“Tattoos?” she asks. I nod. “On his arms?” I nod again. “Like, here on his arms?” She points to her lower arm.
“Yes. I thought I saw darkened patterns on his arms, but it was way too dark to make out what they were.”
Christine shakes her head in wonder. “I can’t think who that could be.” She pauses for a moment, thinking, but then she grabs my arm. “Come, we have to go look for him.”
As she says this, Max arrives at the top of the stairs. “Jerry just told me what happened. He’s super pissed off.” He hands over my beer. “Your beer.”
“Thanks,” I reply with a smile.
“So, were you really in there by yourself?”
I look at Christine for a moment with a smile. “Yeah. He thought you were in there with me, though.”
Max smirks. “I’m sorry I missed that.”
I smile back, but the last thing on my mind is Max’s amorous intentions. Christine—ever the lifesaver—tugs on my arm. “I need to steal Lily for a couple of minutes. I’ll bring her right back to you afterwards.” She smiles flirtatiously at Max.
“Go right ahead,” he replies, smiling at the both of us.
We run down the stairs with Christine feeling more excited about finding this delectable, mysterious stranger than I am. I kind of have this feeling we won’t find him, so it seems pointless. I go along with it nevertheless.
We search through the hoards of bodies in the living room, but no one fits the bill. We then search the kitchen. Again, no one even remotely resembles the “bathroom guy.”
Once we’ve been at it for ten minutes without success, we both have to admit defeat. “This is unbelievable! I wonder if it’s Jerry playing a trick on you.”
My eyes widen at the thought. “You think he would?”
She sighs. “It’s just the kind of shit that he would pull, but I doubt it. There’s no way Jerry could pull that performance off. He seemed really upset.”
I nod in agreement. “You’re right. I don’t think he was behind it.”
“So,” she smiles, “it can only mean one thing.”
I frown. “What?”
She picks up a lock of my hair. “You, my dear Lily, have a secret admirer.”
My eyes widen as I think back to the peppery, minty smell. My mind wanders further to the lilies which I receive every afternoon.
Could it have been him? It’s possible. In fact, it’s the only lead I have.
Does that thought scare me? It should, but for some reason, all I can think about are his words when I asked him when I would see him again.
“One day, then… One day soon.”
My God, that man’s voice does things to my body—things that should frighten me. I should want to run, but instead, all I can think is:
How soon will “soon” be?
I shrug my shoulders. “I don’t see how that can be.”
“Someone went to the trouble of getting into that bathroom—knowing that you were going to be there.”
I tense my hands, unable to comprehend how no one could have known. “How did he manage to get in there without you or Jerry knowing?”
Christine bites her lip, a small V in the crook of her forehead. “I have no idea. This girl said that Max was waiting inside, and Jerry told me to go get you. She had dark hair and some silly t-shirt that said something about wanting food.”
“What girl?”
Christine looks around the room. “I can’t see her now. I don’t know who she is, but she seemed to know you and Max, so I went with it.”
I immediately got suspicious. “I think we need to talk to Max.”
“Why?”
“Do you remember that he said some girl was asking him questions? What if it’s the same girl who told you Max was in the bathroom?”
Her eyes widen at the thought. “Good point. Let’s go find Max.”
We dart from the living room and into the kitchen where we find Max talking with Tyler. Christine’s eyes immediately light up once she sees him. Once they spot us, they both smile and pull away from their conversation.
“Max, who was the girl talking to you while everyone was upstairs?”
Straight in for the kill, Christine.
Max frowns until it dawns on him. “Oh, the girl who was asking me questions in here?” She nods. “I’ve never met her before. She said her name was Stephanie and that she was new around here. She wanted to know all about school and the area etc. I didn’t want to be rude, so I answered her questions.” He frowns. “Why are you asking?”
“Did she have brown, almost black hair?”
He nods. “Yeah, she had some t-shirt on that had ‘WTF, where’s the food?’ on it. I thought it was kind of funny.”
