Lilly: A Kensington Family Novel

by Allie Everhart

  "You didn't do anything wrong. You were standing up for me."

  "Yeah, but I should've just got you away from him instead of hitting him. I was just so damn angry when I saw him looking at you that way and saying those things to you and trying to touch you."

  "Do you think he'll press charges?"

  "Maybe. I don't know. If he was going to do it, he should've done it right away. He loses credibility the longer he waits."

  "They have video of you beating him up."

  "Yeah, I know, but I can't do anything about it so let's not talk about it." He hands me my bowl of ice cream. "You better eat this. It's melting."

  "That's how I like it. It's best when the ice cream melts into the cookies."

  He picks up his bowl and takes a bite. "It's good. We'll have to make these again sometime."

  "Reed, if Preston presses charges, my dad can help you. He has really good lawyers."

  "He's not going to help me. He doesn't even know me."

  "He hasn't met you but I told him about you."

  "How much did you tell him?"

  "I told him we were dating. And just so you know, my dad will probably run a background check on you. He does it with everyone."

  "Shit, are you serious? Lilly, once he finds out I've been arrested, he'll never let me see you again."

  "That's not true. My brother was arrested for fighting with a guy back in college, so my dad will understand."

  "Did your brother go to jail?"

  "Just for a night. He got out on bail and the guy he got in the fight with ended up dropping the charges. I told you my dad has good lawyers. And he also knows Preston's dad. He could get Preston to back down if he needs to."

  "How does he know Preston's dad?"

  "When you're rich, it's a small world. You go to the same charity functions and dinner parties and auctions."

  "Are they good friends?"

  "No, they just know each other. Maybe it's time you meet my parents. When will you be back on Sunday? My dad and Rachel are leaving in the morning, but I could have them stick around a little longer."

  "I don't know what time I'll be back. I don't want them waiting for me. I'll meet them some other time."

  We finish our ice cream and he sets our empty bowls on my desk.

  He picks up the ice bag. "You need some more?"

  "No. The pain pill's kicking in. I feel better now. Come here."

  He sets the ice down and walks up to the bed. I lift his shirt up and see that the left side of his ribcage is all black and blue.

  "What are you doing?" he asks.

  "This bruise is really bad. You're the one who needs ice." I get up and go around him.

  "Lilly, I'm fine. It barely hurts."

  I bring over some ice wrapped in a towel. "Just lay down and be quiet."

  He laughs as he lies down on my bed. "Since when did you get so bossy?"

  "Since you refused to take care of yourself." I set the ice over his ribcage and he cringes. "See? I knew it hurt."

  "Because you just dropped a bunch of ice on it."

  "How about I kiss you and make it all better?"

  He smiles. "That would work." He reaches behind my head and pulls me down to him. His lips are warm and his tongue is even warmer, moving over mine, which is still cold from the ice cream. "You taste like chocolate," he says over my lips.

  "It's from the cookies."

  "I love chocolate." He kisses me, swiping his tongue over mine. I'm hovering over him on my knees, careful not to hurt his ribs. His hand goes to my hip, his thumb skimming over the bare skin above the waistband of my shorts where my tank top rode up. It kind of tickles, but in a good way. A way that makes me all tingly inside.

  As we continue to kiss, his hand slides down the back of my leg, just under the hem of my shorts, his fingers lightly moving over my skin. The way he touches me, never rushing, but gradually going to the places I want him to go, gets me so turned on. Other guys I've dated would just grab my breast or shove their hand down my pants, which is a total turn off. The way Reed touches me is a million times better. He has me constantly wondering what he's going to do next and yet I never have to worry because he respects my boundaries.

  His fingers move slowly up and down the back of my thigh, going under the hem of my shorts and getting closer and closer to my panties. He's already made it to third base several times this week and I want him to do it again.

  When I'm at the point where I'm about to beg him to keep going, my stupid phone rings.

  Reed takes his hand away and breaks from the kiss. "You need to answer that?"

