“Fuck, I’m sorry, Lily.”I fist my hand and thump it against my forehead.“That was stupid to say.”
“It’s okay.”She lets out a weary sigh.“You’re being honest.It’s okay that you felt, or feel, confused.This is a lot to take in.”
I stare hard, because even though I am sorry, she needs to know what she meant to me.“Stupid, not blind.I still want what I want.”
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I slide it out to see who it is.“Shit.”It’s from Dean wondering where I am.I didn’t realize it had gotten so late.“I have to go get ready for the show tonight.”I explain, looking over at her, not ready to leave her yet.
“Where is it?”She stands, smoothing down her shirt as she does.
“The Sphere.”I state.“It’s a pretty big show for us.We’re playing tonight and tomorrow.”
“Yeah,” she nods.“That’s an amazing venue to play in.”
“Do you want to go?”I toss out, trying not to cringe at the desperation in my voice.
“Oh, well.”She pauses, looking down at her phone for a minute.“I can’t.I didn’t realize how long we’d been talking, and I actually need to be somewhere.”
“How about tomorrow?”I press, wanting to try and figure out if there’s a way to recapture what we had two years ago.“Can I see you again?”
“Yes.”She agrees more quickly than I expected.“I have tomorrow off.Do you think you could come to me?”
“Yeah, of course.”I don’t hesitate at the opportunity to spend more time with her.“Shoot me an address.”I point to her phone.“You have my number now.”
“Okay.”She glances at her phone again.“Is ten too early?”
“Lily, I’ll come any damn time that works for you.I just want to spend more of it with you.”
I want so badly to grab her face in my hands and kiss her.Taste her.Feel every inch of her.Now that she’s in front of me, it’s like she was never gone.Her not knowing who I am though is surreal.I know I have to take a damn minute and let her catch up.
“Be careful what you wish for.”She warns, as she starts walking toward the door.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”Not sure how to react to the comment.
“A lot has changed since those two days we spent together.”Her hand is on the knob, her body turning toward mine, her expression somber.
“I just-” She pauses, takes a deep breath.“Let’s just talk about it tomorrow, okay?We’ve already covered so much today.”
“Tomorrow.”I confirm with a nod, then follow her out of the room.
Chapter 18
Lily
Change
YUNGBLUD
I pace nervously backand forth in my kitchen.It’s a quarter to ten, and I have no doubt that Luc will be here right on time, if not early.It was quite clear he wanted to spend more time with me.
I googled him last night.I knew I probably shouldn’t.I didn’t want it to influence my own organic opinion of him.But after wondering about who the man in the photo was for so long, I had to know more about him.
The things I read weren’t pretty; bad boy, reckless behavior, hard drinking and drug use.Endless pictures of him, always with his arm slung over a different woman’s shoulder or with his band.Everything I read seemed in such contrast to the man I met yesterday.
I close my eyes, my head falling back on my shoulders as I say a silent prayer.What happens today is really going to change everything.I heave out a breath, open my eyes, and then almost shriek when there’s a knock on the door.Yep, he’s early.I knew he would be.
Here goes nothing.I inhale another breath for courage and stride over to the door, pulling it open.He’s stunning.It’s the first thing that enters my brain when my eyes land on him.
He’s dressed simply, in faded blue jeans, a white t-shirt and a pair of sneakers.No hat on this time, his sunglasses pushed up on his head instead.His hair is messy, but it’s in that way a guy that looks like him can get away with and have it look perfect.
