Lily was still in the kitchen, and she stilled at the sight of my father barging in. She set the box of pasta she was holding on the counter and closed the cabinet.
I wasn’t sure what to expect. I hadn’t wanted Lily to meet my father this soon, if ever. Not because of her or anything she did, but because ofhim. I didn’t want her to meet him and see me differently. I also didn’t want my father to be aware that Lilyand I were together, because I wouldn’t put it past him to use it against me, against us.
“Seriously?” he scoffed, looking at me. “Let me guess. You go to Golden Falls and now want to stick around for some piece of ass? You couldn’t get that in the city?”
“Hey, don’t—” I stepped forward. My voice was louder and my tone firmer than any time I’d spoken to him. Maybe I’d never been able to stand up to my father for myself, but I sure as hell wasn’t going to let him talk about Lily that way.
“God, Gabriel. You went there forbusiness. Don’t be so fucking pathe?—”
“No, you don’t get to do this.” Lily’s voice was sharp, stern. I almost didn’t recognize it. I’d never heard her like this. She left the kitchen, marching into the hallway so she was closer to me and my father. “You don’t get to come to Gabe’s apartment and talk to him this way.” She was eerily calm and composed. Her expression was neutral, but her hands were balled into fists at her sides.
My father reared back, a rare expression of surprise on his face. “Excuse me?”
People didn’t stand up to my father, oftentimes because it meant putting their careers on the line. It was certainly why I had held my tongue for so long.
But Lily held her ground, straightening her spine and looking up at him. “You’re not going to stand here and talk to Gabe like this.”
“This conversation doesn’t concern you. I don’t think you realize who you’re?—”
“I know exactly who I’m speaking to. What I don’t know is why you’re still here when he said this isn’t a good time.”
My father scoffed, looking between us. “Whatever this is”—he gestured between us—“it’s never fucking going to work. Youthink I’m going to let you live and work from Golden Falls? Your littlevacationis over, Gabriel. Your job is here.”
He didn’t have to say it, but I knew what he meant.I own you.
“Gabe is exploring his options, actually. He might decide to come back, but he also might decide to pursue a different opportunity.” Lily took a step forward. “His non-compete agreement is unenforceable, and we both know that. You’ll be hearing from his lawyer.”
What did she mean the non-compete was unenforceable? Was she saying that to get my father to leave, or was it actually true? Because if the non-compete wasn’t an issue…well, that changed everything.
Countless thoughts and questions swarmed my mind, but the one that rose to the top was how Lily was standing up for me without any hesitation.
A past version of me might’ve been worried about the repercussions on my career and relationship with my father. Butthisversion of me was in awe of Lily. I also finally came to terms that my relationship with my father had been damaged for a long time. Now that I fully allowed myself to appreciate what it meant to have people like Liam, Lily, and Hal on my side, I didn’t want to go back to being isolated when it came to my father or only focusing on work.
My father’s face turned a shade of red I didn’t think was possible. He didn’t say another word as he stalked past me and slammed the door shut.
Once he was gone, Lily exhaled deeply and unclenched her fists. Her eyebrows pinched together as she ran a hand through her hair. “I’m so sorry if I overstepped,” she said quickly. “I know your relationship with him is strained, and that probably didn’t help, but I hated how he was speaking to you, and I couldn’t stand by and?—”
I crossed the short distance between us and took her face in my hands and kissed her deeply. No one had ever stood up for me like that, and especially not to my father. Hell, I hadn’t ever stood up formyselflike that.
Any tension I was feeling left my body. My chest expanded, a rush of energy and awe surging through me. “Lily, that was,” I murmured against her lips, “so fucking badass.”
Her shoulders relaxed, and she leaned further into me. Her fingers wrapped around my shirt to keep me close. “You’re not mad?” she whispered.
I pulled away, continuing to gently cradle her face in my hands. “Are you kidding me?” I asked with a gentle laugh. “No, I’m not mad. I’m proud. I’m grateful. I’m inaweof you. Just when I thought you couldn’t get any more incredible.” I shook my head. “I’ve never had someone stand up for me like that. You don’t realize how much that meant to me. You are the bravest woman I know, Lily Richards. In so many ways.”
She blinked up at me. “You think I’m brave?”
“Among so many other things,” I murmured to her.
She dropped her gaze down, focusing on how her fingers were fiddling with the buttons on my shirt. “Well, since you think that,” she said, looking up at me through her lashes, “I think I should be brave in one more way.”
My brows furrowed, and I stayed quiet to give her the space to get her words out.
“I love you, Gabriel Nelson. I fell in love with you without expecting it. And I understand if you can’t say it back, if you still view it as transactional or if you’re not ready. I get it. You said you were more open to love…and it doesn’t have to be with me, but I’m willing to put my heart on the line and prove to you that loveisn’ttransactional.” Lily spoke quickly, barely taking a breath between sentences.
Time stopped. My vision tunneled. My fingers tangled in her hair. I needed her closer.
Lily loved me.
