Chapter Six Lorenzo #2
Obsessive thoughts about cleanliness rise to the forefront, waging a war against my better judgment.
My inner voice is loud and intrusive as it says, She could pass that sickness along to you.
She’s drunk, not sick, I try to reason.
A re you absolutely sure, though? What if she passes something along and you’re bedridden for weeks?
Weeks? That’s ridiculous.
I’m ripped away from the conversation happening inside my head when Lily turns away from the hydrant and teeters before reaching for my thigh. Her touch is innocent, only meant to catch her balance, but heat courses through my body.
She sags against me. “I think I’m done.”
I don’t entirely believe her. “You sure?”
“I hope so, but there’s only one way to find out.”
See? She’s still not feeling well, so it can’t be the alcohol.
Oh, fuck off, I reply to myself.
I release the makeshift ponytail I made. I doubt she wants her hair in her face right now, so I gently remove the hair tie from her wrist and pull it back—something I’ve never done for another woman before.
I ignore why that is and say, “I’m going to run inside the bar and get you some water.”
“Okay.”
I pluck her hand from my thigh, ignoring the electricity shooting across my skin as I direct her toward a bench. “Stay.”
“Wasn’t planning on going anywhere.”
I rush inside Last Call, ignoring the people gathered around the window who witnessed Lily’s incident. Their attention is redirected to me as I head over to the bar for a cup of water.
The bartender tries to offer me the smallest plastic cup, so I toss a hundred-dollar bill on the counter and ask him to fill up a large plastic pitcher instead. Someone seated at the bar hands me a few sticks of gum, and I take them with a quick thanks before heading outside with Lily’s water.
I pass it to her, and she retains her gracefulness as she rinses her mouth out before taking a few delicate sips from the pitcher. It doesn’t take long for her arms to start shaking, so I hold it up for her until she says she’s done and then offer her a stick of gum.
I’m placing the pitcher on the ground when she goes to stand. She seems to overestimate her sobriety, and she stumbles forward.
I jump to my feet and wrap an arm around her to stop her from falling over. “You good?”
She leans into me and shuts her eyes. “I’ll answer once the world stops spinning.”
I take the opportunity to get a good look at her. Even with tangled hair, a sickly tinge to her skin, and smeared eye makeup, I still can’t take my eyes off her.
“I can feel you staring at me,” she says without ever opening her eyes.
I deflect in an act of self-preservation. “Your mascara is running.”
“Just when I thought tonight couldn’t get any worse.”
I grab my pocket square and wipe at her cheeks and underneath her eyes before cleaning the corners of her mouth.
Throw that infested rag away right now , the voice speaks up.
I’m about to when I look up from her mouth to find her staring back at me with wide eyes.
“What?”
She looks away. “Feeling a little dizzy.”
My arm curled around her tightens.
You’re supposed to let her go and walk away before she gets you sick . I breathe heavily through my nose.
And what are you still doing holding on to that disgusting pocket square? I drop it on the ground and kick it away right as someone calls Lily’s name.
“I thought I recognized you, but I couldn’t be sure,” the woman says to my back.
Lily’s gaze snaps toward the person, and her already wide eyes stretch to their limits.
“Jane,” she squeaks out. “What are you doing here?”
“Uh…it’s Trivia Night at Last Call.” Jane, the Rose & Thorn employee Lily recently hired, comes up to stand in front of us.
Lily turns her head and finally notices where we are. I follow her stare and clock a few people standing in front of the bar’s window. They’re quick to turn their heads, but it’s too late.
Lily and I seem to be collecting witnesses like some protection program.
“Lorenzo.” Jane shoots me an indecipherable look before her attention is diverted to the fire hydrant. “Are you okay?”
Lily winces, and I absorb the recoil like it’s my own. I’d remove my arm from around her waist, but Lily still looks shaky, so I keep my hand glued to her hip, pretending I don’t notice the slight tingle in my fingertips at the close contact.
“I’m not feeling my best,” Lily replies.
“What happened?”
“I think I got a bad case of food poisoning.”
“Oh no!” Jane’s gaze flickers over to me. “Good thing Lorenzo was here to help you.” She sounds genuine.
“Yeah, he was giving me a ride home.” Her eyes comically widen when she notices the mistake.
“From where?” Jane asks, giving me a second glance.
“Uh…” Lily scrambles, making our situation worse.
I step in. “I took her out to dinner to apologize for the incident with her car.”
Jane nods. “Ah, yes. It’s been the story of the week.”
Of course it has.
Jane’s gaze falls to the soiled sidewalk.
I intervene before she can ask any more questions. “We should get going…”
Jane smiles at Lily. “I’ll bring you some of my mom’s chicken noodle soup tomorrow. You look like you could use it.” She heads back inside Last Call, leaving Lily and me alone.
Lily slips out of my hold and manages three whole steps in the wrong direction before I loop my arm around her and direct her back to my truck.
“I really hate you,” she says as I help her inside.
After tonight’s confession, I’m inclined to believe her.