“You missed me, Lil, it’s written all over your face.”
She opens her mouth to speak, but then her phone goes off, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen her grab for it faster.
“Lily, we’re having dinner,” her mom scolds.
“It’s Aaron, I should answer,” she pleads, and hearing her say his name has my shoulders and eyes dropping.
“Can’t he wait until after dinner?” Tina tries, but Lily’s already standing up.
“It’ll just be a minute.” She moves her arms around toward the table. “Talk amongst yourselves.”
She walks away, and no one says anything at first, we all just give each other looks that I hope all mean the same thing. Becausemine sure means that I don’t like whoever this guy is that she’s dating.
“I hope she tells him to stay back in California,” Ethan speaks up, and I smother my laughter with a cough.
“He’s coming to help Auntie Trish,” Tina tells her son, and I grimace at the reminder that he’s coming here to behelpful.“Be nice.”
Ethan turns toward me, and teases, “Yeah, Parker,be nice.”
“I’m nice to everyone,” I announce.
There are some snickers around the table, but no one denies it. Lily comes back, dropping into her seat. It may not be obvious to everyone else, but I can see the light has dimmed in her. Even just a little bit; she was sunshine when she walked away, but now she’s not as bright. She tries to hide it, but I can see it. I always notice everything when it comes to her. Even after being apart for so long.
“What did I miss?” she asks, and I see how she tries to perk back up. I don’t take my eyes off her the rest of the meal. I don’t know what happened during the short phone call, but I feel like there’s more she won’t say. Holding things back really isn’t Lily’s style. Which is another reason I’m concerned and going to make sure to keep an eye on this Aaron guy as soon as he steps foot in our town.
After dinner, I head home and sit in my truck for an extra moment as the quiet surrounds me. I feel so much knowing Lily is back and so close once again. It may end up driving me crazy. Tomorrow, I start my forty-eight-hour shift at thefire station, and can only hope there will be enough distractions that don’t involve the chaotic little woman that drives me insane in the best way.
I go inside, stripping down to my boxers and climbing into bed. I reach under my pillow to feel the soft fabric of the object I keep hidden there. When I pull it out, the light blue color looks lighter against my tanned skin. I remember how it looked in her blonde hair when it was pulled back. And how it felt when she put it on my wrist after I gently pulled it from her hair.
“What’re you doing?” I ask as she slides the soft scrunchie onto my arm.
“Staking my claim on you,” she teases with a smile.
“You’ve already done that. I think you did it even before you agreed to be my girlfriend.”
“How?”
“Well, I remember when you yelled at Marie Johnson when we were six that she wasn’t allowed to be my friend because you’re my best friend.”
“I stand by that, Marie was a bully,” Lily insists and the way her eyes narrow as she pouts makes me unable to stop the urge to pull her into me.
I run my fingers through her hair, holding the back of her neck and angling her to look up at me. “It doesn’t matter anyway. She would never have been my friend. No one could take me away from you.”
“Good.” She smiles, and I press my lips to hers.
If someone has taken her away from me, what I said is true. No one could ever replace her in my life. Lily is my once in a lifetime.
Even if I’m not hers anymore.
CHAPTER 8
Lily
I desperately needsome girl time. Everything has felt like a whirlwind since I came back into town. It’s been a week, I officially start my job in a couple days, and Aaron is going to be here soon. I’m excited to see him again, but ever since I’ve had to be around Parker I feel like my mind has been a mess.
Which is why some time with two of my best friends is exactly what I need. My vote was that we go out to a bar, but apparently that looks wrong if you’re pregnant. I told Sutton she could just get water, and that I’ll hiss at anyone who looks at her wrong. Apparently that wasn’t good enough of an answer.
Instead, we’re meeting at Bailey’s house. It’s currently being packed up to move in with her boyfriend, and scary sexy neighbor, Wes. And I don’t just mean it’s scary how good looking he is. I really mean he’sactuallyscary. The man is six-foot-six and has arms that look like they could crush me in a second. He could send a bear running in the other direction just from looking at them.