  I sigh and check my phone. It's my dad. Why do parents call at the absolute worst time?

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  I get up and answer the phone. "Hey, Dad."

  "Hello, honey. I just wanted to let you we won't be there at nine like we originally planned. It will probably be closer to eleven. The interview I was supposed to do today was bumped to tomorrow morning. It's the only time they could do it."

  "That's fine. The parent activities don't start until the afternoon anyway."

  "We'll have lunch together before they do. Will that work?"

  "Yeah, sounds good. See you then." I set my phone down, then turn back to Reed. "Sorry about that."

  "It's okay." Reed sits up on the bed. My dad's call ruined the moment and it'll take a while for us to get back to it. Thanks a lot, Dad.

  "You want me to take that?" I reach for the ice packet he's holding.

  "Yeah. Thanks."

  When I take it, I notice the ice has soaked through the towel. "Almost all the ice is melted."

  "That's your fault. You were really heating me up there before the interruption."

  I smile. "Let me get rid of this. I'll be right back."

  "Let me do it." He gets up. "I'll take it outside with the rest of the ice."

  While he's gone, I get into bed.

  "You going to sleep?" he asks when he returns.

  "No. I'm going to watch TV, but I was cold so I wanted to be under the covers."

  "You want some company?"

  "Yeah. Get in here." I pull the covers back. "But without the shirt. It's all wet from the ice." He takes it off. "And the jeans. They're dirty from the beach. I don't want sand in my sheets."

  He stands there, not moving. "I don't know about that."

  "About the sand?" I'm kidding. I know what he meant. "I know you have sand on you. I saw it kick up on your jeans when you walked on the beach."

  "Not the sand. About being in bed with you without pants. That doesn't seem like a good idea."

  "Try it and see."

  "If I do this, we're just watching TV. Nothing else."

  "Okay." I'm laughing because he's so serious about it.

  He takes his jeans off, leaving him in just his black boxer briefs. It's not like I haven't seen him like this before, but we've never been in bed together with so few clothes.

  He gets in beside me as I turn on the TV. I flip to a movie, then snuggle under his arm.

  He kisses my head. "Why do you have to be so damn adorable?"

  "I'm not."

  "You are." He kisses my head again and tugs me closer.

  I'm so happy right now. I'm happy whenever I'm with him. Even just watching TV with him makes me happy.

  We watch the movie and I feel my eyes getting heavy.

  "Lilly, I have to go." Reed's arm moves under me.

  "What time is it?"

  "Two-fifteen. We fell asleep. I need to get back to my room."

  "Just stay." I lie my head on his shoulder.

  "You sure?"

  "Yeah. Unless you want to go."

  He kisses my forehead. "I'd rather stay. Just let me set my alarm." He reaches over to get his phone. After he sets the alarm, we fall back to sleep.

  At seven his alarm goes off and he kisses me awake. "Hey. I have to go."

  "Okay." I move off him and yawn. "Oww."

  "What's wrong? Is it your jaw
?"

  "Yeah, it hurts to yawn."

  "God, Lilly, I'm so sorry. This is all my fault."

  "Stop saying that. It's Preston's fault, not yours. He's the one who hit me."

  "Yeah, but—"

  "Stop." I put my hand over his lips. "It's not your fault. Now hurry and leave so you can get back sooner."

  We get out of bed and he puts his jeans on. "I'll get you some more ice before I leave."

  "I don't need ice. Willow has this painkiller stuff her mom makes. It works really well. I'll go ask her for some."

  He holds the sides of my face, tilting it up to see the bruise. "I can't believe this happened. That's the second time that asshole's hurt you."

  "Reed, you need to go. It's a long drive."

  He kisses me, then brings me in for a hug. "Have fun with your parents."

  "I will. Good luck with your mom."

  "Yeah, I have a feeling I'm going to need it." He kisses me again. "I'll see you tomorrow."

  After he leaves, I shower, then put on shorts and a t-shirt and knock on Willow's door. She always gets up early, even on the weekends.

