AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I turn down the volume on my worries.
Those are future Lily’s problems.
PresentLily is going to enjoy every ounce of this fucking summer before life suffocates her again.
Chapter18
Nico
“Canyou put some of this on me?” I lean down to grab a bottle of sunscreen beside Lily’s beach chair, swiping grains of sand off my palms.
“Have you forgotten how to use your hands?” Her eyes remain focused on the waves washing up on the shore, but there’s playful sarcasm in her voice even as she takes the bottle out of my fingers and uncaps the tube.
Always such a sweet little brat.
“They’re a bit sore from this morning.”
It’s been a few days since Lily decided to spend the rest of the summer with me, and things seem back to normal—apart from the fact that I’m making a conscious effort to be different around her. But Lily seems to be opening up to me again.
The most obvious move in the right direction was when she supposedlyforgotto put on underwear last night when we sat down to watchInterview with the Vampire.
“This is the second time you’ve forgotten sunscreen this week.” Annoyance sticks in her throat now.
“I appreciate you letting me use yours, Lily. It’s nice having you around.”
“Fine,” she huffs. “But only because you gave me a compliment that wasn’t about my ass.”
“I can give you one of those if you want.” I watch her green irises absorb the midday sun, and the faint hint of a dimple in her cheeks is obvious. “Before I forget, I booked the rental in Soho you liked.”
“Seriously?” Lily beams. “That place was like a bajillion dollars.”
“Don’t worry about it, I have anin.” And by that, I mean I have a great Black Card concierge service. “Also, Luca upgraded their honeymoon suite to a three-bedroom for our visit to the Azores. This way, he can, and I quote,keep an eye on us.”
“What does he think we’re going to do? Wake them up with a peep show?”
“Wecould,” I offer. “To get back at him.”
“Shut up and sit down.” She squirts a large glob of suntan lotion into her hands.
“You’re sexy when you’re bossy.”
I plop down between her legs on the beach chair, my back facing her. Lily massages the warm cream onto each of my aching shoulder blades, working through the knots in my sore muscles with care.
Lily’s breath tickles my neck. “I always wondered what this tattoo below your chest is meant to be.”
I glance down to where her hands work sunscreen into the left side of my body. “Kelp.”
She lets out a loud snort. “Oh, I’m so glad I asked. Don’t want this to come off the wrong way, but I thought it kind of looked like sperm.”
It does not.
“You spent all last summer drooling over my body even when you thought I had rows of semen tattooed to me?” I chuckle. “Talk about being head over heels.”
Lily lands a smack on my back.
“Only one of us spent last summer drooling, and it was you.”True. “I still had a touch of sanity back then.”
“Are you trying to say myspermtattoo is doing it for you now?” I tease.
