The Apartment (An Apartment Novel Book 1)
Page 32
A part of her wondered if she should have come clean about her affair, but she couldn’t find any reason to hurt him more than necessary. If it had come down to it, if he hadn’t been so understanding and had demanded another reason, she would have told him. But as it was, she was just happy it was finally over. She knew that telling him anything more now would only serve to lessen her guilt, and in her mind that guilt was her own punishment to bear.
She looked around the dark kitchen, food the furthest thing from her mind, and wondered what she was going do now. She had finally started down a new path, but she wouldn’t be able to spend it with the person she cared most about. Sighing deeply, she pushed back her tears and forced herself to think about the topic at hand.
George.
She knew he would be home any minute, so she spent what quiet time she had left preparing herself for the inevitable confrontation.
He walked into the kitchen about ten minutes later, surprised to find her waiting for him in a silent house with a mug of hot cocoa in her hand. It was still fairly full, since her diminished appetite had only allowed her a few sips, but she figured it might be helpful to have something to do with her hands during the upcoming conversation.
“Lil?” he asked, sensing something was up. “What’s going on?”
“Pull up a chair,” she said as calmly as possible, trying to keep her voice from wavering.
“Alright,” he said hesitantly. Once he was seated across from her, he sighed loudly. “Want to tell me what this is all about?”
“Listen. I have some news, and I didn’t think it should wait.”
“Are you pregnant?” he asked, a slight enthusiastic edge to his voice.
“No!” she gasped. “God, no! Why on earth would you think that?”
“Well, you said you had news. Forgive me for jumping to conclusions. So? Whatcha got for me?”
Lily took a deep breath. “I’m moving out.”
There was a beat of silence. “Oh,” he replied quietly. “So soon?”
“Soon? Dad, it’s been three years.”
“I know. I guess I just figured you two would wait until closer to the wedding. So, where are you guys going to live?”
“Actually, that’s the other part of my news. I’m moving out alone. The engagement is off.”
“Are you alright?” he asked quickly. “What happened? Did you fight? Did he hurt you? Do I need to kick his ass?”
“Slow down, Dad. Take a breath.”
“Tell me what happened, Lil.”
“We ended it.”
“Care to be more specific?” George asked sarcastically.
“We both agreed that we aren’t the right people for each other. There wasn’t any one thing that happened, Dad. We aren’t mad at each other, there was no big fight. We just aren’t together anymore.”
“Not right for each other?” he yelled. “What are you talking about? You two are a perfect couple!”
“Not even close, Dad.”
“I just don’t get it,” George sighed, running his hands through his hair. “He’s a great kid, Lily. He’s always treated you well.”
“If you love him so much why don’t you marry him, then?” she snapped, regretting it instantly when he winced. “Listen, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that. But you’re supposed to care about what I want and need, and it’s not Scott. It hasn’t been for a long time, and I finally found the courage to admit it to him. I didn’t think we had any business getting married when we just weren’t in love.”
“But he loved you. That was easy to see.”
“Yes, he loved me. And I loved him. But it wasn’t the right kind of love, Dad. I hope you understand because I need that to be enough for you.”
“I’m sorry, this is just a lot to take in. You swear you’re okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine. And so is Scott, don’t worry. I know you care about him. You can still hang out with him whenever you want. I won’t mind. But I’m not going to be here to bust my ass making you both dinner anymore.”
“You mean you’re still moving out? Why?”
“Dad, really? I’m almost thirty, single, and living with my father. It’s time for me to be on my own.”
“But… but who’s gonna help me out around here? You know my leg still bothers me.”
“Your leg is fine. You’ve just gotten used to having me wait on you hand and foot, and now you don’t like the thought of going back to what it was like before. Well, if I remember correctly, you used to whine and moan when I first moved in, telling me over and over again how you somehow managed to get by on your own for over twenty years without my help. Now’s your chance to prove it.”
Lily could see him blinking rapidly, and on closer inspection, she noticed that his eyes looked watery.
“That’s not it,” he whispered, swallowing a lump in his throat. “I’ll be fine. I admit I’ve gotten a little lazy around here, but I think I can remember how to use the microwave. It’s just that I’m really going to miss you around here. I love you, Lil.”
She could probably count on one hand how many times she had heard her father say that.
“I love you, too. And it’s not like I’m going back to Minnesota and you’ll never see me again. I’m just moving into an apartment across town. I’ll even have you over for Sunday breakfast someday.”
“I guess that’s not so bad,” he said. Lily watched as his thick mustache twitched at the corners, eventually turning up into a smile. “At least you’ll finally get those damn cats out of here.”
“Hey! Don’t knock the Fraggle twins. I know you secretly love them.”
After a few uncomfortable moments of silence he glanced at his watch. “I should probably be getting to bed. I have to be at the school early tomorrow.” He stood up from the table, wiping at his eyes quickly when he thought she wasn’t looking. As he turned to leave, he stopped and looked at her one more time. “Are you sure you’re going to be okay, kiddo?”
“Yeah, Dad. I think everything is going to be just fine.”
She almost believed it.
* * *
After George went to bed, she slowly made her way upstairs and got ready to turn in herself. It wasn’t until she was settled underneath the covers that she finally lost control of her thoughts, allowing all of the memories to come flooding back again.
Ethan, holding her tightly in the dark, stroking her bare shoulders and kissing her softly.
Ethan, waking her up in the middle of the night with his wandering fingers.
Ethan, smiling and laughing as she tickled him playfully.
When she couldn’t take any more, Lily rolled over onto her side and cried herself to sleep.
About the Author
Amanda Black was born and raised in the Midwest, where she still lives with her husband and spoiled-rotten dogs. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Studio Art before deciding that she actually needed to pay some bills, which is when she took a position as an ophthalmic technician. For the past few years she’s been a closet romance writer in her spare time and would love nothing more than to make it a full-time career. When she’s not writing her next steamy love scene, her interests include reading, sketching, and annihilating her friends and family in movie trivia.
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental.
Full Fathom Five Digital is an imprint of Full Fathom Five
The Apartment
Copyright © 2014 by Amanda Black
All rights reserved.
No part of this text may be used or reproduced in any form, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in review, without written permission from the publisher.
For information visit Full Fathom Five Digital, a division of Full Fathom Five LLC, at
www.fullfathomfive.com
Cover design by Lisa Waldo
Kindle ISBN: 978-1-63370-009-3
First Edition
The author published an earlier, not-for-pr
ofit, serialized version of this story online.