily is the one. URL to IRL is a less popular romance trope, but it’s a pretty good one.”
Maybe Lily is the one.
I’d had that thought multiple times over the last few years.
“I’m scared,” I breathed, my stomach sinking at the admission.
“It’s okay to be. If it’s not her, it’ll be someone else. You’ll find your person, Lincoln. Someone who understands you. Who sees you.”
Despite the secrets and evasiveness, I knew that, on some level, Lily saw me. She always knew what I needed.
Unprovoked, my mind jumped to the divider in my office, to the subtle changes Elizabeth had made to increase my comfort. A strange guilt crept in but was quickly overpowered by a new and different feeling… one that recurred with every thought of Elizabeth. Which was happening more and more.
And there was nothing I could do to stop it.
18
ELIZABETH
[77 weeks ago]
@pancakesareelite:
Sometimes I don’t think I’m smart enough to be an engineer
@theanswerisno:
Nonsense
@pancakesareelite:
I mean it.
@theanswerisno:
I mean it when I say NONSENSE
@theanswerisno:
