Page 90 of Lilly

"Because my dad made me promise not to say anything to you about it."

He sighs. "So you lied to me."

"My dad does want me to spend time with the family. That wasn't a lie. I just left that other part out."

He holds my hands and looks me in the eye. "Lilly, we can't do this. We can't let our parents turn us against each other, or make us lie to each other. They're obviously making up these stories to keep us from dating but I don't know why and I really don't care. All that matters is that I love you and want to be with you. I don't care what our parents think."

"I feel the same way. So what do we do?"

"We just keep doing what we're doing. Talking on the phone, texting, and seeing each other whenever we can."

"My dad doesn't want me seeing you. At all. So that leaves us with calling and texting until school starts."

"Can you talk to Rachel about this? Maybe she could figure out why your dad is doing this. I know he doesn't like my dad so maybe that's all it is. If so, he can get over it. They don't have to see each other. They don't even have to talk to each other."

"I think it's more than that. My dad really does think your dad is involved in something bad. He didn't make it up. I could tell when he told me. He has people, Reed. People he hires to research a person's background, follow them around, spy on them."

"What the hell for?"

"Because he doesn't trust anyone. He can't. He's too well known and has too much money. He even did a background check on you when we met, remember?"

"Yes," he says with a sigh. "So you're saying your dad has proof that my dad is doing something illegal?"

"He didn't come out and say that, but I know my dad wouldn't make up a story like that. If he didn't want me to date you, he'd just tell me."

Reed faces forward and leans over, resting his elbows on his knees. "It's not that I don't think it's possible. After all those years in the music industry, my dad has plenty of connections to people on the wrong side of the law. And the fact that he has all this money all of a sudden?" He blows out a breath. "Fuck. Your dad's probably right. I just didn't want to believe it. I finally have a somewhat decent parent only to find out he's a criminal."

"Reed, we don't know that for sure. Like I said, my dad didn't give me any specifics or any proof to back up what he was saying."

"Yeah, but you said he wouldn't just make up a story like that. And part of me already assumed that's what was going on. It explains why my dad's been acting so tense and not sleeping and why he suddenly has all this money."

"But why would he say those things about my dad? And tell you to stay away from me? That doesn't make sense."

"It does if your dad confronted mine and told him he knows what's going on. If he did, my dad would be worried your dad would tell me. Or that he'd tell you and you'd tell me. This is something my dad wouldn't want me to find out. He's really trying to make this father-son thing work but it's not going to if I find out he's a criminal."

"I guess that makes sense. My dad doesn't want me around you because of whatever your dad is doing. And your dad doesn't want you around me because he thinks I'll tell you what he's up to."

"I think we finally figured this out."

"I still don't know what to do."

"I say we just wait it out. School is just a few weeks away. As much as I hate not being able to see you, trying to fight our parents or sneak around behind their backs will just make this worse."

"School is five weeks away. I don't want to wait that long to see you again."

"So talk to Rachel and see if she can talk your dad into letting me come up here again. As long as you're not around my dad or his apartment, then your dad has nothing to worry about."

"He'll probably still say no. He really didn't want you to come here today. Rachel can only change his mind so many times." I fall back on the bed. "I really hate this. Why do parents have to interfere like this? Why can't they just leave us alone?"

"It's only temporary." He lies beside me, wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling me closer. "Once we're back at Camsburg, we can do what we want." He kisses me. "And we'll be doing a lot of this." He kisses me again. "And what we did earlier."

I smile. "That's something to look forward to."

He brings his hand to my face, cupping my cheek as he looks me in the eye. "I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you, so five weeks? Yeah, it sucks but we'll make it work. I'll do whatever I have to in order to be with you, even if that means staying away from my dad."

"Reed, I don't want this to ruin your relationship with him. You two are finally at a good place and I know he cares about you."

"If he does, then he needs to stop whatever it is he's doing. I want him in my life but not if he's going to be a criminal. I don't want to be around that."

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