by Lexy Timms
She nodded. “Yeah, one of clients couldn’t wait another day and a half for him.”
“He’s in high demand, huh?”
“Apparently.” The thought of Cayden being so sought after was oddly arousing. He was hers. He wanted her, and she wanted him back. Out of all the hot models in Los Angeles, he had chosen her—a small, fragile person still battling Crohn’s. How is it possible? Is fate on our side?
“You must be thinking about something good.” Andrew’s voice brought her back.
She looked down and saw she had frozen mid-bite. “Maybe,” she replied with a smile. Andrew gave her a sarcastic look. “Okay, fine. Yes.”
“About what?”
“More like about whom.”
A strange, dull shadow came across Andrew’s eyes. Slowly, like his mind went someplace else temporarily, he took a half-minded sip of water. “When will he be back?”
“Friday night.”
“I, uh...” He faded off until the words came to his throat. “Hey, about last time.”
Please don’t.
“I hope you know that making things awkward is the last thing I meant to do.”
Oh, gosh. She had a hard time looking at him. “I know.”
“I just meant—well, I want to see you happy, Lillian. I don’t want to see you heartbroken again.”
“I know you meant well, Andrew. And it makes me happy that you feel comfortable being honest with me.”
His face suddenly looked worn down. “I don’t want anything to come between us, either. Regardless of how it all ends up.”
“How what ends up?”
“You know,” he fidgeted with the end of his spoon, “whether you end up with Cayden or someone else.”
She tried to finish her soup, but the spoon seemed to weigh two tons. “Andrew,” she said, wishing the words didn’t have to come out of her mouth at all, “Cayden and I are working out. We went through a minor hiccup, that’s all. Long distance is really hard, but we managed to find a way to make it work.”
“Yeah. I know.”
“I’m sorry, Andrew.”
“I meant what I said, though.” Lillian saw that defensive wall of his start to go up. “What I said before. How I see you.”
“It’s probably a psychological thing, Andrew. You and Amelia and I were the three musketeers.”
“Whatever the reason is, it doesn’t change the fact that I meant it.” He faced her, and she saw the longing in his eyes. “I’m not trying to get you to break up with Cayden. Like I said, I wouldn’t want you to be heartbroken again. And I can see that you two really love each other. I’ve said that before.”
Lillian’s reply got lost in a jungle of things she wanted to say. They looked at each other, trying to find words in the thick silence between them. “It will always be Cayden, Andrew.” She desperately hoped the words were soft enough that his heart didn’t get scratched. “I will always love you and your parents as my family. You were all there for me when I had no one—from the very beginning.”
Andrew nodded, and looked at the floor.
“It’s okay,” she said. “Let’s finish eating. I’m serious about you being honest with me. It means a lot to me.”
It took him a while, but finally he straightened up. “Let’s finish. Sorry I interrupted the meal.”
“You didn’t. Don’t worry. What are your plans tonight?”
“Plans? Well, first I’m going to bar hop, and end the night walking by the river.”
“Wow. That was such dry humor I can’t even feel my tongue.”
“You’re welcome.” He picked up his bowl and drank the rest of his soup. “I was thinking we could watch a movie or something else brainless. Since I’m not being brainless enough already, you know.”
“Reading isn’t brainless. Don’t insult my books!”
“Fine, fine. I guess I just feel brainless since I’ve been moping around.”
“You can barely walk, Andrew. That’s hardly classified as moping around.”
“Would you stop countering all my arguments?” He gave her a little push. “I’m trying to be helpless here.”
“But you just said a few minutes ago that you aren’t helpless.”
“Oh, man!” he shouted jokingly, throwing his hands in the air. “I’m done. Even my humor is failing.”
“It’s not really failing. It’s just extra dry. Which is saying something.”
He paused. “Okay, I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“Good. Do you want any more soup?” She stood up and looked over into the pot. “It looks like there’s only a little left.”
“Nah, I’m okay. I’m not moving around enough to eat more than this.”
“Diva.”
“You need it more than I do.” He pointed all the way down her body. “I’m just kidding. You actually look really good, Lillian. Much healthier than before.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, you do. It’s good to see you getting better.”
“It’s been a long road.” She gathered the bowls and took them to the sink. “These meds seem to be going really well with me, and I haven’t developed any more trigger foods. That I know of, at least.”
“Awesome,” Andrew replied, obviously distracted. She looked behind her and saw him trying to grip his crutches right and position them under his arms.
I won’t bother him while he’s thinking so hard. When she heard him take the first step, she told him to go pick a movie. He disappeared into the living room, leaving her alone in the kitchen to rinse the dishes and wipe the table. She was done quickly, and found herself staring at the night sky out the kitchen window. The tops of the evergreen trees swayed in a little wind that hadn’t reached the ground yet.
Come back in a hurry, she thought to Cayden, wondering if he was in the air yet. I can’t stand this distance much longer.
“I found it!” Andrew yelled. “Are you done?”
“Coming,” she shouted back, wringing out the dish rag one more time. The warm water felt so good running over her cold fingers; it reminded her of the shower earlier—and the fun events that had happened next. I could do that again now.
