27. Lily
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
lily
Lily:
Are you in the office today?
Thoren:
Yeah, I will be all day. I have loads of paperwork to catch up on. Are you still working at Ambers?
Lily:
It’s a slow day so she told me to go home.
Lily:
Can I bring you lunch and eat with you?
Thoren:
Are you the meal?
Lily:
I’m always down to be dessert.
Thoren:
I love watching you go down.
I ’ve been helping Amber for three weeks now, since our girls’ night in town. She refuses to let me work an entire day because I refuse to get paid, but it gives her a few hours to see Jana and catch up on rest and errands. We usually spend an hour or two chatting when she comes in to take over and I have loved getting to know her better. Jana wasn’t having a good morning and needed rest, so Amber came back earlier than expected and told me to go enjoy some time with my man. I will never complain about that.
I haven’t been to Thoren’s actual office, but it is just as bland as he described. His office is small, with one window, a desk, a chair in the corner, and a dog bed where Shadow is currently napping, belly up. He’s focused on his computer when I rap my knuckles on the open door. His immediate smile warms me down to my toes, as does the heated look he gives me.
Leaning back in his chair, his thumb trails along his bottom lip. “My beautiful girl bringing me lunch? The only thing better than this would be if you lifted up that pretty dress of yours to show me what’s underneath.”
I put the takeout bag and my purse on his desk, rounding it to his side. Shadow’s tail thumps against the wall, but she remains sprawled on her back as I stand in front of Thoren. Slowly, I pull up one side of my dress, inch by inch, leaving it just below my panties, before following suit with the other side. My thighs bracket his as I straddle his lap, scratching my nails through the short hairs on the sides of his head.
“Hi baby,” I whisper against his lips.
His control snaps, his hands gripping my hips tight, pulling me flush against him as he slams his lips against mine. His kiss is demanding, his tongue forcing its way in as he plunders my mouth. He guides my hips to rock over his growing erection, drawing a whimper from my lips. Thoren’s hands tangle in my hair, angling my head to deepen the kiss when my phone rings from my purse.
It breaks our connection, both of us breathing heavily. Thoren’s forehead rests against mine as he tries to catch his breath. “I guess that’s a good thing, because I was about to take you on my desk.”
My hands trail down his shoulders as I slide off of his lap, reaching to pull my phone out. “I can’t believe we just did that in your office. Anyone could have walked in.”
“It’s a ghost town around here on Fridays. I wouldn’t have shared your sexy moans with anyone else.” He adjusts himself in his pants before reaching for the bag of food.
My phone stops ringing before I get to it, but Kinsley’s name pops up as the missed call. It’s been a while since I’ve heard from her, so I immediately redial and place it on speaker. Thoren has been so integral in this process, and having a second set of ears to hear and go over everything is helpful.
“Hey Lily, how are you?” Kinsley answers.
“I’m doing alright. I have Thoren here with me. What’s going on?”
“Well, there’s good news and bad news. Good news, we have a court date on November 18th, about two and a half months from now. My team has been combing through texts and emails, as well as paperwork, and we have some pretty damning evidence against them. I never make a guarantee, but I would be shocked if we didn’t win this case. I am pushing for the CEO to step down, but I doubt that will happen. We ran some numbers and are aiming for a three million dollar payout, and again, I would be surprised if you don’t get close to that.”
I slump into the corner chair, trying to take in her words. Shadow’s nose bumps my knee, my sweet girl always being there for me. My hand delves into her fur, letting her calmness wash over me as she rests her head on my lap. I’m probably going to win this lawsuit. Knowing I was wronged and validating that are two different things. Thoren’s soft eyes are trained on me when I look up, but his hands are white knuckled in his lap, waiting for the bad news.
“Now for the bad news, which I suppose could be good, too, if you choose to look at it that way. In the month that I’ve had your phone, Tyler has reached out twenty-two times. Fourteen texts and eight phone calls where he left some pretty demeaning and threatening voicemails. I can’t tell you what to do, but as your lawyer, I am going to kindly suggest that you get a restraining order against him and that we open a criminal suit against him as well.”
Thoren is up and out of his chair before she even finishes speaking, pacing the room as she talks. “Are you worried about him coming here and hurting her?”
“No, I don’t think that will happen, but we have enough from these messages to do both those things. In the last voicemail, he mentioned sending something to her, but didn’t say what. I would like to protect Lily’s peace and keep him from harassing her any further.”
There’s a part of me that wants to know exactly what he said, but the other part is glad I don’t. How I spent two years with such a cruel and callous man, I will never know. Unease is written all over Thoren’s face. He’s by my side in an instant, grabbing my free hand with his as he strokes a hand down my face.
“It’s up to you, baby, but I think we should do it. I can call my dad and my parents can meet you at the police station to file the report. I also think you should consider the lawsuit. If you want him personally to pay, this is the best way.”