I look to Christine, and she raises an eyebrow at me. It must have been the same girl. “Have you seen her since?” I ask.
Max instinctively looks up, but shakes his head. “No, only in the kitchen. She kept looking at her watch, but every time I wanted to get going, she would stop me and ask me something else.” He frowns and says, “Why are you asking me about her anyway?”
I shrug. “Just curious.” He was about to say something else, but I cut in. “So, Max, what about that boat?”
Max smiles, and Christine pipes in. “What boat?”
“I was telling Lily that a few of us can go on my brother’s boat for the weekend of her eighteenth.”
“What?!” Christine squeals. “A boat? Seriously?”
Max laughs. “Yeah, but only a few can stay. It’s a four birth, so a maximum of seven people. I say seven because the master has a double bed, and I think the birthday girl should have that.”
“Lucky bitch!” Christine shouts, elbowing me with a cheeky grin.
“The good news is that your birthday starts on Friday. If anyone who wants to go can get their parents to agree, then we’ll make a weekend of it and come back on Sunday.”
Christine squeals again. “Yes! I’m on it. Count me in.”
“Who else would you like to invite, Lily?”
I smile. “Well, apart from Christine, you, of course.” I look to Tyler. “And you as well, Tyler.”
He places his hand over his heart. “I’m honored.”
“That makes four, so who else?” Max asks.
We all look around. “How about Jerry?” Christine laughs as we look around and find Jerry bouncing a football on his head.
I scrunch up my face. “Hardly mature enough to be on a boat. He’ll probably crash it.” I snigger as Max’s eyes grow wide.
“He’d at least be entertaining.”
Tyler snaps his head to Christine in disbelief. “And we’re not?”
She sighs. “I didn’t mean it like that. I meant to say that he’s funny in a goofy sort of way, so he would definitely add to the party’s festive ambience.”
Just as she says this, Jerry comes over and places his arm over Christine’s shoulder—much to Tyler’s annoyance. “What are you shitbags talking about?”
I roll my eyes. “Real smooth, douchebag.”
He waggles his eyebrows at me. “I can be smoother … if you’ll let me.”
Christine elbows him, and I laugh as I watch him hunch over. “Thanks for that,” I tell her.
“No problem.”
“And here I was thinking I was your favorite,” Jerry says as he gets back up.
Tyler scowls again, and Christine notices. “We were talking about Lily’s eighteenth.” I throw daggers at her, but she shrugs and looks in Tyler’s direction.
“What about it? Are you having a party? If you are, I’m so going there to get my twenty dollars back.”
I laugh. “You’re never going to let this go, are you?”
He shakes his head. “No fucking way. I don’t lose. I never have, and I have no intention of changing that now.”
“But you have lost … twice,” I point out, grinning at him.
“Only because of a technicality. Besides, the first one doesn’t count becaus
e it was Christine who you used to bet against me.”
“Yeah, but you still lost to a girl,” I say wagging my finger at him.
Everyone laughs, but Jerry still looks pissed. “One day,” he says. Once everyone calms, Jerry pipes, “So, about this birthday …”
As usual, I leave around ten-to-twelve with Max leading the way to drive me home. By the end of the party, it seemed we had our seven people. Jerry, unfortunately, was one of them, and so was his friend, Pete, along with his girlfriend, Amy. I like Amy, though, so I was pleased with the results in the end. That’s of course assuming all of our parents agree to this weekend away. I don’t think I will have an issue with mine, but you never know.
My reverie is broken when Max asks, “You really spent all that time in the bathroom alone?”
My heart starts beating erratically when my mind immediately thinks back to “bathroom guy.” I can still feel him on my skin. Goose bumps trail up my arms when my mind wanders to the feel of his fingers in the hem of my skirt, the grip of his hand in my hair, and the smell of spices invading my senses. I can still smell him—even taste him.
“Yes, I was really alone. I think Jerry really messed up this time.”
Max laughs as he pulls up to the sidewalk next to my house. “He will never forget this. You do know that, right?”
