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Afterdrivingaroundfora bit, Lilly parks in her friend’s driveway and marches up to Dawn's house, fuming. She needs to vent some of the dark emotions swirling inside her since she left Gage standing on Maverick’s porch.
When Dawn opens the door, Lilly doesn't even bother with pleasantries. "Can you believe what Gage did?" she snaps.
Dawn looks both confused and concerned. "What happened?" she asks as she moves out of the way. Lilly stomps by her into the kitchen.
"He read Maverick's journal!" Lilly shouts. "How could he do that? Maverick's only been dead for a few weeks. It's a complete invasion of privacy."
Dawn nods sympathetically, then shuts the door and walks to the counter. "I can understand why you're upset. You and Mav were close. It's definitely not right to read someone's private thoughts without their consent, but I think death may negate that rule."
"Wewereclose," Lilly says, ignoring the rest of Dawn’s statement, but her anger starts to dissipate. "But then Gage tried to defend himself, saying he was just curious about who Maverick was as a person. He said he didn't mean any harm."
Dawn raises an eyebrow. "Well, maybe he didn't realize how much it would upset you. I don't think he had any malicious intent."
She shakes her head. "That's not the point. It's still a violation of trust. Maverick wrote those things down for himself, not for anyone else to see."
"I get it, but was it your trust or Maverick’s? Because he didn’t know Mav, so there is nothing to break. You’ve always been protective of Maverick. It makes sense that that instinct would continue even after he’s gone," Dawn says, placing a comforting hand on Lilly's shoulder. "Maybe you could talk to Gage and explain why it was so hurtful to you. It could be a chance for him to learn why you’re so mad about it."
Lilly pinches the bridge of her nose. What Dawn said makes sense. She sighs. "I guess you're right. I'll try to talk to him and see if he understands why I feel what he did was wrong, but it still doesn't excuse his behaviour."
Dawn cocks her head to the side and purses her lips. "At least it's a step toward making things right." Dawn turns and pulls down a couple of glasses from the shelf in the kitchen. “Drink?”
“Whiskey,” Lilly says and moves to the couch in the living room.
“On it,” Dawn calls out.
Her friend enters the room, and Lilly’s eyes widen as she spots the large glass bottle in her hand. “You didn’t have a smaller bottle?”
“Had to break out the big barrels,” she says with a wink and takes a seat on the couch. Dawn pours them each a healthy amount.
Lilly takes her glass and raises it. “Cheers,” she says, then downs half.
Dawn takes the drink from her. “Slow down there, sport. I know you’re pissed off, but I don’t need you pissed off and hammered. You may end up killing your mate.” She chuckles, putting the glass down on the coffee table. “Okay, change of subject. How are things coming along with the security plans? Is Matt calling another meeting soon?”
Why is she changing the subject? Lilly’s temper flares, then full stops.Oh, shit. She’s right. I may be protective of Maverick, but Dawn was the one who had to put him down. Lilly’s heart sinks. What kind of a callous fool would bring this up to Dawn? Guilt rears its ugly head, and shame washes over her. She never took Dawn’s feelings about Maverick into consideration, nor what the other woman was forced to do. Still, Dawn being Dawn, she didn’t call her out on her shit. No, she’s the one being a good friend, and Lilly needs to let it drop.
Leaning forward, she nods. “I heard more clones could possibly be coming our way to help.”
Dawn tenses.
Lilly straightens. “Okay, spill. What’s going through that beautiful head of yours?”
“Clocked that, did you?” Dawn snorts.
Lilly smirks. “Yeah. Out with it.”
Dawn stands and begins to pace. “It’s not that I don’t appreciate the help. Lord knows we may need it. It’s just… I don’t know… got me thinking.”
“Oh, boy.” Lilly rolls her eyes.
“Hear me out. We’ve always believed that our facility was the only one with survivors. Hell, we didn’t even know about the clones until Beth. What if we weren’t?”
“Weren’t what? The only Homani facility?” Her friend bites her lip then inclines her head. Lilly covers her mouth with both hands. “Oh, shit.”
“Yeah.” Dawn sighs, “I mean, it’s highly unlikely, but now, I’ll always wonder.”
So will I.The implications… “Do you think–”
There’s a knock on the front door, interrupting their conversation.
