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“I should hope you won’t,” Emma agrees with a huff. Mean.
I sink lower in my seat as sadness fills me at the thought of Oliver not being around, popping up to get me out of a jam. Maybe I should plan for a life without disasters instead of lamenting losing the person to rescue me from said disasters? Hmm, interesting idea. Time for some New Year’s resolutions, perhaps?
“Lilly, we are here.” Oliver’s voice pulls me out of my life-altering deliberations as I notice we have arrived at my apartment building. I look at Oliver’s face and can see he is not happy with the neighbourhood I am living in, in the outer suburbs of Melbourne, but hey, it’s mine, and it’s cheap!
“I’ll walk you up,” Oliver says in a determined voice, much to Emma’s dismay.
“Really, Oliver? I’m sure Laney here is perfectly capable of making her way to her own apartment.”
“Yes, Ollie,” I parrot back to him. “Laney here is perfectly capable of walking to her own apartment. I think.”
Oliver ignores both of us, giving me a look that says he does not believe I can walk the five hundred metres without incident—fair—and opens my car door, ushering me towards my building.
“Lilly, are you sure it is safe to live here?” he asks, looking around, his eyes wide with worry. I see the buildings and its surroundings through Oliver’s eyes, and I guess it looks a little dodgy. There are a few rough-looking men gathered around in groups, staring at us as we walk by, and there always seems to be a car alarm or a police siren blaring in the distance. It is only a few suburbs over from where Oliver and Amy peacefully live, but in Melbourne, those few suburbs are the difference between houses with backyard swimming pools and apartments in high-crime areas. Unfortunately for me, I am not in the former category.
“It’s fine here, Ol,” I attempt to reassure him. “I’ve made friends with Johnny over there.” I point to the biggest man in the group. I guess when looking at Johnny without knowing him, he looks a bit scary, with his blue mohawk and tattoos, but the Johnny I know is a big teddy bear.
“Hi, Johnny!” I yell at him with a cheerful wave.
Johnny’s angry-looking face breaks out into a big smile when he sees me.
“Hey, Lilly. Nice night, isn’t it?” he says in his deep voice.
“Wonderful night,” I say. “I’m going to bring you down some cookies that I am planning to bake later tonight. Any requests?”
Johnny looks at me with pure joy at this. “Anything you make, Miss Lilly, I’m sure I’ll love.”
I nod and wave goodbye, grabbing Oliver, who has been watching this exchange with a look of bemused dismay.
“C’mon, Ollie. Let’s get me safely to my front door,” I say to him, a bit tongue in cheek, having just illustrated that I have my security in this building completely under control.
Oliver shakes his head and follows me, his hand on my lower back as he half guides me, half shields me to my front door.
“You see, I bring Johnny lots of my treats, and he looks out for me. It has been a good working relationship so far,” I tell him, puffing out my chest a bit with pride.
Oliver has the decency to look somewhat impressed but is still looking around with nerves written on his face. Expecting what? I’m not sure.
“Make sure you lock your door after I leave,” he tells me as I let myself into my apartment. “And don’t forget to put the chain on.”
“Yes, Dad,” I say in a mocking tone, knowing his concern is coming from a good place but also resenting being treated like a kid.
“Thanks again for the rescue, Ollie,” I add. “I don’t know what I would do without you.”
“You won’t ever need to find out. I’ll always be here if you need me.”
“Not if Ella out there has any say in the matter,” I can’t stop myself from saying. “The way she behaves, I think she would be OK if I ran into a bit of trouble with one of Johnny’s friends out there.”
“Never say that,” Oliver admonishes me in a soft voice. “You will always be important to me.” He looks at me for a long moment and then leans in for a hug. Ahh, a hug from Oliver is as close to bliss as possible, without including chocolate. He holds on for just a little longer than is necessary, and I revel in it every time.
“Goodnight, Lil,” he says to me as he pulls away. “Lock up tight. And don’t forget to call that tow truck,” he adds, just to be annoying, as he is walking away.
“Bye, Ollie. Enjoy the rest of your night with Emilia,” I singsong back to him with a laugh.
Oliver stops and looks at me, flashes me his smile, the one with all the dimples, then turns to run down the stairs. And leaves me to sigh with a touch of longing as I turn and close the door. And lock it with the chain because I am not a complete imbecile.
CHAPTER 2
Lilly
