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This is my chance to convince her to stay.
“I can’t really afford to spend all summer doing this,” Lily insists.“I need to be back in the city to find a job before the fall semester.”
“I’d be happy to cover the entire trip,” I offer.
Lily shoots me a glare, but returns to her back-and-forth with Avery.
Money is not the issue here. In the past, when my dates found out I’m the creator of Flight Falcon, they immediately acted differently around me. Being on a Thirty Under Thirty list, all those years ago, made them forget I’m a person—not a wallet with legs.
Lily must know about my success, and she manages to treat me the same. If, occasionally, with a little extra distance and bite.
But maybe that’s how a true friend acts.
A friend I occasionally—or very often—fantasize about in very un-friend-like ways.
“You deserve a break,” Avery pleads, pulling me back into their debate. “All you do is work and go to school. Everyone needs some time off.”
A voice of reason sent to me from above. There’s no way Lily will ignore her best friend’s advice.
“Yeah, yeah,” Lily says dismissively. She reaches for her phone, but I yank it out of her grasp.
Luca sidebars with his wife as if they’re not literally on camera in front of us. “I don’t like this. Think of everything that can go wrong.”
Avery whispers something into his ear, making my brother look as excited as when he buys a suit. Alright, we have a few minutes before this conversation goes in an entirely different direction.
Lily senses the boiling tension on the other side of the video call. She clears her throat. “Don’t worry. I’m only staying a month.”
“You always give me tough love. It’s time for you to hear it too.” Avery’s brows snap together with ironclad seriousness. “There’s nothing waiting for you in New York City right now, Lily.”
“Ouch, Ave. Definitely didn’t need a reminder.” Lily’s hands clasp together. I much preferred it when she was taking out her agitation on me. “Besides, I don’t need this makeshift you-work-too-hard intervention from all three of you with your successful careers.”
She has a point there.
“You know that’s not what this is,” Avery says. “I want to see you happy.”
“I am happy.”
An awkwardness returns to the call. Maybe this is what Luca meant about complicating things between Lily and me.
Avery’s voice returns to the speaker. “Fine. I love you and I’ll talk to you later.”
All of us quickly say our goodbyes and hang up the call.
I turn to face Lily, whose previously agitated expression is gone. “Well, that was fun.”
“Sure.”
I set her phone down and rake my fingers through my hair. “The real question is what are you going to tell Ave about our kiss?”
“I’ll have to tell her the truth.” Lily shrugs.
My heart cycles with the speed of a hummingbird’s wings. “Oh yeah, and what’s the truth?”
“It was one of the worst I’ve ever had.”
Should’ve seen that coming.
“It’s so easy for you to lie to yourself,” I tease. At least she’s not ignoring the fact that the kiss happened.
