Chapter 242
After we hang up, I move to the living room and fall asleep on the sofa.
I wake to the soft click of the suite door and the faint rustle of movement.
For a second, I think I imagined it, but then I hear heels being kicked off and a very satisfied sigh.
I roll onto my side and squint at the clock, seeing it’s a few minutes to eleven.
“You’re alive,” I mumble. “That’s good p>
Lilly laughs, the sound bright and entirely too energetic for someone who disappeared last night. “Good morning to you too, sunshine p>
I push myself up on my elbows and watch her move around the room like she owns it, which, honestly, she does. Her hair is a little tousled, her makeup is smudged, and she’s humming under her breath.
“Where were you?” I ask, even though the answer feels painfully obvious.
She grins. “Went home with him p>
I snort. “I’m not even surprised… So what’s his name p>
She drops onto the edge of the bed dramatically. “His name is Lucien. Thirty-two. Owns a wine distribution company. Speaks three languages, makes a mean omelet, and snores just enough to be annoying but not enough to ruin the experience p>
I stare at her. “You learned all that in one night p>
“One night and a very enlightening breakfast,” she says smugly. “Oh and he asked me out p>
That makes me blink. “Like a real date p>
She nods. “Like a ‘dinner tomorrow if you’re free’ kind of date p>
“And?” I prompt. “Are you going p>
She shrugs, completely unbothered. “Probably not p>
I frown. “Why not? He sounds nice p>
“He is nice, and that’s the problem,” she agrees. “The sex was good. Scratched the itch beautifully. But…” She tilts her head, searching for the words. “He doesn’t make my heart do that stupid, irregular thing p>
I laugh despite myself. “You and your dramatic heart p>
“You know exactly what I mean,” she shoots back. “That feeling where your brain stops working and suddenly, you’re questioning all your life choices p>
“Unfortunately,” I sigh.
She flops back against the pillows. “I don’t want nice. I want chaos. I want intensity. I want a man who looks at me like he could ruin me and then chooses not to p>
I hum thoughtfully. “That’s what I told you before p>
She turns to look at me. “Oh p>
I say slowly. “You need someone strong enough that you don’t have to be all the time p>
Her brows lift.
“A man who can tame you,” I continue, “Who makes you feel safe enough to let go p>
She stares at me for a long moment before smiling softly. “You know, that kind of makes sense. I also want what Mom has. What our aunts and uncles have p>
“You’ll find it,” I tell her without hesitation. “You always do p>
She exhales, then yawns. “God, I need sleep p>
She pauses, then squints at me. “By the way, what the hell happened with Noah last night p>
I stiffen.
“Nothing,” I say quickly.
She gives me a look. “I’ve known him my entire life. I have never—never—seen him react like that. Not even with Chloe p>
“He was just angry a stranger was talking to me,” I insist.
“And that explains the murder in his eyes?” she asks dryly.
I hesitate, memories of last night flashing through my mind: his grip, his voice, and the way he looked at me like I was something he might lose.
I shake my head. “When has Noah ever been jealous over me p>
Lilly sits up slowly. “Oh. You really don’t know p>
My stomach drops. “Know what p>
She exhales. “Okay. High school. Sophomore year. You remember that guy. Leo? The one who kept bringing you coffee p>
I blink. “Yeah p>
“Noah punched him p>
“What?” I sit up fully now. “No, he didn’t p>
“He absolutely did,” she says. “Cornered him behind the gym. Told him to stay the hell away from you p>
I stare at her, stunned. “That makes no sense. Noah hated me back then p>
“He didn’t,” she says quietly. “He just didn’t know what to do with how he felt p>
“And the boy back when we were in campus?” she says, “The one who used to bring you a rose flower every day p>
“He finally stopped and started avoiding me” my mind goes back to those days.
“Well, that was because Noah told him that you are his and if he didn’t stop, there would be hell to pay p>
I stay there completely shocked.
She keeps going, listing things I never noticed: him snapping at guys who flirted with me, hovering too close at parties, and the cold glares whenever someone else made me laugh.
“All of that happened before college,” she adds. “Before Chloe p>
My chest tightens.
“Only Chloe, Gunner, Noah, and I knew,” she continues. “He made us swear not to tell you p>
“Why?” I whisper.
She shakes her head. “That’s what I never understood. One day he was like that. So obsessive with you and the next, he announced he was dating Chloe p>
I sit in silence, processing, then finally shake my head. “It doesn’t matter. It was a long time ago p>
She smirks. “Whatever you say p>
She stands and stretches. “We’ve got a charity auction gala tonight, so be prepared p>
She disappears into her room, leaving me alone with thoughts I don’t want to have.