  The door opens, but instead of Willow, I'm greeted by a woman wearing a long, bright blue skirt, a white peasant blouse, and flat leather sandals. Her dark hair is in a loose braid and she's not wearing any makeup. This must be Willow's mom.

  "Hi, I'm Lilly. I live next door."

  She smiles. "Lilly, I've heard so much about you. I'm Candace, Willow's mom. Willow and her dad just left to get coffee."

  "Okay. I can just wait in my room."

  "She'll be right back. You can wait in here." She sees my bruised jaw and tips my chin up to get a better look. "Oh, honey, what happened?"

  "Um, someone hit me with their backpack. Actually, that's why I came over here. I wanted to get some of that stuff you made. The green stuff that helps stop the pain."

  "Of course. I have some in my purse. Come sit down."

  I already like this woman. She seems nice. Very motherly. She reminds me of Rachel, who acts like a mom to everyone.

  "This should kick in within a few minutes," she says as she smooths the green stuff over the bruise. "There. You're all set."

  "Thanks. That stuff really works. You should sell it."

  She laughs. "You sound just like Willow. She's always trying to get me to sell my magic potions, as she likes to call them." She goes over to Willow's desk and picks up a small box and brings it over to me. "Would you like a granola bar? I made them using my homemade granola."

  I pick out one of the small bars and take a bite. "These are really good. You should sell these too."

  "I do, but not as bars. I sell the granola in bulk at the farmers' market. So are your parents coming this weekend?"

  "Yeah, they'll be here later this morning."

  "And what do your parents do?"

  Willow must not have told her parents about my family. I almost lie, but then decide to tell her mom the truth in case she meets my dad this weekend.

  "My dad gives speeches and does interviews on TV. He used to be CEO of a company so he gives talks about business."

  "What company did he used to work for?"

  "Our family company. Kensington Chemical. He sold it a few years ago."

  She probably hates me now. She might even ban me from being friends with her daughter.

  "Does he like giving speeches?" She doesn't seem mad, so maybe she doesn't hate me. Maybe Willow exaggerated when she was telling me about her parents.

  "Yeah, he loves it. He likes it better than running a company. He sets his own hours and he likes teaching people things."

  "Well, I'd love to meet him when he gets here. How about your mother? Is she also in business?"

  "No. She studied history in college. Now she does a lot of volunteer work." I realize I just described Rachel, not my mom. "She's actually my stepmom, not my real mom."

  Candace smiles. "Women don't have to give birth to a child to be a mother. I'm sure she considers you her daughter."

  "She does. She's a great mom. Better than my—" I stop before I say it. "Anyway, she's really nice. You'll have to meet her."

  "Hey, Lilly." Willow walks in, holding a cup of coffee. Following behind her is a man I assume is her father. "I see you met my mom."

  "Yeah, we were just talking." I stand up as her dad approaches me.

  "I'm Carl, Willow's dad." He smiles and shakes my hand. He's wearing khaki pants and a dark green, button-up shirt. He has curly brown hair and wire-rimmed glasses. He doesn't look as much like a hippie as his wife does, except for his leather sandals.

  "We're going for breakfast later if you'd like to join us," Candace says, standing next to her husband.

  "Thanks, but I have to get some homework done before my parents get here."

  "Mom, Lilly wants one of Diane's bracelets," Willow says. "Do you think you could send her one when you get home?"

  "Willow, you know Diane would send you one herself. Just call and ask her."

  Willow looks down at her coffee. "I can't."

  "Honey, it's been over a year," Candace says. "Diane misses you. She'd love to hear from you."

  "I spoke with Silas last week," Carl announces.

  Willow's head whips up. "What? When?"

  He shrugs. "Monday, maybe?" He looks at Candace. "What day was it? Do you remember?"

  Willow's getting more anxious by the second, her eyes bouncing between her mom and dad. I think they're dragging this out on purpose to see how she reacts. And from her reaction, it's clear she still has feelings for Silas.

  "I think it was Tuesday," Candace says. "Then again, it might've been Wednesday."

