22. Lily
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
lily
Lily:
Can we stop in town on the way? I would like to get your mom flowers.
Thoren:
Absolutely baby.
Lily:
Should I wear a dress? I should wear a dress.
Thoren:
They won’t care what you wear.
Thoren:
Scratch that. Wear a dress and no panties.
Lily:
I can’t do that!
Thoren:
Do it princess, and I’ll reward you.
T his week has flown by with both Thoren and I working overtime. It’s been wet and cold out, which was perfect for Thoren’s team to simulate risky training situations. He was out most of Wednesday evening, coming back soaked to the bone and exhausted. His week left him physically tired, while I’m mentally drained. I was a little behind on my book, but with my new cozy office space and Shadow’s company, I wrote another fifteen chapters this week. I am almost done with the first draft now, finally back on schedule. Mostly, I needed a distraction from everything going on around me and writing gave me that escape.
The more I use writing to escape, the easier it is to see this is what drew me to it in the first place. I’ve been hiding inside my shell since I was a child, and this is my one creative outlet. Writing gives me the escape from the confines that I have given myself, allowing me to be myself and express my thoughts and emotions in a way that was still hidden from the world. As a teen, it was the one thing my mom couldn’t criticize me for. She never knew I was writing then, so I could let all the emotions she made me suppress bleed onto the pages. I guess in a way, I have her to thank for this budding career and love for pouring myself into written word.
Andrea has been blowing up my phone with questions about the lawsuit and the book, and I have been terrible at answering. No time like the present to divulge it all to her since I just sent off my newest set of chapters.
As always, she’s polished and working when I video call. “You’ve been avoiding me Lily,” she chides in a kind voice.
“Not avoiding, just busy working. I sent over fifteen chapters today.”
Okay, I might be avoiding, but I haven’t told Michele or Thoren about Tyler’s texts and if someone is going to break me, it’s Andrea. She’s been my publisher since the beginning and was there through every stage of my relationship with him. She never liked him, and while she was furious about the whole situation, his deceit wasn’t a shock to her; she was just glad I was free of him.
“You did? I can’t wait to dive in. I’m obsessed with your characters. Are you done with the book, then?”
“Not quite. I need the ending and it hasn’t quite come to me yet.” It turns out, happy ever afters are hard to write about after yours gets crushed. With Thoren around though, I think it will come to me. I’ve never written over ten chapters a week before this, and it’s obviously due to him.
“It will come when you’re ready. How’re things with the lawsuit?”
I chew on my bottom lip, debating telling her everything or just skimming over the basics. “They denied mediation, so we are going to trial. Tyler texted me.”
“Shut up! He did not! What did he say?”
“He told me to drop the lawsuit.”
Andrea’s face turns a mottled shade of red as she grinds her teeth. “I fucking hate that guy. Do not let him intimidate you, Lily. He deserves everything he has coming to him and more.” A pensive look crosses her features. “You write these incredible, badass women who take what they want and know their worth. I know that same woman is inside you, she just needs the guidance to see the light of day. Stay the course, Lily, and don’t let him break you down again.”
A silent tear tracks down my cheek that I don’t bother brushing away. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Now, go be the beautiful badass that I know you are and keep me in the loop. I need to go read your book while picturing River.”
“Get out of here with that. I appreciate you, and I promise I will keep you informed.”
We say our goodbyes in time for me to get ready for the evening with Thoren’s parents. I needed the distraction before hopping into the shower to do my ‘everything’ shower. By the time I am out and drying my hair, Thoren is home and taking my spot in the shower.
I’m a nervous wreck waiting for him to get out so we can go. He asked me to pull out clothes for him, so I’m rifling through his clothing, trying to find a nice outfit. I went with a knee length dress and boots for me and a nice flannel and dark jeans for him. His lumberjack look gets me hot every time.
I’m pulling on my second boot when he steps through the bathroom door, completely nude, drying his hair with the towel. Water droplets trail down his abs to the small smattering of hair at the bottom.
“Lily, baby, stop looking at me like that unless you want to meet my parents with my cum dripping down your thighs.”
He looks down at me with a wicked smirk before discarding the towel and pulling on his boxers. How he gets more mouth watering every day, I will never know. Leaving him to finish getting dressed on his own, I bring Shadow downstairs to put on a fresh bandana. With the three of us ready to go, we load up into Freya. Thoren pulls a beautiful bouquet of wildflowers from the back seat, setting them on my lap when he buckles me in.
“I will tell her they are from you,” he winks at my frustrated sigh.
“I was supposed to get them for her.”
“You also weren’t supposed to wear panties. Did you listen?” My cheeks heat as his eyes bore into my lap like he knows I didn’t.
“Show me, Lily.”
Slowly, I slide my dress up my thighs to reveal a red cotton thong. Thoren tsks, shaking his head as he navigates us through town. “Take them off, princess.”
“What?” I squeak.
“Take. Them. Off.”
Reluctantly, I listen, lifting my hips to slide them off. Thoren delicately plucks them from my fingers, before tucking them into his pocket. “Good girl.”
