Chapter 20 #2
“Thought I’d find you here.”
My body jolts in the water and I spin around seeing Lily easing into the water up to her knees from the ladder. In the deep end. “What are you doing? You can’t swim.”
She stops moving, her fingers tighten in a death grip around the handrails. A flush covers her cheeks and neck. “I thought you’d help me, silly. You keep promising to teach me.”
I frown thinking of all the times we’ve all talked about Lily needing to learn to swim.
I know I wasn’t the only one to offer, but I guess we’ve never made the time.
Lily sinks farther into the pool and for the first time I notice she isn’t wearing the school’s protocol one piece or even the more modest suits she usually wears.
This bikini looks like it’s held together with dental floss.
My body recoils even as my mind rationalizes that Lily is one of my best friends.
I’ve known her for years. Still, this isn’t the best night to do this when I’m shaken with everything else going on.
I literally ran from the cemetery to here.
“How did you know I was here?”
Lily’s ears redden and she glances to the crystal blue water before bringing her eyes back to mine. “I was walking back from the library and saw you head in here.”
Lie. It’s a lie and I can taste it, my shadows silently running through the air.
Tension pulls at my shoulders. A frown settles on my lips once her whole body sinks into the water.
Her feet push off the ladder steps and she glides into the openness.
Instinctively I reach for her, knowing she can’t swim and I can’t let her drown.
Even if she is lying about knowing I was here tonight.
It takes me a second, but I force my hands around her, helping to keep her afloat.
Lily grins, her hands landing on my shoulders, fingers digging into the muscle there.
The skin on skin contact feels fucking wrong.
Her torso collides gently with mine under the water and I pull back like I’ve been burned.
“Lil, this isn’t really a good time.”
Her blue eyes narrow, and she bites her lip, looking like she might cry. “When is a good time, Madden? I feel like I never see you anymore.”
Guilt eats at me knowing I’ve been preoccupied and dealing with shit. “I have work and practice. I’m sorry. I’ll try to be around more. Heath or Aero can help you with this though. We really aren’t supposed to have guests in the pool.”
She shakes her head and a shy smile pulls at her lips. “You’d be the best to teach me. You’re always so patient. But you’re right, I don’t want you to get in trouble because of me.”
I nod noncommittally, just eager to get out of the water and remove my hands from holding onto her. “Yeah, okay. Let’s get out of here.”
I pull Lily with me through the water and back to the stairs.
She climbs out and stands on the pool deck, arms crossing over her middle.
The only towel on the railing is mine and my brows dip knowing I’ll end up sharing with her.
Her eyes travel over my body and I can feel the heat of her gaze.
A foreign sensation spreads down my spine and my shadows rear up in defense.
“What are you doing?”
Her gaze jumps to mine and the blush on her cheeks darkens. “N-N-nothing.”
“Were you trying to use magic on me?” My body tenses, awareness filters into my system and something niggles in the back of my mind. A memory, a pull to the past, and annoyance in my gut.
“No, I swear.” She looks at me, and something flashes in her eyes.
Reluctantly, I hand her my towel and step back. “Here, take this to dry off. I’ll grab mine from the lockers. Then I’ll take you home.”
Lily nods, her fingertips brushing against mine in the process.
That feeling happens again and I step back again.
I watch her wrap herself in my towel, and watch the smile that settles on her lips, a glint of something in her eyes when she thinks I’m not paying attention.
There’s a sharp-ass pain that hits my chest, and my eyes fall to the ground. I need to get out of here.
Once again, I don’t bother with a shower.
I grab the spare towel in my locker and quickly dry off and get dressed.
Water droplets fall off the hanging ends of my hair and soak the neck of my shirt by the time I get back to the front doors of the pool, but I do not care.
Lily is standing, waiting, dressed in a pink sweater dress over her swim suit.
She smiles at me as I get closer, and it feels wrong.
Ignoring the dreamy look on her face, I push the doors open and usher her out.
Lily slides into my car and I fire up the engine, blasting the warm air into the cab.
The ride back to town can’t go quick enough.
I berate myself for ever leaving the cemetery.
It feels like my chest might cave in for the regret of that decision tonight.
With my shit locked back down, I know I need to cover for the impulsive decision I made.
Walking away wasn’t the answer. Leaving when the danger mounting is very real was stupid.
Skully makes me uncontrolled and reckless.
If I hadn’t left, I was on the verge of grabbing her and making a claim I don’t want or need.
She brings out my possessiveness anytime she’s around me.
Eventually we are going to come to a reckoning, and this time I don’t know if I’ll survive.