“You look kind of tired,” Andrew commented as she walked into the living room, seating herself on the couch next to him.
I had my own kind of hardcore workout earlier, she thought, fighting the urge to say it out loud. She stifled a secretive smile. “I’m all right,” she said instead. “Ready for the work week ahead. Press play now; I’m ready to watch!”
Andrew didn’t question further and started the movie, flipping off the lamp beside him. Gray Cat climbed into his lap and demanded to be pet while the movie played.
Within half an hour, Lillian was fast asleep.
SHE WOKE UP AS THE sun had just risen above the treetops. Stretching her back and feeling the blood flood back into her limbs, she looked around at the warm morning light that cast the living room in a rich layer of gold. A thick blanket was covering her; a pillow from her bed had somehow made it to the couch.
How did he do that? she wondered drowsily. He must be figuring out his crutches much faster than we expected.
The couch seemed to hug her body; she didn’t want to move the warm blanket from on top of her, but the sunrays were going to heat the room up before too long. Shaking her head to wake up a little, she looked at her phone. Good, it’s not too late. Her routine wasn’t going to be thrown for a loop after all.
Dragging her feet to the kitchen, she was met by the two cats talking to her and wrapping themselves around her ankles. “I hear you, kitties,” she croaked at them, giving them a stroke before starting the coffee machine. “Breakfast time! Go to your bowls.”
They stayed by her feet, harassing her until the food was actually in their dishes. She smiled as she watched them chomp away at their breakfast. Bending down, she gave them a last pet right along their backbone, using the back of her fingernails to lightly rake their skin. Their backs arched with her hand an
d they purred, but their focus on eating wasn’t swayed.
Lillian stood, moving into a patch of sun hitting the floor, and stretched again. Quiet mornings like this were the best; something about the feel of chilly air and a warm house inspired her. Be good, she thought to the day.
She washed her face and changed into leggings and one of Cayden’s sweatshirts. It fit him perfectly, fitted enough to show off his physique but loose enough that he didn’t seem pretentious. It hung off Lillian’s frame like a potato sack, but she didn’t care. It was warm and soft, and it smelled like him—and there was no way he was ever getting it back. Geez, she thought, looking at her reflection as she hugged the sweatshirt around her body. Letting myself miss him is really different than constantly telling myself that I’m better off without him.
As she walked back to pour herself a mug of coffee, she noticed a few things on the floor that might get in Andrew’s way while he was getting accustomed to the crutches. The sun was bright, filling the house now, and she reveled in its warmth on her body while she tidied up.
Stacking a few random cables in the hall closet, she listened carefully for any signs of life from Andrew. His room was quiet; she wondered what time he had gone to bed. Maybe he read for a long time after the movie. She did feel a bit sorry for him. Reading all the time and not being able to move much can’t be any fun for him. Andrew had always been a pretty active person. Seeing him so stationary was as odd for her almost as much as it must have been for him.
She ate a bowl of granola with bananas, yogurt, and almond milk while she stood at the window and watched birds congregate in a tree outside. The way they interacted was so interesting, and she thought about starting a little journal about their activity every morning. As she swallowed the last bite, she filled the bowl with water in the sink and wrote down what she had eaten in her food journal. I will dare to put a check mark beside this, she announced to herself triumphantly. No triggers here. Good job, guts!
Her phone beeped before she could sit at her laptop and start to work. Hoping it was Cayden, she danced over to the counter and opened the message.
Good morning, gorgeous!
Her heart leapt to see the message from him. Hey sexy! How was the flight?
Smooth, he replied. I took a great nap.
I fell asleep on the couch.
Does the bed still have our scent?
Feeling cheeky, she went to her room and sent him a photo of her bed, still in disarray from their romp last night. I don’t know about your gym, she typed to him, but here’s mine.
He responded quickly. Best gym ever. She started to message him back when a photo of some gym equipment came through. Staring at it for a minute, she gave up.
Try as I might, she told him, I can’t name one of those machines. Where’s the treadmill?
Obviously, I have a lot more to teach you, came his message.
I’ve learned about flowers and gardening from you, sir, but when it comes to exercising, I’m lost. I’ll take a good old-fashioned workout in the bed anytime.
Count me in with that! Hey look, I’m with your favorite person. She waited for the photo to come through, and it shortly did. It was a photo of Katharina, looking as gorgeous as ever as she posed on a bench next to some weights.
“How does she look so beautiful?” Lillian murmured to herself. Deciding to play along, she set the phone on the coffee table in the living room and put on the self-timer, running to lounge on the couch before it took the photo. She laughed out loud to herself when she saw it. “Ridiculous,” she muttered, and sent it to Cayden.
A stream of photos came within the next few minutes, most of them Katharina bench-pressing and one of Cayden’s hand holding a big dumbbell and of course flexing his bicep. Scrolling through the pictures of Katharina, looking elegant every single time, Lillian’s smile faded. Katharina definitely knew how to angle her body and always make a level face. No wonder she had so much attention from the public and from guys; everything about her was perfect.
Los Angeles seems like it only works for beautiful people, she thought bitterly. Of course, Cayden would do well living and working there full-time.
