Chapter Six
APOLLO
I’ve never considered myself the caretaking type. About as close as I’ve come is taking care of myself when I didn’t have anyone else to do it. I wasn’t as unfortunate as to lose my parents the way Lily did. But I didn’t have a whole lot of support from mine when I left home to pursue acting. Their tune changed when I landed my break-out role. Suddenly, I was the best thing since sliced bread and 'they always knew I could do it.'
I didn’t let them get away with that shit. They got a big piece of my mind for leaving me high and dry when just a gift card would have made all the difference in the world.
Maybe I should have cut them out completely, the way they did me. My heart couldn’t take being that cold. And I’m thankful for the amicable relationship now. Especially after meeting Lily. Her parents can't come back. She’s had no one to take care of her while she’s been taking care of everyone else.
That needs to change.
I wanted to start last night. Hugging is a pretty standard greeting in my world but it can still be awkward sometimes. Having to hug someone in public you don’t really like because you never know who’s watching and the last thing you want is another sensationalized story on the homepage of a billion blogs. But that’s not at all what hugging Lily was like. Holding her came so naturally. I never wanted to let her go.
That’s why I’m bummed to find she’s already gone this morning. I was really hoping to get my arms around her again before she left for work.
She must have gotten up at the crack of fucking dawn. It’s only seven-thirty and the only thing confirming that she actually exists is the note she left on the table.
Apollo,
Sorry to abandon you. I left Mr. Davis’ house in a bit of a hurry to pick you up last night. Thought I’d swing by his place and check in on him before heading to work. Anyway. Help yourself to anything you can find to eat. Though, there’s not much. Sorry… See you tonight!
Lily
Below her name is her phone number and the words 'just in case.' I don’t waste a second saving it in my phone and typing out a text.
I'm not even halfway through my superbly flirty text letting her know how sad I was to find her gone and asking if I should be jealous of this Mr. Davis when my phone buzzes with my agent’s name on the screen.
Shit.
I should answer. If for no other reason than to find out if she got rid of the press in town. Even though I don’t plan on leaving until I have to, it would be nice to know that I don’t have to worry about being spotted by them if I even stick my nose out the door. Since they wouldn’t recognize that part of me anymore, I probably could stick my nose out the door.
Chuckling to myself, I answer the call.
“I put out the bait. Should know in a day or two if they took it. You can stay put for now,” she rattles off without even letting me say hello.
“Like I need your permission…” I say making sure to roll my eyes heavily enough for her to hear it.
She huffs in my ear. “Whatever. Just let me know when you’re ready to leave and I’ll call you a car.”
“You know, you really should stop living so deeply in denial and instead prepare for the real likelihood I’ll never be ready to leave.” If I had to make the choice, right now? There’s no question. I’d stay. Don’t have a clue about Lily but I’m willing to take the chance. Find out if there's more than a living arrangement between us.
“I’m not arguing with you about this again. You know what you have to do and what happens if you don’t. I’ll have my phone on me.” She says a curt goodbye and hangs up before I can return it.
My morning was going so well but now I can’t bring myself to send the flirty text to Lily. Instead, I just sit at the kitchen table with my face buried in my hands.
Trying to pull myself out of the pit my agent put me in, I drag my hands down my face while taking a deep breath. When I finally open my eyes, they settle on the refrigerator.
My stomach rumbles.
From what Lily said, I’m not going to find much. I can’t help thinking it can’t be any barer than my own fridge has been the last week or so.
But I would be wrong.
Very, very wrong.
There’s nothing in here but condiments and a couple of bottles of wine. The closest thing to solid food is the mostly empty jar of pickles.
With extremely low expectations, I check the freezer.
