Chapter 34 #2
“It’s a travesty that you don’t know your favorite movie snack and we need to fix that right now.” He stepped up to the concession stand. “Give me one of everything.”
The poor girl behind the desk just gaped at him. “One of everything?”
“Yes, one of everything.”
“Harvey? What are you doing?” She tugged at his hand, glancing around again. The older couple behind them were staring on in shock. “You can’t buy one of everything.”
“Of course I can. We’re going to figure out which one is your favorite. How can we do that if you don’t try each thing?”
“But . . . but that’s nuts. It will be so expensive.”
The girl started piling food on the counter.
“What have I said about money?”
“That I’m not to worry about it. However, I am worried about your state of mind.”
“My state of mind is just fine. My mind is obsessed by you. By what you like, what you want, who you are. And I know that you don’t know all of you yet, that you’re still figuring all of that out. And I’m going to help you find out.”
Lily stared up at him in amazement. “You’re amazing, you know?”
He paid for the food and started picking everything up. She moved to help him. “I know. I am amazing.”
“And so modest.”
“That too. I’m the full package, baby. Stick with me.”
Lily stared up at him with a smile. “I intend to.”
“Good.” He leaned down to kiss her and a packet of M&Ms landed on the floor. Followed by some Sour Patch Kids.
“Oh no! They’re revolting!”
“Revolting,” he said with a smile. “So you don’t like either of them?”
“No, I mean they’re mutinying and trying to get away!”
“So they are. Grab those mutinous bastards, baby. Let’s go watch a romantic comedy and I’ll let you feel me up.”
She glanced over as the older couple who had been behind them at the concession stand gaped at them.
Then the man winked at her. “Better go with that man, darling.”
“And hold him tight,” his wife said, staring at her husband adoringly. “I know I have all these years.”
Right. Hold him tight.
That’s what she intended to do.
Things had been rocky up until now, but she just needed to hold onto Harvey and everything would be all right.
Lily was coming out of the kitchen when she heard voices. She froze, unsure what to do.
Harvey hadn’t said he was expecting anyone. Who was it? Why were they here?
Trey was meant to be outside. Surely, he wouldn’t have let anyone in who shouldn’t be here, right? And all she had to do was call for him.
That didn’t make her feel as good as it should have, and she found herself stepping back into the kitchen as the women entered the living room.
“You’ve done such a great job with this place, Amanda,” one woman said.
Lily peeked around the corner.
One of the women had long, dark hair that she’d put up in a high ponytail. She was wearing a pair of wide jeans and a short white shirt that showed off a strip of her belly. She looked casual and cute. The other woman was taller with long red curly hair. She wore silky white pants and a blue shirt.
She looked elegant and beautiful. Lily glanced down at herself. She was wearing a pair of cutoff jeans and a raggedy T-shirt that had seen better days.
Shoot. She wasn’t dressed nicely enough for visitors. If she’d known, she’d have made more of an effort.
Sometimes it amazed her that Harvey was still attracted to her. Even without the right clothes and hair and makeup he still stared at her like she was gorgeous. He still touched her, kissed her, made her feel safe and loved.
“Thanks, Fiadh. It was fun to work with a blank slate and an unlimited budget, but I still think I did a good job.”
Fiadh? This was one of Harvey’s sisters?
“I’m just sad that you didn’t get to spend much time with my brother.”
“No, he seemed to be very busy.”
“Right, with some stranger who I haven’t even got to meet. Apparently, she’s too fragile to deal with our family. I mean, how fragile can she be? If she’s that delicate, then maybe she’s not the right woman for Harvey.”
Lily winced. Was that what Harvey was telling his family? That she was too delicate to meet them? But when she thought about it for a long moment, could she actually blame him for saying that?
Sure, she was doing a lot better. But learning the truth about what the doctor and her mother had done to her had definitely been a step back.
And it felt like she still had a long way to go.
This was the first time he’d felt comfortable enough to leave her for any length of time and get back to his office.
“Wow, your family is amazing,” Amanda said. “How can she be scared of them? Has she even met any of you?”
“She’s met my other brothers,” Fiadh said. “So there must be something scary about me and my sister. Maybe it’s because we’re protective of our brothers. Maybe she thinks we won’t think she’s good enough or something.”
Shoot. That hadn’t been in her mind. Only now that she heard Fiadh say it, it was suddenly all she could think about, that she wasn’t good enough for him, that she didn’t deserve him.
Those are negative thoughts. It doesn’t mean they’re true.
Harvey loves you. He tells you all the time. He takes care of you.
But she knew how much work she’d been over these last few weeks. He’d done nothing but take care of her.
Wouldn’t he get sick of that? Tired of looking after her all the time?
Just because you have a bad thought, doesn’t mean it’s true. Just because you have a bad thought, doesn’t mean it’s true.
“It’s a bummer because I was hoping the two of you would hit it off,” Fiadh said.
What were they even doing here? They had to know Harvey had moved back home now, right?
Unless he hadn’t told his family? But hadn’t the two women seen Trey outside?
Maybe they hadn’t, but that made her feel weird too. Was Trey not keeping an eye on the house? Wasn’t that his job?
“I must admit, I was hoping to see him more as well. Your brothers are all gorgeous, but Harvey is my favorite.”