Finding him creeping about in his sister’s apartment was weird. If he was welcome why did he feel the need to hide? All these questions would have to wait for another day. One fight per day was his general rule of thumb and the discussion with Elaine counted as one.
He needed to get to Lilly’s place in a few hours and he wanted to get ready for this evening’s shift. He hadn’t lied about the private party, it was a hen night and a stag night in separate rooms and different weddings. Weddings seemed to surround him at the moment and he couldn’t escape from them. Lilly had only done one shift, and he didn’t like the idea of her working behind the bar when she wasn’t fully recovered. If he were honest, he still wasn’t comfortable with the thought of dating her and her working there.
He would raise the subject at dinner this evening about her future work plans. He knew he had offered her a safe job while she worked out what she wanted and felt responsible that he already wanted to fire her for selfish reasons. She wasn’t well enough to do full shifts, and he wanted her all to himself. When he saw the customers slip her, their phone number he wanted to snatch it out of her hands and rip it into tiny pieces. It was a childish reaction but he couldn’t help how he felt. Lilly was the one for him and he would do all he could to make sure they were a couple and stayed that way until they were old and senile.
He hadn’t quite worked out how to tell Lilly about his secret. Mickey knew about it as did Jack which probablymeant Olivia did too. Aside from those few people, he hadn’t shared it with anyone else. It didn’t affect anyone else apart from him and the woman he would spend the rest of his life with. He didn’t think it was that big of a deal, but society would argue the point.
Chapter Twenty-Six
It had been years since Elijah had paid attention to what he wore, he liked he was making an effort. He knew she liked what she saw but now he wanted to always look his best for Lilly. It was just dinner with his brother and his future wife, so it was a relaxed evening. They usually had an array of food that let you pick and choose what you wanted. It was less formal than a three-course dinner and less effort to make this close to the wedding.
He still hadn’t written his best man speech and was hoping to wing it but knowing Jack he would want to hear some of it this evening. Elijah would come up with something to appease his brother. Jack was at the other end of the spectrum for control. He needed total control over everything he did. Olivia challenged all of that and he loved it.
Elijah grabbed his leather jacket and headed out the back door of Blue’s and headed towards Lilly’s apartment. He thought about her constantly and couldn’t quite believe that she felt something for him. How much she felt was leftto be seen. Any couple could be passionate together but he didn’t know if she loved him. He wanted to find out and soon. If she were going to break his heart, he preferred to know now rather than in six months. He’d already waited too long to kiss her, he didn’t want to wait another six months to make love to her. Each time they had been interrupted he was frustrated, and a little relieved. Their time would come he just needed to be patient.
Pressing his finger to the buzzer for her apartment, he waited for Lilly’s voice to answer. After a few minutes there was no answer, he buzzed again and waited. He wondered if she’d fallen asleep or had changed her mind. He felt a pang of disappointment that she wasn’t ready and waiting to spend the evening with him. He must feel a lot more for her than she did for him.
“Hey, handsome, are you waiting for me?” Lilly said.
Elijah turned around to see Lilly standing there in a blue summer dress with tiny white polka dots scattered all over the material.
“You look stunning. I thought you weren’t coming when you didn’t answer.”
Elijah stepped towards her, kissing her chastely on the lips. It was a soft melting kiss lasting minutes as neither Elijah nor Lilly moved from the spot. The kiss was familiar and comforting, passionate without the heavy breathing.
“I needed to get some cash from the bank. My timing was poor, I’m sorry to keep you waiting.” Lilly pecked his lips once more.
“It’s not a problem, shall we go?” Elijah asked and held out his hand for her to hold.
“I’m looking forward to Jack telling me childhood stories about you and revealing your secrets.” Lilly squeezed his hand as they set off for Jack and Olivia’s home.
Elijah groaned inwardly, he hoped not all of his secrets would come out tonight. Squeezing her hand back he led her on down the street. This would officially be their first date and that warmed his heart.
He was dating Lillian Harrison.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Arriving at Jack and Olivia’s house, they were buzzed in and climbed the three flights of stairs up to the building’s top floor. Olivia was waiting at the door for them wearing a giant grin across her face and clapped her hands in glee when she saw the pair of them hand in hand.
“I’m so happy you came,” Olivia said.
“I come every week, why is this week such a happy event.” Elijah winked as he moved passed her.
“Not you, you fool, I was referring to Lilly, I’m so glad she came, it’s your first date and you came here,” Olivia said.
“I suppose it is our first date, perhaps we should have gone to the movies instead,” Lilly said with a straight face which only lasted for a few seconds. She already knew Olivia would be hurt if they turned around and left. For Olivia, this was a distraction to the upcoming wedding, and Lilly was only too happy to focus on giving Olivia a rest from all the organising.
Lilly kissed Olivia on the cheek and walked through the open doorway and into the apartment. It was white walledand filled with artwork. It took her a few minutes to walk down the hallway, looking at each picture as she went. Art was her secret world she got lost in. This was heaven on earth looking at all of Jack and Olivia’s artwork. She wandered down the hallway and ended up in the main living room to see Jack pouring a drink and handing it to Elijah. They were deep in conversation and Olivia was nowhere to be seen. Hence, she carried on looking at the photographs that adorned their walls.
There were some fantastic black and white photographs on the wall, she was mesmerised by their beauty and wanted to know who the photographer was.
“Do you like them Lilly?” Jack asked and offered her a tumbler of clear liquid.
“I adore them, thank you for the drink, how did you know I liked Vodka?”
“Elijah told me, he has a great memory. You must have mentioned it to him over the last six months. He’s really smitten with you. If you don’t feel the same would you do him a favour and back away now?” Jack asked.
“You are the second person to tell me to do that. I can assure you Jack, he’s in safe hands. I won’t hurt him, he is the most amazing man I have ever met and I intend to keep him around,” Lilly said.
