Chapter 39
Marcus
Freshly washed, and finally feeling more like myself, we’re sitting on my balcony with fresh cups of tea and breakfast that I had the staff bring up for us.
Lily is dressed simply in a yellow sundress, her hair pinned up off her face to showcase her sharp cheekbones and a pair of oversized sunglasses perched on her nose.
Her feet are bare, and she has them leaning against the balcony, crossed at her ankles.
We have a rare day off before the chaos of the final, and I plan on making the most of it with her.
“How has the ‘something’ of social media changed how people see themselves?” Lily frowns at the crossword puzzle as she taps the pen on the book.
“You honestly find this calming? I’m stressed.
I want to throw this book over this balcony and scream.
My eye is twitching. I am not calm.” Slamming the book on the table, she takes a huge bite of omelet.
One that is far from ladylike, and I can’t help the laugh that escapes me.
“What?” she mumbles around her food. “Don’t judge me. ”
“I’m definitely not judging you. In fact.” I stand and kiss her full cheek. “I think you look beautiful.” I grab the crossword book, and she gives me a questioning stare before she swallows.
“You think I’m beautiful while I have food falling out of my mouth?” She brushes the corners of her mouth and frowns.
“You always look beautiful.” I shrug and take a look at the crossword book.
“Influence.” Passing her the book back, she wordlessly takes it with a confused look on her face.
“That’s the word you’re looking for.” Sitting back down, I pick up my cup and take a sip of my tea.
“Close your mouth, Petardo, unless you want me to fill it.” I smirk. “Again.”
“Don’t be cute.” She shakes her head, putting the book down on the table. “I just don’t have the patience for crosswords.”
“I couldn’t tell.”
“Shut it.” She throws a slice of toast from her plate at me, and I catch it, taking a big bite, grinning.
“You’re insufferable.”
“I think that is five across.”
“Piss off, it isn’t.” She checks the book. “Fuck off, how did you know that?”
“Just clever, I guess.”
“No, you must have done this one before or seen the answers.”
“Am I not clever?” She lowers her sunglasses and looks over the rim. “Okay, I may have looked at the answers before I gave you that one to do.”
“Ha, I knew it.” She kicks her legs and laughs. “Trying to impress me, Diaz?”
“Always.” We smile at each other like fools before we settle back into a contented silence as we finish our breakfast.
“So, I was thinking. As we have today off, I was going to take a trip up to my mama’s farm. It’s about an hour north of here.”
“Oh, that sounds lovely.” She sounds a little dejected at my comment. “I’ll just take a stroll around the city. There is so much I want to see, but I haven’t had a chance yet.”
“No, you don’t get it. You're coming with me.”
“What? Why?”
“I want you with me today. So, wherever I go, you go.”
“Sounds very controlling, Diaz,” she quips as she picks up her mug.
“Yep, and you want to stay with me today, so don’t pretend you’re upset about it.”
“Who says I want to spend the day with you?”
“Please, you have had plenty of time to leave this morning, and look at you still hovering around.”
“Excuse me? I’m not hovering. The sun is just better on this side of the balcony.”
“Really?”
“Really.” She smiles.
“You coming with me then?”
“Only because you can’t be trusted not to do something stupid.
I’m coming to keep an eye on you and check out the farm, that is all.
Also, I’m secretly hoping your mum has geese.
I know how much you love them. Would make my day to see you run around screaming like a little girl.
” She stands and brushes past me, resting her hand on my shoulder as she does.
“Go get ready and bring your swimsuit. We leave in ten.”
She rolls her eyes. “What is it with you and telling me what time I need to be ready for? I’ll be ready in fifteen.”