I smile. “Yes, but I’m prepared for him. I don’t care what he throws at me.”
Max chuckles. “Famous last words.” He then looks at my house. “Walk you to your door?”
I’m not anxious at all really, but I nod as I know that’s what Max wants to do. As I get out of the car, Max rushes over to keep the door open for me. He’s being even more of a gentleman, and I don’t know whether that unnerves me or not.
Once at the door, I turn to Max with a smile. He looks apprehensive. His eyes are darting everywhere, and he’s placing his hand behind his neck—a sure sign of nervousness.
“Well, I had a nice time,” I say in order to break the awkwardness.
Max smiles, but he still looks worried and unsure of something. “Me too,” he finally says, shifting from one foot to the other. It makes me nervous, so I motion toward the door.
“Well, I better go in.” Max nods, but his head is slightly down as he massages the back of his neck.
What’s gotten into him?
I soon find out when I turn towards my door. Max grabs my arm. “Hold on a minute,” he says, spinning me around and pulling me towards him. With only a moment’s notice he has his lips on mine, trying to force my mouth open.
A muffled scream emanates from me as I push at his chest. Max is strong, but he gets the message. We part—our breathing harsh—and I glare at him. “What were you doing?” I ask as quietly as possible, trying not to disturb my parents. The last thing I want is to have them rushing out to find us arguing. They’ll think it’s a lover’s spat, which it most definitely is not.
“I’m sorry,” he finally says. He looks sorry, but I’m way too mad at him.
I grit my teeth. “I’ll see you Monday.” I turn to open the door, but Max is still apologizing and begging me to speak with him. I’m too mad to see him right now. I’m angry, and I know that in the heat of the moment, I may end up saying something I’ll regret later.
I close the door on him, shutting him off completely and lean my head back against the door. I take a deep breath before opening my eyes. When I do, I’m surprised to find my dad staring right at me. “Rough night?”
I smile. “You could say that.”
My dad leans against the hallway wall, scrutinizing me. “Want to talk about it?”
I shake my head. “No. I guess I’m just tired. I know I’m not even eighteen yet, but I’m really not cut out for this partying thing.”
My dad laughs. “As your mother says, you only live once. Take opportunities as they come because they may be your last.”
My eyes widen. “Wow, Dad… Talk about piling on the heavy stuff!”
He chuckles again. “Well, it’s true. I was once your age, and believe me, seventeen and eighteen don’t last forever. Once you hit twenty-one, you’ll be thirty before you know it.”
I shake my head. “Jeez, you’re depressing me.” My dad laughs with a shrug of his shoulders. Talking about my young years makes me remember something. “I have to ask you something, Dad.”
My dad nods his head. “Go ahead.”
Just as he says this, my mother appears and runs her hand over my dad’s shoulder. She’s looking at me expectantly too.
“The guys were talking about my eighteenth birthday.”
My dad cocks his eyebrow. “Oh?”
“Max’s brother has a boat and has told Max—within reason—that he can use it. He knows I’m not a big party girl, so he has suggested that we spend the weekend of my birthday on his brother’s boat. Only a handful of us can go… Well, seven to be exact—”
“The whole weekend?” my mother asks, interrupting me.
I swallow, nervously thinking I may be asking too much. “Yes, but it will just be me, Christine, Max, Jerry, Tyler, Amy, and Pete. We would have to get a plane to California, though. That’s where the boat is docked.”
“The plane ticket’s no issue. That’s a lot of boys, though,” My dad mutters.
“I know, but we’re all friends. We’ve been friends for so long now. I don’t think of them as anything else, so …”
My dad smiles, putting his hand up. “Don’t fret, Lily. I’m not worried about you. I know I can trust you. The boys, however, are a different thing.”
My eyes drop down to the floor in disappointment. It’s a no. “Oh.”
“But, I do know Max’s parents and Tyler’s parents, so I can trust them to make sure their sons behave. Besides, Max has been a good friend to you.”
I snap my head up, face beaming. “Is that a yes?”
