Page 21 of Lilly
“Can I help?” shesnarls.
“Lucas is ill in bed. I thought I should let you know so you can cancel anything he hadplanned.”
“I’m sure he’s capable of telling me that himself,” she snaps. I’m taken back by her attitude. “I’ll be up to see him as soon as I get in. I suggest you go home,Poppy.”
“It’s Lilly,” I correct. I don’t know why I bother, though; it’s obvious she did it onpurpose.
I bite back any response that would be unprofessional—she is kind of my boss, after all—and choose to thank her and say goodbye politely. Okay, so I say it way too politely and sweetly in the hope it annoysher.
Lucas
Irollover and instantly regret it. My stomach turns over and I begin the heave again. I lean over the bed and am surprised to see a bucket waiting for me. I’m thankful it’s there, however it got there. I reach out and grab it before throwing up for the thousandth time since leaving the restaurant last night. I knew the seafood platter was a bad idea, but the scallops in that place are award winning and I couldn’tresist.
I rest myself back against the headboard when a banging on my hotel room door starts. I go to swing my legs off the bed when I hear movement in the living area. Suddenly, images of her blonde hair filter into my brain, memories to her finding me on the bathroom floor, making me get up and then passing me a bucket when I was sickagain.
Staying away from her these last few weeks has been a challenge, to say the least. Knowing that every morning she’s here making sure everything is clean and in its place has been torture. If I’m honest with myself, I was too scared to show my face. I’ve haven’t allowed myself to care about anyone for a very long time. I hate letting people close to me—especially new people. There are very few in my life that I trust—five, to be exact—and I’m more than happy with that number. I don’t need a little blonde haired beauty upsetting my well-structuredlife.
“I already told you he’s in bed ill,” I hear her say when I eventually make it to thedoorway.
“And I told you to go home,” a very familiar voice snapsback.
“Oh, here we go,” I groan to myself as I make my way towardsthem.
“I’m not—” Lilly starts, but I interrupt whatever she was going tosay.
“Enough,” I state when I have them in my sights. “I won’t be in today, Catherine. Please cancel everything in my diary. Actually, cancel tomorrow as well, while you’re at it,” The longer I stay upright, the more I realise that I’m not going to be fit for a few days. “Then you canleave.”
Both of them look at me with shocked eyes. Okay, so maybe that came out a littleharshly.
“You need someone to look after you,” Catherine says so sweetly it sets my teeth on edge. Why I ever went there, God onlyknows.
“I’m good, thank you. Now, you’ve got work to do,” I say, dismissingher.
I stand and watch as she stares at me for a few seconds longer before turning her hard stare onLilly.
“Grab your stuff then,” shesnarls.
Lilly turns to do as she’s told, but I’m soon behind her with my hands on her shoulders. “Goodbye, Catherine. Only contact me if it’s urgent.” With that said, I reach around Lilly and swing the doorshut.