Another photo came through, this time a selfie of Cayden and Katharina. They were both making silly faces, but of course she still looked like a model. Lillian looked at it for a long time, absorbing every detail. He looks so good next to beautiful women. I just don’t get what’s so special about me.
He loves you, came the voice of reason in her head. As usual, it sounded like Amelia’s voice. Don’t get negative about this.
Lillian grappled with her emotions for a minute before texting him back. More of you, please!
Very quickly, her phone beeped again. She opened the photo and felt her heart pound. Obviously, Katharina, with all her knowledge about angles and positioning the body, had taken it; Lillian was glad she got to receive the picture, but knowing Katharina was alone in the gym with Cayden—looking as hot as he did—darkened her mood.
Maybe that’s how he feels about me being alone with Andrew.
She couldn’t take her eyes off the picture, though. He just looked so damn fine, casually leaning against the rack of weights in Katharina’s fancy personal gym. The muscles in his arms and chest were rippling beneath his tank top. His hips were poking slightly forward, and he was flexing his thighs. The gym shorts he was wearing accentuated his lower half in all the right ways; she felt desire pulse hot through her body.
Come home quick so I can devour you. How did I get so lucky?
I ask myself the same thing every day, came his response, and she could almost hear his laugh—the one that lightened up any self-absorbed comment he made.
I’ll pretend you mean that about me, she texted back with a wink.
I absolutely do. I also mean it about myself.
Get back to your workout and call me later! I have some work to do now.
He sent another photo, again taken by Katharina. This time he was kneeling in front of a treadmill that had an endless number of buttons and tiny screens. He was making a sexy face but giving the camera a thumb’s up.
Found your treadmill, his message read, and another one came through right behind. Hi, dear!
She knew it was Katharina. Hey! How are you?
I miss you so much, darling. My friends are asking about your availability. Please let me know when you can come.
I will, she replied. I’m taking care of Andrew now but as soon as I’m free I’ll tell you. Thank you so much again for helping me before.
Good. Tell me. The message was simple and there was no goodbye. Cayden followed up. She’s not one for formal greetings or farewells.
I know, Lillian sent. It’s funny but it still throws me off every time.
You’ll get used to it the longer you know her. I need to head off now, too. Call you later.
Don’t let the hot Los Angeles models get you, she typed, and debated for a second if she should send it or not. She did.
What hot models? You’re the only one catching my eye. He sent a heart, and Lillian smiled as she set her phone down.
Don’t worry about it, she told herself, setting her eyes on the birds out the window again. Just wait until Friday.
Chapter 06
“ANDREW?” LILLIAN YELLED across the house. “Can you listen for the timer!”
“What?” He was all the way back in his bedroom and she could barely hear him.
Groaning, she started quickly toward his room while trying to unclip her hair from on top of her head. The clip was somehow tangled up in a mass of uncombed hair. She walked into Andrew’s room, battling to free her hair. “Andrew,” she said again, distracted by the pain on her scalp, “please listen for the timer on the oven.”
“Timer on the oven,” he repeated, staring at her. “Got it.”
“I’ve set it—ouch! Dammit! Sorry, I set it to go off before the lasagna’s done, so it can still do the last bit of cooking in the oven when it’s off. I know it’ll
be hard for you to take out and put on the counter, so I’ve got it perfectly set up—dammit, this hurts—so when I get back with Cayden, it’ll be ready.”
“What about the vegetables? Want me to take care of those?”
“I’ll heat them up when I get home. It’s green beans. They’ll only take a few minutes until they’re ready.” She tried to twist her hair the other way around the clip, but it only made the tangle worse. “How did this happen?”
“Do you need help?”
“I don’t know.”
“Executive decision: I’m helping. Come here.” Lillian didn’t fight back and sat on the bed, letting go of the mess and letting Andrew have a go with it. He took the clip gently in his hands and worked with tiny strands. “What time does he land?”
She looked at her phone. “In about half an hour.”
“It doesn’t take long to get there. You won’t be late.”
“I hope not.”
“Even if you are, he’ll be fine.”
“I shouldn’t be gone more than an hour. The flight tracker says it’s due to land on time, so—”
“Hey, Lillian,” Andrew interrupted, looking at her in the mirror. “Calm down. I know you’re excited.”
She paused. “I’m not excited.”
“Oh, totally. You’re dreading his arrival. That’s why you showered, used body spray, and put on something other than that huge sweatshirt.”
“How do you know I put on body spray?”
“I’m sitting right next to you, Lillian.”
“Is it too much?”
Andrew gave her a sneaky smile. “It’s not too much. He’ll love it. Now, take a breath and relax. I’m almost done with your hair.”
She took a few deep breaths. “You sound like Amelia.”
“Well, I am her brother, so that makes sense.”
Lillian got a flashback of the three of them making a huge pallet of blankets when they were younger, staying up all night and watching movies. “Thanks for doing my hair. I don’t know how you’re already almost done with it. That’s the worst knot I can ever remember having.”
“It was pretty bad.” She felt something come loose and he handed her the hair clip. “Here you go.”