Chapter 5 Lily
LILY
Islump against the wall and sigh in defeat. Water is bursting in a seemingly never-ending fountain from a pipe tucked away in the hallway, next to the bathrooms of Between the Covers. My clothes are soaked, my shoes are ruined, and my spirit is utterly crushed.
How did this happen? What did I do wrong?
About ten minutes ago, a horrendous banging echoed through the otherwise silent building.
The sound rang out once, twice, three times, followed by a rushing noise, as if a train was speeding by.
There was no mistaking it or explaining the noise away…
It came from the store. I was expecting an intruder or maybe another note.
Instead, I was greeted by water flooding my store.
I should have insisted on getting the insurance information from the Fosters during our last call.
As it is, I have no idea how to even begin filing a claim.
I certainly don’t have the money to pay out of pocket.
Even though Marsha offered to cover anything I needed in the meantime, I’m sure she wasn’t expecting a flood.
But all of that, while still an urgent issue, will need to wait. Right now, I still have an active geyser in my bookstore that I’m hoping Heath knows how to fix.
“Fuck,” I groan as I lean my head against the wall. I let it rest there for a moment before thumping it against the hard surface a few times. I hate that I had to call him, but I had no other choice. It’s harder than I thought to have to depend on another person.
I try to stand up, but my feet slip and I fall flat on my face.
Rolling over onto my back, I let the water pool around me.
I don’t even care that it’s likely gross and getting debris tangled in my hair.
Nothing seems to matter anymore. Maybe if I stay here long enough, the water will consume me completely.
Before my thoughts can travel any further down that path, someone pounds on the front door.
I yelp, then scramble to my feet, catching myself on a table when I start to fall.
Shuffling my way to the front, I see the familiar silhouette of Heath.
I’m equal parts relieved that he’s here and embarrassed at needing his help.
I unlock the door and step aside, letting him get a good look at the absolute disaster zone.
My head tips down in shame, and I don’t know if I can handle his disappointment.
I’m so out of my element, stretched thin in every single way, and now I somehow fucked up the plumbing.
My dream of owning Between the Covers will be over before it really even began.
“Hey, look at me,” Heath says in a calm voice. When I don’t make a move, he rests his hands on my shoulders and squeezes lightly. “What happened, Lily?”
“I can’t get the water to stop,” I admit, still not meeting his gaze.
Heath nods and then presses his lips to my forehead. Or maybe I’m just delusional. “I’ll be right back. I’m going to shut the main water valve.” Of course. I should have known to do that. I suck at running this store, and maybe it’s time I admitted defeat.
A few moments later, I hear a grunt and a screeching noise, like metal on metal. The rushing water slows and then stops altogether. The store is still flooded, but at least no more water is being added.
Heath wades through the soggy debris until he’s in front of me again. One hand rests on my shoulder while the other gently cups my chin. “Please look at me, Lily,” he whispers.
I peer up at him, preparing to see annoyance or worse, disappointment. Instead, I’m met with emerald eyes filled with concern and something close to tenderness.
“Are you hurt, baby?”
I shake my head no, then wince as a sharp pain flashes across my right temple. “I must have hit it when I fell,” I mumble.
Heath brushes his thumb underneath the sore spot on my head, then focuses his attention on me. “You’re bleeding a bit, but I think it’s a pretty small cut. Head wounds tend to bleed a lot.”
“Great,” I mutter. Tears spring to the surface, but I swallow them down. “I better go clean myself up and then get to work down here.”
“Lily–”
“Thank you, Heath. I’m sorry I called so late,” I tell him before taking a step back. He’s seeing all my insecurities, and I’m too damn exhausted to try to hide them anymore. That’s why he needs to leave.
“It’s no problem. I’m glad I was here.” Heath takes a step forward, but I take another step back. “Let me help,” he whispers. “Why won’t you let me help?”
“There’s nothing you can do!” I shout, surprising myself and Heath with my tone. “I made this mess, so now I need to clean it up. It was silly to think I could take over this store. I’m clearly not cut out for it.”
“Lily, that’s not true. Stop telling yourself lies.” He tries stepping closer, but I back away. In my haste, my foot slips on the wet hardwood floor, and I pitch forward. “I’ve got you.”
Heath’s arms instantly surround me as he pulls me into his chest. He doesn’t let me go, even after I’ve found my balance. I half-heartedly push against his chest, but he doesn’t move. It’s like he’s proving he won’t go anywhere.