I can see his anger brimming just below the surface, and I get it. I feel that same anger at the audacity of Tyler to keep trying to mess with my life when I only ever loved him. Yes, I told his wife that he was cheating on her, but if he didn’t want her to know, then he shouldn’t have done it. From her response, though, I was under the assumption that she already knew, or at least suspected.
Tyler took something from me by making me the other woman. I won’t allow him to take my peace now that I have finally found it. For most of my life, I have allowed myself to live as a half authentic version of myself. I saw the box that my parents, professors, coworkers, and men set out for me to fit into, and I molded myself to fit into it for them. The parts of me that didn’t fit, I tried to hide away for so long. It wasn’t until I started writing my first book that I allowed myself to stop hiding who I really was and step outside that box.
I am not as cutthroat and heartless as my career sometimes demanded me to be. I am not the career focused woman my mom wanted from me, or the soft-spoken and obedient woman Tyler wanted. My desires lie outside of being materialistic and the societal expectations of women. I don’t want the fancy house and car with the big career and family on the side. I desire a quiet life in a small town, with a love unlike any other. To be surrounded by friends and family that truly want to support each other through life and to pursue my passion of writing, even if it doesn’t make me rich. It is time for me to fight for that woman.
If Michele were here, she would tell me to say screw that guy and do everything in my power to make his life hell for what he put me through. I look up to her in so many ways, but especially for her ability to be unapologetically herself. Channeling my inner Michele, I put my metaphorical foot down.
“I would like to do both. What do my next steps need to look like?”
Thoren’s eyes shine with pride, his shoulders slumping with relief over my choice. Although I didn’t do it for him, I’m glad he’s getting some comfort from it. He has been my stronghold through everything; taking on all my pain, sadness, and anger from the situation and never once complaining about the weight it has put on him. He is my constant, my steady Oak tree standing through the whipping winds and pouring rain. With his hand, warm and reassuring on my thigh as he kneels before me, his eyes filled with a tenderness that makes my heart swell, I know. I am so deeply in love with Thoren James.
“I will send you an email as soon as we get off the phone. It will have everything you need for the police to start a restraining order. If you can send me the name of the officer you speak with, I can make sure he puts a rush on it and we get it signed ASAP. As for the lawsuit, I will get everything together and have it ready so he can be served with that and the restraining order at the same time. I bet I can make sure it happens at work in front of everyone. God, I love poetic justice,” she chuckles, and I can’t help but agree with her.
Kinsley promises to keep me in the loop with everything before letting me go. Thoren’s lifting me from the chair and smashing me into his broad chest before I can put the phone down. I sink into his embrace, soaking in his strength and heady amber scent. He lifts up my dress until his rough hands are on my skin as he wraps me tighter to him, letting his fingers trail along my sides as he squeezes. His chest rumbles with his deep laugh as his touch causes goosebumps to erect over my skin.
“Sorry, just needed to feel you. I’m so damn proud of you, baby.”
“I’m scared,” I admit against his shirt.
“Yet you did it, anyway. You are so strong, Lily. I will be by your side through every step. You can do it on your own, but anytime your fear tries to break through, just look to your side and I will be there.” He unwraps himself from me, smoothing my dress back down as he goes. “I’m going to call my parents. Are you still hungry?”
I nod, scooting the chair closer to his desk. Shadow follows me closely, not moving more than a few inches from my side. I pull out the sandwiches and the little bag with slices of turkey I had added for my best girl. She gently takes them from my fingers before gobbling them whole.
Thoren relays the gist of the phone call with Kinsley to his father before asking him if he will meet me at the police station in an hour.
“You can’t come with me?” I ask when he hangs up.
“If you need me there, I will be,” he says, unwrapping his lunch. “My parents will be there either way.”
“No, it’s okay. It should be a quick and easy thing, and it’s not like you can do anything.”
His eyes hold mine, both of us still feeling rattled. “Thank you for bringing me lunch, and getting Shadow a treat. I’m sorry it got derailed.”
“Not your fault, just another day with more of my baggage.”
He takes a bite, chewing as he looks down at the desk. When he swallows it, he grabs a water bottle from the bag to wash it down with. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I have strong shoulders, and I can unpack like nobody's business. Your baggage is nothing, sweetheart.”
Tears prick at my eyes as Thoren once again chooses me. After a lifetime of feeling like a burden, a second choice, a thought thrown in at the end, Thoren is showing me that I am his first choice. His only choice.
We eat our lunch in companionable silence as I replay my conversation with Kinsley. I still don’t know what he would send me unless he has similar thoughts as Michele and glitter bombs or a bag of dicks are what he has in mind. That isn’t his style, though. He has to be in control, the one with all the answers, the biggest man in the room. I know he can’t stand the idea of someone fighting back against him, showing the small, insecure man he really is.