“It’s a yes.” I run into their arms and give them a big hug. “You’re only eighteen once,” my dad whispers in my ear.
“Again with the depressing sentiment.”
“It’s true.”
I pull away, beaming, but inside I can’t help but wonder if this plan for my birthday will go ahead after all. I’m not sure how Max and I will be after our little confrontation outside. “Thanks, Dad,” I say, and I look to my mother, “Mom.”
“That’s okay,” my mom replies. “How did tonight go?”
I roll my eyes. “Oh, the usual. Too much loud music and dancing. It’s made me tired, so I think I’ll head to bed.”
My mother grabs my arm. “Sure thing. Elle is in bed, so try and be a little extra quiet while you’re getting ready. She’s dog tired.”
I bite my lip, feeling badly for Elle. She’s been working so hard lately. “She puts too much pressure on herself.”
My mother nods her head. “I know, but she lives off of it. Your sister isn’t the type to sit still for long. You watch: She’ll be up early tomorrow morning and out before the rest of us. Even on a Saturday, she just can’t sit still.”
I chuckle, knowing precisely what she means. Rarely have I ever seen Elle in on a Saturday morning. She spends her mornings either going to the library as soon as it opens or meeting friends for coffee. “Okay, I’m off. Goodnight, Mom, Dad.”
“Goodnight, sweetheart,” they both say in unison.
I rush upstairs, careful to be as quiet as possible, and start to get ready for bed. I take off all my clothes and replace them with my pale blue, fleece pajamas. Not exactly sexy, but they’re comfortable and keep me warm. Besides, I have no one to be sexy for.
My mind immediately wanders to my Seven-Minutes-in-Heaven stranger, and as soon as it wanders, my breathing starts to accelerate at the thought. His hands were magical, touching me in ways that made my whole body practically go up in flames. No one has ever had that affect on me. I don’t have a clue about who he is, but I want to find out. I shouldn’t want to, but I do. It’s almost like this stranger has brought out the inner darkness of Lily Campbe
ll. I shake my head, still unable to comprehend how on earth I let a complete stranger touch me in the way that he did, kiss me in the way that he did and—the most frightening thing of all—make me want more in the way that I do. I didn’t want him to stop. I wanted him to keep going. I wasn’t sure at the time what I wanted from him, but my body seemed to know. My body still seems to know. It’s humming now at the thought of his fingers brushing against my skin. I shudder at the thought and chastise myself at the same time.
Who is he? Why was he there? And above all else, does he have a connection to my mysterious Lily Stalker? If it is the same man, then what does he want with me? But the most pertinent question is: Why am I not scared?
I sigh aloud, dropping onto my bed with an undignified thud. As I do, something captures my eye. I look across my bed and see my phone—just as plain as day—sitting on top of my covers. “What the …” I utter, remembering to try and keep quiet for Elle’s sake. I pick it up like it’s an alien object. It’s my phone all right, but how did it end up here? I hunted for it everywhere earlier, but to no avail. I had practically pulled my sheets apart searching for it, and yet I find it perched perfectly in the middle of my bed as if it had never been moved.
I get up, opening my door to find my parents walking quietly to their bedroom. “Mom, did you go into my room at any point tonight?”
My mother frowns. “No, dear. Why? Is something wrong?”
I shake my head. “No, it’s nothing. I just couldn’t find my phone earlier, but yet it’s sitting on my bed.”
She shakes her head. “As far as I know, no one has been anywhere near your room. Maybe it was there all along right in front of you, but you simply didn’t see it. Your father has that affliction.”
“Hey,” he scolds, grabbing her by the waist.
“Only kidding, darling,” she says, turning to me. “No, I’m not kidding,” she mouths, winking at me.
I smile. “Maybe I’m just going crazy then. Goodnight … again.”
“Goodnight, darling. Sweet dreams.”
I shut the door, frowning at my phone. I walk towards my bed, climb in, and as soon as I do, my phone lights up with a text message. It’s from Max.
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