“I’ve got you,” he repeats. One hand spreads over my lower back, keeping me anchored to him, while the other comes up to cup the back of my head.
“I know you’re not used to having someone around, but I need you to believe me when I say I’ll always be here.
You’re not alone anymore, Lily. Do you trust me? ”
I sniffle and bury my face between his neck and shoulder, letting him rock me back and forth. “I want to,” I manage to squeak out between rounds of tears.
“I promise I won’t let you down,” he says. It sounds more like a vow, one that he takes very seriously. “Can you tell me what happened?” Heath peels me off his chest, then cups my face in his hands. “Shit. First, let me take care of this cut. I can’t breathe when you’re bleeding.”
I furrow my brow, then wince as the skin pulls against my wound. “I have a first aid kit upstairs.”
Heath nods and then surprises the hell out of me by scooping me up in his arms. I’m about to protest, but then he grins at me and presses another kiss to my forehead. “I hate the circumstances that led me here, but I don’t mind having you in my arms again.”
Despite everything, I find myself blushing. He’s just being nice, right? Teasing me for old time’s sake. There’s no way Heath, my first and only crush, wants me the way I want him.
He easily bounds up the stairs, even though he’s carrying all my weight. The door is slightly ajar from when I dashed downstairs, and Heath kicks it open before setting me down. We’re both dripping wet, and my head is starting to throb.
I take a few steps toward the bathroom, tilting slightly to the right with each step. I can’t seem to get my balance, but Heath doesn’t let me fall. Without a word, he guides me toward the bathroom and then helps me sit on the edge of the tub.
I feel completely useless and pathetic as he grabs the first aid kit out of the medicine cabinet and gathers the supplies he needs. His eyes meet mine, and he caresses my cheek, wiping a few tears away. “Let me take care of you, sweet girl. You deserve to be loved in this way.”
Love? Surely, he didn’t mean it like that. The sincerity shining in his green eyes, however, makes me think he might actually be serious.
Heath wets a washcloth and gently cleans the blood from my forehead and right temple before drying the area off.
I can’t take my eyes off him as he swipes a disinfectant wipe over the cut, then applies a bandage.
He looks over his handiwork, then presses his lips slightly above my wound as if kissing it all better. If anyone could, it’d be Heath.
“Thank you,” I whisper, feeling all kinds of vulnerable in front of him.
“Never thank me for taking care of you, Lily. You have no idea how much I…” He trails off, running a hand through his hair. Heath looks away from me and blows out a breath, debating whether he should finish his sentence.
“How much you…?” Forest green eyes focus back on me, searching my gaze for… something.
“How much I want to be the one you turn to,” he finally admits.
I stare at him, slack-jawed, unable to comprehend his words. I must have a concussion. Yes. That’s the only thing that makes sense.
“Before we unpack that, I need to know what happened tonight. This wasn’t an accident, and it wasn’t your fault. Something sinister went down, and I have to get the details so I know how to protect you.”
I open my mouth to explain everything, but then a chill rattles my bones and causes my teeth to chatter. I’m freezing, but I can’t bring myself to move. I’m afraid Heath will leave, or I’ll wake up in my store, surrounded by water, realizing this was all a dream and I’m alone, just like always.
“Actually, change of plans,” he says as he stands.
Heath holds out his hand, and I slip mine in his.
“Your water up here should still be on since I only shut off the water for the store. Go ahead and warm up with a shower, then come find me on the couch.” He pulls me into a standing position, then wraps me up in his embrace.
It’s like he knows I need this from him, even when I don’t know it myself.
“Thank you,” is all I can manage to say. “I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.”
“This isn’t a transaction, Lily,” he soothes. “I don’t want anything in return. I already told you, all I want is to take care of you, if you’ll let me.”
“But… why?”
Heath takes a step back, keeping his hands on my shoulders to steady me. “I’ll tell you when you’re out of the shower and changed into warm clothes. Can’t have you catching a cold now.” He winks as he takes a few steps backward through the bathroom door.
“You know that’s a myth. You can’t catch a cold from being cold.”
He grins, and good Lord, I’m starting to warm up already. How can I not with that smoldering look? “I don’t want to take any chances,” he replies with a wink.
I shoo him out the door before I do something I can't take back, like pull him against me and beg him to give me my first kiss.