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With one task completed, my mind drifts back to the conversation in which Lily leaves for being under suspicion. It hurt me to see her go and I glared at James for allowing it to happen.
I still feel angry, but I know his reasons are sound, even if I don’t agree with his reasons. More files are going to turn up missing unless he finds the person responsible or we get a responsible person here to investigate.
Turning the computer off, I grab my keys and jacket, deciding to drop by Lily’s place. I shut off the light and see that James is still at his desk working on the issue.
“Knock, knock,” I say, peering into his office. “I’m out for the remainder of the night. Just giving you a heads up.”
He looks up from the papers he’s writing on, “Thanks.”
“Don’t burn too much of the midnight oil, man. Yolo,” I say back.
He raises his hands, still holding the papers and has an inquisitive look on his face. “What?”
“You know, you only live once. Yolo,” I smile and smack the door frame as I leave.
Getting behind the wheel of the car, I take in a deep breath. The new car smell is still there, just barely hanging on. I start the engine and turn off the lot, heading straight for Lily’s house.
I hope she’ll let me in and give me a chance to explain James’s words and actions. Sighing, I think about how to approach the topic, whether to slip it into the conversation until it’s all out, or do I just go in there guns blazing, making it the first thing to discuss?
Deciding the latter would be best, I turn onto her street and park in her driveway. As I walk up the path, I see through her sheer curtains that she’s in the same robe from last night, with a glass of wine in her hands.
Man, this sucks.
I knock on the door and at first there is no answer or anything from the inside of her house. Knocking once more, she flings the door wide in haste, spilling some of the wine on her robe and knocking some pictures off of the table behind the door.
“See? See what happens every time one of you guys comes around?” she sets the wine down and goes to the kitchen, returning with a cloth.
I can tell that she’s still angry and just venting words to hurt me at the moment. “Look, Lily,” I start. “James is just checking out any and every angle to include me and you.”
“Yeah, but you didn’t just start a couple of weeks ago, did ya?” She draws the front curtains so that they are closed, and I can’t tell if that’s a bad thing or a good thing.
Hanging my head, I sit on her couch and then look over as she sits down in a huff. “No, Lily. I didn’t just start a couple of weeks ago and I know you feel that James is picking on you.”
“You don’t know how I feel!” she screams at me. “For all I know, you both are in cahoots and he sent you here to calm me down!”
“Let’s just calm down, before something gets said that we can’t come back from,” I say standing and showing my hands in an effort to that very thing.
Lily stands and throws the cloth at me, “Just say what you’re going to say and get out of my sight!”
“Lily, don’t be stupid,” I say and immediately I regret my choice of words. The anger on her face switches to hurt and tears well up in her eyes.
“So, I’m stupid now, is that it?” She crosses her arms and looks toward the kitchen.
“I’m sorry and no, I don’t think you’re stupid. And no, James did not send me over here to calm you down. He doesn’t know that I’m here.”
Her face softens as the tears flow down her cheeks. Sitting on the sofa, Lily covers her face with her hands. Sitting beside her, I take her into my arms and rock her gently.
I swipe some rogue strands of hair from her eyes when she removes her hands from her face. Slipping a finger under her chin, I lift her face up until our eyes lock.
She’s so beautiful. Even with make-up smears.
“Lily, I know you are hurt by James, but I promise you that he doesn’t mean to. In fact, he really doesn’t think you did anything at all,” I say.
Her chin quivers above my finger and my heart fills with a profound sadness. “Okay,” she sniffles, looking down at her feet. “I’ll try to think of it that way.” Looking up and into my eyes, she adds, “and I’m sorry for the accusations I leveled at you.”
“There isn’t a thing that you could do that I wouldn’t forgive you for,” I say and lean in for a kiss.
I feel her arms wrap around my waist as she returns the kiss, pressing her body into mine. I grab her ass and pick up, heading toward the couch, setting her down. There, I get undressed and take off her robe.