  "Who cares what day it was," Willow says, moving her hands around, spilling some of her coffee. "What did he say?"

  Her dad smiles a little. "Not much."

  "Not much? That's it? He hasn't talked to you in over a year and when he finally does, he has nothing to say?"

  "He had things to say. Just not much." Carl sips his coffee.

  Willow stares at her dad, waiting for him to continue, but he doesn't and it's driving her crazy. I can tell she's dying to know more but she doesn't want to ask. But her curiosity wins out. "Just tell me what he said."

  "Let me think for a moment." He pauses. "Well, he asked about you."

  "He did?" There's excitement in her voice, but she clears her throat like she's trying to cover it up. "What did he want to know?"

  "How you're doing. How college is going."

  "And what did you tell him?"

  "I said you're doing well. Enjoying college."

  She nervously bites her thumbnail. "I don't know why he cares."

  "He still considers you a friend," Candace says. "And you were engaged to him."

  I look at her. "You were?"

  She waves her hand around. "For like a week. That doesn't even count as an engagement. I was only 17. I don't even know why I said yes."

  "I know why." Candace smiles at her.

  Willow rolls her eyes. "What else did he say?"

  "He said he might be coming back this summer to work on the farm."

  Willow's eyes bug out and she almost drops her coffee. "OUR farm?"

  "Yes," her mom answers. "And we'd be happy to have him. He's a hard worker."

  "You told him yes?" she asks her dad.

  "I told him he has the job if he'd like it. He said he'll let me know later. Right now he's doing volunteer farm work for some villages in Nepal."

  "I thought he was hiking."

  "No. He's been doing volunteer work for the past year," Carl says. "You'd know that if you'd call him once in a while."

  "Or answer his calls," Candace says.

  "He still calls you?" I ask.

  She doesn't hear me, her focus still on her parents. "You can't hire him, Dad. If you do, where am I supposed to live this summer?"

  "You'd live with us." Her mom laughs. "What kind of silly question is that?"

  "I can't—" Willow's comple
tely flustered. She walks over to her desk and sets her coffee down. "I don't know why we're even talking about this. He's never coming back. You know Silas. He always makes plans and never follows through."

  "He used to be that way," Carl says, "but he's grown up a lot the past year. Living on his own and traveling the world has matured him."

  "Yeah, I'm sure it has," Willow mumbles. She straightens up and looks at her parents. "So are we ready for breakfast?"

  They smile at her. Big, wide smiles. They accomplished their goal. They got Willow all riled up about Silas. And it was hilarious. And informative. Willow was engaged? And Silas still calls her? We're definitely going to talk about this later.

  "It was nice meeting you both," I say to her parents.

  "You too," Candace says. "You're welcome to come home with Willow any time. We have plenty of room at the house."

  "And Candace will make you her famous tofu lasagna," Carl says, kissing his wife's cheek.

  I smile. "Okay, thanks. See ya later. Bye, Willow."

  When I get back to my room, I laugh as I remember Willow's face when her dad said Silas might work for them this summer. I should've taken a picture.

  I spend the next hour studying, then get to work covering up my bruise. The green goo Candace put on it took away the pain, but the bluish-yellow color is still there. I cover it with concealer, but since I almost never wear concealer, my dad will notice it. He notices everything. Even the tiniest things. Rachel does too.

  Someone knocks on my door and I open it. "Hi, Taylor."

  "Hi." She comes inside and shuts the door. "I want to introduce you to my parents."

  "Um, okay. Where are they?"

  "They're waiting outside. I told them I had to come get you."

  "Then let's go."

  "Not yet." She takes a deep breath. "I have to get myself together first."

  "Why? Is something wrong?"

  "They brought a guy with them. A really, really hot guy."

  "Who is he?"

  "A friend of my brother's. My brother's here too. They're going golfing after parents' weekend. They wanted to go on some of the courses around here. That's why Cal and Luke came with."

  "Which one's your brother?"

  "Cal. Also named after golf clubs."