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“Lilly,” he smiles.
For a moment, I feel like things might be awkward because of that kiss last night, but they don’t seem to be. Or, perhaps, he’s trying not to make them so, because of Marley. In either case, I appreciate it.
Because I couldn’t keep kissing him last night. I couldn’t sleep with him. I wanted to. I wanted it more badly than I ever thought it was possible to want someone, to need someone, but I couldn’t do it. I was torn by the offer that was still before me, when I wasn’t sure what to do with it, and sleeping with him in such a state, felt like a betrayal, as if I were doing something behind his back.
Even now, I’m doing something behind his back. I know I am. And I also have to make sure that he doesn’t find out, because he won’t take it well. He might not understand that I did it so I can prove his innocence. I didn’t do it out of any selfish desires. Well… my dad… it’s not all about him here.
Before, I had only one man I cared about in my life. It was easy. Now, I feel like there are two. And I was forced to choose between them. Hopefully, I’ve made the right decision.
“You’re early,” he tells me, stepping aside to let me in. “Earlier than usual. Much earlier.”
“Don’t worry, I don’t expect overtime,” I say, wondering if maybe I’ve crossed the line, but his smile assures me it’s fine.
“You do deserve to be paid overtime for everything you do around here,” I hear him say, and my heart jumps with joy. It’s difficult to keep my happiness subdued, so I just smile.
“Thank you for saying that,” I tell him, as I walk towards the kitchen, and he follows, “but you know how I feel about working here.”
He pauses for a moment. “You know that the guest room is still waiting for you, if you want it.”
“I know,” I nod. Now is the perfect moment to accept that offer. “I think I might make it into a habit to stay the night here several times a week. In the guestroom, of course,” I quickly add, not wanting him to understand me the wrong way.
He grins at what I added. “I know what you meant. And, about that kiss last night…” he starts, but I stop him right there.
“No need to explain,” I shake my head. “Really.”
“No, there is,” he corrects me. “I don’t want you to think that I only do that when I’m trying to take advantage of the situation or– “
“No, no, of course not,” I assure him that’s not what I think.
If anything, I feel like I’m the one taking advantage of the situation, spending as much time as I can with both him and Marley, even when I don’t really have to be there. This is what I want to tell him, but I bite my tongue in time. I don’t know if that’s what he wants to hear at all. It’s better to just keep it to myself, at least until this mess dies down.
“I respect you, Lilly,” he says gravely, but with his chest all naked and glistening, it’s hard to focus on his face. “More than you could ever imagine.”
“I– ” I start, but the sound of little footsteps interrupts me, and Marley’s little voice explodes all around us.
“Lilly!” she shouts, then jumps into my arms, something she doesn’t usually do.
We hug, we kiss, but it is always much more measured. This time, it’s almost as if she hasn’t seen me in ages, and she’s missed me terribly. For a moment, it reminds me of the way she greets Dominic in the evening, when he gets back from work.
This is how she should be greeting her mother and father…
The thought almost fills my eyes with tears. The emotions are too overpowering, and I quickly inhale, fighting them back.
“So?” I say getting up and releasing her from my embrace. “What were you thinking of having for breakfast?”
“Waffles!” Marley shouts, throwing her hands up in the air. “Waffle morning party!” Still shouting that, she runs to the kitchen.
I turn to Dominic. “I don’t envy you,” he tells me, with a chuckle, then turns around and goes back to his room, to get ready for work.
I would beg to differ, I think to myself. I think there are a lot of reasons for many to envy me but now might not be the right time to discuss them…
Chapter Twenty
Dominic
She rejected me, and yet, I feel like we’re closer than ever. There was something about her smile this morning which assured me that there is more hiding behind it, but I had no time to try and discover her secret. I left for work, leaving both her and Marley in a great mood, and that is exactly how I found them that evening when I returned.
