She rubs my back softly. “I’m not letting you run. I’m going to be right beside you, no matter what, Lily.”
I pull her into a hug.
“I appreciate you, you know that, right?” I whisper, trying to smile.
“You’re the first friend I’ve ever had who was real, Lily. I’m here for you, always. Now let me make this damn coffee.”
I laugh, wiping my cheeks.
After years of being lost, I’m starting to find myself. Where I belong.
And that also includes Drago.
I can’t let him go.
And maybe I should give my mom a chance. Seeing as I’m channeling the spirit of forgiveness and not pushing people away, perhaps she deserves a shot, too.
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
Drago
“So… are we going to talk about what went down with you and Lily, or are we avoiding that topic?” Rowan says from the backseat.
I glance at his twin beside me and arch a brow. “We are not, Rowan.”
“Bella has been asking a lot of questions about you, Drago. We’ve done our detective work and are confident Lily is falling for you, and Bella is doing research on you to make sure you’re good enough for her best friend,” Rowan rambles.
I suck in a deep breath, fingers tightening on the steering wheel. I’m not good enough. I’ve proved that.
Still, my chest pulls painfully at the idea of Lily confiding in Bella about me. “It doesn’t matter now. It’s done,” I say, keeping my voice blunt.
“Nooo. Why?” Rowan whines.
“Reggie, please do something about this before I reverse into a tree and take him out.”
Reggie lets out a low chuckle. “Rowan. Shut it.”
“Wow. I’m sure that’ll do it,” I mutter, half joking.
“For what it’s worth, Drago,” Reggie says after a beat, more serious now, “and what you’ve told us before… Maybe it is a good idea not to get too involved. You’re her protection and her father’s. That sounds…” He trails off.
“Messy,” I finish for him.
“Is she worth it?” Reggie asks. “The fallout with Lev? And does she know how closely you’ve been watching her?”
Fuck.
“Yes, she’s worth it. No, she doesn’t know.”
My jaw locks. I’ve thought about this nonstop since we got back. How to tell her without sounding like a fucking creep.
“Could you lie to her for the rest of your life?”
“No,” I grit out. “No, I couldn’t. Is it selfish of me to love her?”
“Love?” Rowan gasps, scandalized.
“There is no other reasonable explanation,” I snap, the words tearing out of me, “other than love, that would explain why I’m so fucking obsessed with Lily. And why I’m willing to kill anyone who hurts her. Why I’m ready to ruin my friendship with her father for just a chance to make her mine.”
