Page 18 of Empty Net

Lilah doesn’t answer her, and her silence speaks volumes. The distinct sound of crying fills the air as her mother breaks into tears, but there’s something about it, something that sounds rehearsed…fake.

“I’m just trying to be a good mother to you.” She sniffles. “Is it so wrong that I want to see you happy?”

Again, Lilah says nothing.

“You’ve never once done anything your father and I have asked of you,” her mother continues. “You’ve thrown away the education we spent so much money on. Instead, you paradedaround being a glorified secretary for yourbest friend”—she says best friend like it’s a curse—“instead of coming to work for yourfamily, Lilah. That’s how much you hate us.”

Lilah groans. “I don’t hate you, Mother.”

“You do. You hate us, and you think I’m a bad parent when all I’m trying to do is ensure your happiness.”

Honestly, it sounds like she’s just trying to ensureherhappiness, Lilah’s be damned, but that’s not the worst part of what I’m witnessing. No. It’s Lilah’s shoulders slumping down. It’s how she curls into herself, how she shrinks right before my eyes. And how—and I hope I’m really seeing things—she looks like she’s about to cave to her mother’s whims.

“I just don’t understand why you’re being so stubborn right now.”

“Because I already told you. I’m seeing someone.”

“Since when?”

“Since… Since…” Lilah huffs. “I don’t know. I haven’t exactly been keeping track.”

“You’re lying, Lilah Jane. I know you’re lying. You’re not seeing anyone or else you would have mentioned him before now.”

“Did you ever stop to think I didn’t mention him because I didn’t want to go through this whole song and dance?”

Her words mightsoundconfident, but her voice is anything but. Even I can hear the shakiness in her words. She’s about to blow it all.

“No, because I know you. You don’t date. You justsleep aroundlike some tawdry little girl instead of a woman society should respect. You’re?—”

“There you are!”

Lilah spins on her heels, her eyes wide as they find mine as I step out of the shadows I’ve been hiding in and stride toward her. I don’t stop until I’m able to wrap my arm around her waistand pull her to me. She comes willingly, her breath stuttering as she crashes against me, head tipping back to peer up at me.

She looks beautiful like this in the moonlight, her hair a little wild, likely from running her hands through it, her cheeks permanently stained with red from her alcohol flush. The urge to press my lips to hers is sudden and sharp and takes me completely off guard, but I don’t act on it.

Instead, I say, “Been looking for you.”

“Y-You have?”

“Of course I have, sugar.”

Her knees threaten to give out from under her, and it’s a good thing I’m holding her up, otherwise she’d be on the ground right about now. I’d laugh if I weren’t so aware of our audience.

“Lilah…” her mother says apprehensively. “Who is this?”

I turn to the camera, smiling wide. “Oh, I’m so sorry. How rude of me. It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Maddison. I’m Arthur Fox.” I press a wet kiss to Lilah’s cheek. “I’m her boyfriend, ma’am.”

CHAPTER 4

LILAH

I am drunk.

That’s the only sensible explanation for what I just heard. There isno wayFox could have said what I think he did.

I’m her boyfriend, ma’am.

“Well. I guess I stand corrected, Lilah,” my mother says haughtily.

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