Page 35 of Lilly
“Good. How’re things yourend?”
“Yeah, not bad.” I look up as Lucas mouths the words ‘not bad’ at me and raises an eyebrow. “Okay, better than that. I’m actually sat in Hyde Park having a picnic as wespeak.”
“Sweet. Are you still withNicole?”
“No, she went back yesterday. I’m actually with aguy.”
There’s a pause on the other end as the information settles in. “A guy? Like, what kind ofguy?”
“A non-psycho one, I hope,” I reply, thinking of the conversation we had when Lucas and I had our firstdate.
“Hang on, you’re with the same guy, aren’t you? I thought you said it didn’t workout?”
“It’s a longstory.”
“I’ve gottime.”
“I haven’t. Can I ring you when I get back? I’ll explaineverything.”
“Fine,” he mutters. I’m sure he’s probablypouting.
“Talk soon, okay? Loveyou.”
“Okay,bye.”
I put the phone down and smile tomyself.
“Who wasthat?”
I look up to see a curious look on Lucas’ face. I guess I should have told him about Decbefore.
“That was Declan. My twinbrother.”
“You’re a twin,” he says, repeating mywords.
“Yep.”
“I’m guessing you’re closethen?”
“Yes. Although he lives in Devon. He decided to go uni in Exeter. He’s a big surfer. He’s actually started his own business down there now. He’s a bit of a wannabe AlanSugar.
“Do you misshim?”
“Every day. We talk as much as we can but it’s not thesame.”
“Have you considered moving down with him? I’m presuming that now he’s started a business he wouldn’t comeback?”
“Yeah, I’ve considered it. I thought about seeing if there were any design jobs down there as well as here when I startapplying.
“I’ve never been to Devon. Always thought about opening a hotel down that way at some point. We shouldgo.”
His sudden enthusiasm for me meeting his friends and us going away and meeting Dec confuses me slightly. It was just over a week ago that he was avoiding me and now he’s done a complete one-eighty and is planning time away and meetingfamily.
“What are we doing here, Luc? I go from not seeing you for weeks on end to suddenly planning to meet each other’s friends and family. I feel like I’ve got a bit ofwhiplash.”
“I really like you, Lilly. More than I should. And you are so much more than I deserve. I disappeared because I wanted you and you turned me away. I thought it was the right thing to do but it turns out I was wrong. And I don’t admit that often. I can’t stay away fromyou.”
“Why don’t you deserveme?”
