Chapter 45 Lily
FORTY-FIVE
LILY
“Let the fake fans stay mad,” Amelia grumbles, lying on her stomach and swinging her legs.
Trinity says behind the paperback she’s reading, “And even if you were a groupie, getting passed along, you would be the hottest to exist.”
“I appreciate you both so much,” I say, cuddled beneath my covers, “but you’re my friends, so I know you’re being biased.”
Trinity’s book whacks me across the top of my head. “I am not a liar. Never accuse me of that ever again.”
“Yeah, how rude.” Amelia pouts, looking at her fresh pair of yellow chrome acrylics.
“I just find it so mind-blowing how girls act like they support one another, but then do a one-eighty and become the biggest haters.”
“Preach!” Amelia claps, bouncing to her knees before crawling her way beside me under the covers. “It’s always the innocent people they make into villains.”
“Like we said before, they are just jealous. This has nothing to do with you; it’s about them.” Trinity rolls her eyes when the boys yelp in the TV room while watching a hockey game in my and Elijah’s hotel suite.
The atmosphere has been pretty tense—from the ongoing legal battle they’re currently facing to balancing tour life, promoting their album, and collaborations with brands. It’s been a month of fighting back-and-forth in court, and I feel overwhelmed. I’m not even the center of attention in all this.
Times Three has this in the bag. The best lawyers in the country are working on their case, fans are supporting them loudly online, and the amount of evidence they’ve accumulated could wrap around the world.
With an almost-evil grin, Trinity’s paperback falls to her lap. “You know what would make them so jealous?”
“Tell us.” Amelia giggles, elbowing my side, sending spikes of pain up my torso.
“If Elijah posts a picture of you on his Instagram.”
Scrambling and almost falling off the bed, she runs out the door and into the room with the boys. Amelia and I side-eye one another as we hear Elijah scream before Trinity bounces back in the room with his phone in hand.
With the door locked, she tosses the device with a smirk. “Go through it and pick your favorite photo. I don’t want to see your nudes.”
I scowl. “There isn’t any need for sending nudes when we live on tour together.”
Face twisting in disgust, Amelia slaps her hands over her ears. “Ew, can we please not talk about my adorable brother like that?”
Trinity sends me a look that screams for me to keep going.
Taking the bait, I speak up when she uncovers her ears. “Your brother may be adorable, but he’s a beast, if you know what I mean …” I wiggle my brows.
Turning green in the face, she starts gagging.
Levi runs into the room, frantic, when he hears his girlfriend in distress. “Honey, are you okay?”
She pushes him in the chest when he hovers beside the bed. “Yes, I am! But this is the girl zone right now, so take your cute booty and leave.”
His eyes narrow. “Between you and Stella, I’m surrounded by a bunch of girls all the time. I think I’ve earned my way here.”
We all assess him. Not a second later, we all nod and start scooching over to make room for him in the king-size bed.
“So, what are we doing?” he asks. Most of his face is hidden under the blanket, drawn under his mouth.
Amelia lands between his legs and snuggles into him with pure happiness.
“Lily is picking her favorite picture of Elijah and her to post on his Instagram to rub their relationship in the world’s face,” Trinity says simply. Resting her chin on my shoulder, she peeks down at the phone.
“Girls,” Levi mumbles but leans toward us to see the phone better.
Guys like to act all tough and mysterious, but they secretly love hearing all the juicy gossip. Exhibit A: Levi snuggling in the bed, eyes pinned on my hands, which hold Elijah’s phone.
“Let’s see,” I singsong lowly.
My finger taps on the Photos icon. The very bottom of the page displays he only has two hundred pictures and videos.
He was always bad at taking pictures.
I scroll and see various candid photos of me—some cute ones and some humbling. The girls and I gasp and spring up when we realize a very obvious fact on his phone.
“What?!” Levi exclaims, throwing his arms out, looking like a rough, lost puppy. “What did I miss?”
“He only has two hundred photos, and all of them are of Lily!” Trinity squeals, jumping up and down on her butt.
Amelia jumps at the foot of the bed, looking like a princess.
“So? Damn right, he should. That’s his girlfriend.” He raises his brow, not getting how this is a big deal.
Amelia walks over to him and kicks him in the shoulder. “You’re a boy. You don’t get it.”
“Next time, we won’t let you join in on girl time,” Trinity growls, grabbing the phone and flicking through the photos.
He has a photo of me doing anything you could ever imagine—sleeping, getting ready, eating, working, lounging in the dressing room, sitting in a row of seats while he’s at sound check. Pictures of me grumpy, happy, hungry, and sad.
“Elijah!” I yell at the closed door.
He comes rushing in, panicked. “Where is the fire? Did someone break in? Is someone bleeding?” he stammers out, looking all over the room.
His chest settles down when he sees us all relaxed and not in life-threatening conditions.
“What the fuck is happening right now?” he asks more to himself.
Rubbing his eyes with his fists, he blinks rapidly.
“Is that a little girl? Because there is no way I’m seeing Levi huddling with all the girls. ”
Levi scowls and drags himself away from us, looking like he wants to do anything but that. “Don’t ever speak of this or else I’ll post that picture I have of you.”
“Do you hear this?” Elijah turns to me, mouth agape. “He’s blackmailing me!”
“Yep,” he chirps, passing him and patting his shoulder.
Elijah looks so frazzled. I motion him to come to me, and I reach out and pull him when he’s within arm’s reach.
He falls to my side and pulls me into his body. “What did you want, Sweet Cheeks?”
“I went through your phone.”
He mumbles into my neck, “Okay … and?”
“And I discovered an old habit of yours still lives.”
The girls giggle.
Snorting, he says, “Care to enlighten me?”
I hold up his phone so he sees what I’m looking at. “The only photos on your phone are of me.”
Rising and leaning on his elbow, he looks at me so intently. “I only like taking pictures of things that blow me away with their beauty.”
This man … is he even real?
My cheeks grow scarlet. “You travel the world and see so many beautiful countries. You should have more pictures.”
His dimples deepen when he smiles, making him appear softer. “That’s what the internet is for. I’m saving all my storage for one pretty little lady.”
“Oh my God!” Trinity yells behind her palm.
She drags Amelia off the bed, and they leave the room, slamming the bedroom door shut, giving us much-needed privacy.
“Have I told you I love you?” I muse, climbing onto his lap and getting comfortable because this is where I belong.
Mischief twinkles in his eyes. “Yep, but how about you show me that you love me?”
And I do.
Over and over again.