I toss our trash when we finish, grabbing my discarded purse. I’m ready to get this next part over with. I slip onto Thoren’s lap, snuggling into him one last time before I leave. He nuzzles into my neck, pressing his full lips to my sensitive skin there.
“You’ve got this. My dad will take care of everything, and my mom will hold your hand. I’ll see you at home tonight, okay?” His lips move to rub over mine, giving tender kisses.
“Okay. Thank you,” I give Shadow some love on my way out, “You be a good girl for daddy, I’ll see you later.”
Evelyn and David were already waiting for me with open arms when I arrived at the police station. They stayed with me through every step of the process. They sat on either side of me, Evelyn’s hand squeezing mine when they read through the text messages that Kinsley emailed me. I’m beyond grateful for their support and for letting me feel like I had parents in my corner.
Filing the restraining order felt like I was finally taking my power back. It felt like Tyler was one step further from me, and that I was one step closer to being rid of him and this whole situation. Even with the heaviness of the day, I felt lighter leaving the precinct.
Since getting home, I have tucked myself away into the office, working on the first round of edits. My developmental editor got it back to me this week, so I have been fixing plot holes, character developments, and other things she pointed out. I know most authors hate this part, but I love adding in little tidbits that I didn’t think of the first time around. I am so immersed in the editing cave that I’m startled when Thoren calls out that he is home.
“Upstairs,” I call back, finishing my thoughts before closing my laptop. Shadow bursts into the room, tail wagging, tongue out, as she beelines for me. Thoren’s handsome face isn’t far behind as he leans against the door frame, arms crossed as he watches me.
“Hey baby,” his voice is full of grit, and I notice he isn’t in his work uniform anymore.
“When did you change?”
“Well, it wasn’t great timing with everything that transpired today, but I only worked a half day. I had a delivery and some last minute things I needed to take care of before your surprise tonight,” he says, striding over to drop his lips to mine. “Are you up for a small walk?”
He takes my hand, intertwining our fingers as he leads me down the stairs. I slip on some shoes, and as a family, Thoren, Shadow, and I make the short trek to my cabin. The sun hangs low, just behind the Evergreens, leaving beams of light dancing through the branches. Our steps crunch on the gravel as I take in my house. It looks the same from the front, but I know he must be showing me the completed bathroom as a surprise. While it will be nice to have it done and have my place back, I’m going to miss spending every night in Thoren’s arms.
He leads me onto the porch, halting our movement before he opens the door. “This was going to be a fun surprise for you today, but it feels heavier now. Before we go in there, I need you to know this has nothing to do with what happened today. I’m not kicking you out or running. I know how important it is to you to have your own things. Your own home that you worked hard for, with projects that you completed.” His free hand reaches up, thumb trailing over my bottom lip. “Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” His smile is devastating as he opens the front door and moves out of the way for me to enter first. The first thing I notice is a new couch and rug in the living room. I still had the previous owner’s couch with a cover over it, but in front of me is a cream-colored couch with light purple and green throw pillows and blankets on it. The rug on the previously bare floor is a light green with purple lilacs sewn into it. The walls have two new pictures added as well, one of Thoren and me and one of Shadow.
I walk forward on autopilot, moving into the bathroom and turning on the light. Everything is complete, and it’s even prettier than I imagined. The vanity Jake made is a beautiful walnut with a white basin in the center. The fixtures are all black, matching the black floor tiles that have white and gray veining throughout. The subway tiles on the shower are white with gray veining. The white paint on the walls ties it all together, aside from the pops of color he added. There’s a pretty lavender shower curtain and hand towel, and on the counter is a candle, making the whole place smell like lilacs.
Thoren’s right there when I turn around, his face softening as he takes me in. The pads of his thumbs wipe under my eyes, catching the tears I didn’t realize were falling. God, this freaking man.
“I love you,” I blurt out.
He sucks in a sharp breath as his wide eyes find mine. “Say it again.”
“I love you. I love the way you care for me and those around you. I love the way your eyes light up when I walk in a room and never stray from me. I love the way you protect me while still encouraging me to make my own choices. I love the way you see strength where I see failures. You have become my best friend and quietly loved me until I could love myself again. I love you, Thoren.”
His lips descend on mine as he kisses me like I am his next breath. When he pulls back, his hazel eyes shine with unshed tears. “I am so in love with you, Lily. From the moment you stepped into my life, I have only seen you. The light that you radiate wherever you go, and the warmth you share with everyone you meet. You have shown me that a love like my parents have is not only possible, but right in front of me. You are my home, Lily, and I love you.”
I smile through the tears that are flowing freely down my cheeks. “Will you stay here with me tonight?”