If anything, it was the opposite. All Lily had ever wanted was honesty, was openness, and now Eva was willing to offer it, she only felt herself falling harder. Lily could let herself fall harder, without second-guessing herself, without hating every moment of it, because she knew Eva wanted her back.
“I am, too,” Lily said, smiling when Eva’s head jerked around to meet her gaze, willing Eva to believe her.
Eleanor clapped her hands together, making Lily jump. “Good. Now, Lily, tell me more about yourself. Are you from around here? Do you have a big family? How long have you been teaching?”
The rest of dinner passed in a blur of questions and answers, and Eva’s eyes were apologetic as she led Lily to the door once they were done.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. Sweet, even. And don’t worry—I’ll spare you the cross-examination by my parents for a while yet.” Lily grinned when relief passed over Eva’s face. “I’ll see you tomorrow.“
Eva nodded, leaning down to capture Lily’s lips in a kiss that left her breathless. What she’d give to let Eva fist a hand in her shirt and drag her upstairs—but they couldn’t. Lily had a cat to pick up, and there were some things Lily wanted to do to Eva she didn’t want her mother overhearing.
Lily pulled away with no small sense of regret, mouth going dry at the dark look in Eva’s eyes. Seeing Eva at school the next day and not being able to kiss her was going to be torture.
Chapter 24
“You look happy,” Mei said,when Lily walked into the teacher’s lounge. “Good trip? Or are you just glad to be back?”
Lily hadn’t thought her good mood would be so apparent, though the high from dinner at Eva’s place last night—as intimidating as her mom had been—had yet to wear off. God, Lily wasn’t glowing, was she? Eva would kill her if she let the cat out of the bag before they’d had a chance to get started.
“Both,” Lily said, reaching for her coffee mug and keeping her voice light. “D.C. was fun, but it’s good to be back.”
“Things weren’t weird with Eva?” Mei regarded Lily closely as she switched on the coffee machine.
Lily played dumb, trying not to think about the long kiss good-bye Eva had planted on her before she left. “Why would things be weird with Eva?”
“I told you. You guys have a weird vibe. Can’t be fun, to be stuck with someone you don’t like for so long.”
Lily shrugged, and hoped she was a convincing liar. “I didn’t see her that much. We were in separate groups. Did I miss anything fun while I was gone?” Changing the subject seemed like a safe bet.
“Nope, it’s been boring as ever. I hate the last week of school. No one wants to be here, and you can tell.”
“Does that include you?”
Mei grinned. “Obviously. I don’t want to be here at the best of times, never mind at the start of summer.”
“Two more days,” Lily said, because she was counting down, too—especially knowing what the summer would entail.
Three months of Eva, the two of them figuring out if there was space for the other in their lives, if they could exist together as something more than colleagues—and enemies. Lily knew it wouldn’t be easy—they’d both made getting to that stage as difficult as possible—but she was sure the long and arduous journey would be worth it, in the end.
“Monday afternoon can’t come quick enough,” Mei said. “At least today is our last day of kids. Though institute days are boring as fuck.”
Lily snorted, because she was right—the schedule for Monday promised a day of meetings and team-building exercises Lily would rather do without.
“Still, drinks tonight can be an early celebration.”
Lily froze, having forgotten what day it was. She’d been so overjoyed by Eva asking her on a date Lily hadn’t realized she already had other plans.
“Or not?” Mei said, noticing the look on Lily’s face.
“I can’t. I…I have a date.”
Mei’s eyes lit up. “You do? Tell me everything.”
“Um.” Lily stalled for time, because there was no way in hell she was going to tell Mei everything—not that she’d have time to even if she wanted to. Lessons started in less than five minutes, and she’d need at least an hour. “Do you remember that person I told you I was talking to the night of the Homecoming game?” Not the full truth, but not a lie either—which Lily hoped would make it more convincing. “We’re finally going out.”
“Oh, my God! I’m so happy for you. You’ll have to tell me all about it on Monday.” The first bell rang before Lily could agree, and Mei sighed. “Better get to it. We’re going to the funfair at lunch, right? I want to kick your ass at some games.”