I’m not sure if I’m upset or turned on, but I think it’s a good bit of both. That seems to be a common occurrence around this man. I shimmy my dress back down with a mock glare, and the smug jerk just winks at me.
“Do your parents know I’m staying with you? And about Tyler? Oh god, did River tell them about our make out in the hall?”
His chuckle stops when he sees the genuine panic on my face. “They know about you staying, and they know you are having issues with an ex, but that’s it. They’re good people, baby, you don’t need to worry. There’s not a judgemental thought between them.” He squeezes my thigh as he pulls up to their house.
He lets Shadow out of the back, before coming over to open my door. Thoren pulls me down and into his arms while I take some steadying breaths. “They already love you, Lily. They will see the beautiful, strong, and kind-hearted woman that I see every day.” He swipes the flowers from the seat and gives them to me in time for us to see the front door open.
He grabs my hand, leading me to the porch where Shadow is waiting patiently for a treat. Thoren’s mom has a clear routine with her, which is both adorable and impressive. She looks up, giving us the biggest smile when Shadow finally gets the treat and tears through the house.
“Lily,” she opens her arms wide, embracing me fully. “It’s so good to finally meet you. I feel like we’ve been waiting forever. Come on in.” She ushers me in the house with her.
“Hi mom, good to see you, too,” Thoren grumbles behind us.
“These are for you, Mrs. James,” I say, handing her the flowers. “Thank you for having us over.”
“Please, call me Evelyn. Thoren, honey, can you put these in water for me? Then tell your dad to come inside? He’s in the garden again.”
Thoren looks at me with a questioning look and I nod, letting him know I’m okay on my own. He heads to the kitchen while Evelyn leads me to the living room. “I’m sorry to steal you away right away,” she says, taking a seat on the oversized couch, patting the spot next to her. “I just wanted to talk to you without the boys around. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you; both my sons have done nothing but sing your praises.”
“That’s really nice of them. They are good men. Thoren has done so much for me; they actually both have.”
“They’re the best boys. Though I’m afraid River gets most of the praise.”
River only met me for dinner and the walkthrough of the stadium, but I’m not surprised he squealed to his mom about me. He seems genuine, and his love for his little brother shows. He seemed beyond thrilled for Thoren and me to be together.
“I picked up on that. He was wonderful to me, and I’m sure he deserves it. It surprises me that people overlook Thoren so easily, though. Men like him are hard to find, with his loyalty, heart, and giving soul. I thought men like him were only real in fairytales.”
Evelyn’s eyes shine as she watches me talk about her son, and I suddenly feel like I’m over sharing. I’ve never met a boyfriend’s parents or family, so I move to a safer topic. “He talks so highly of you, always bragging about your food, garden, and things you did while he was growing up.”
“That’s always nice to hear. Thoren mentioned your parents weren’t really in the picture?”
The blood drains from my face as my muscles lock up. “Umm, yeah, they had different plans for my life, so we don’t talk much.”
“I’m really sorry about that. It’s hard to grow up with that, and it’s hard to continue to feel that loneliness and disconnect as an adult. I know I’m not your mom, and while I have hopes, I can’t know where things are going with you and Thoren. Regardless, I am here, and I am available anytime. I’ve read your books, and you are so incredibly talented. You should be beyond proud of yourself and what you’re doing.”
“Thank you,” I swallow around the lump in my throat.
“No, thank you. You have brought hope and happiness back into Thoren’s life. He’s lucky to have found you. That video of you two at the game warmed my heart, seeing him getting chosen like that. We all worry about him, even River. The world puts him in River’s shadow despite us doing everything we can to keep their accomplishments separate. You, sweet girl, impacted our entire family in ways you will never know with that small action.”
Her hand pats mine lovingly, “You are so strong, and I know that there is a lot you are facing right now. I see your selflessness, your grit, and your heart. River saw it the minute he met you, and David and I have seen it in the way you take care of our boy. You’re not alone, Lily. We are all here to help you through these next parts of life, and to cheer you on along the way.”
Evelyn’s face blurs as the tears threaten to spill over. What must it have been like to grow up with a mom like this? And what have I done to deserve to have these people in my life now? I blink back the tears, discreetly wiping the few that break free.
Hearing her say she is proud of me makes me realize the only time I heard those words come from my mom’s mouth was when I graduated top of my class. She has never sat with me to just talk, or to see who I am outside of my career and education. Although those were things I wanted from her, I think I realized a long time ago I would never get them. Making peace with knowing you are a disappointment to your parents is hard, but I thought I got there. Evelyn’s kind words sending me into a tailspin of emotions says I’m not there yet.
“Thank you, Evelyn. For raising such good men, and for saying that. It means more than you’ll ever know.”
“You ladies ready for dinner?” Thoren’s voice rings through the house.
Evelyn stands, giving me a soft smile. “Come to the kitchen when you’re ready.” She disappears down the hall, giving me a moment to collect myself. When the time comes, I hope I can be half the woman and mother that she is.