Page 36 of Lilly
“I’m not a good person,Lilly.”
“Can I be the judge of that, please?” Iask.
“I’m serious. I’ve done stuff that I’m not proud of. I’velived a lifeI’m not proudof.”
“Will you tell me aboutit?”
“Maybe. I’ll want something in return, though.” And there it is. A secret for a secret. “When you’re ready,” he adds, obviously seeing the panic in myface.
I swallow down my fear of having to explain. What’s the worse that canhappen?
“Ask away,” Iwhisper.
I lie back on the blanket and wait for his question. When it comes though, it’s not what I wasexpecting.
“That first night I came to your flat, I got the impression Taylor wasgay—”
“Oh, you mean from the amount of staring he was doing?” I ask with alaugh.
“Yeah, pretty much. But when we got back, there was a half-naked woman in yourkitchen.”
“Ultimately, yes, Taylor’s gay. He openly admits that in the end he wants to settle down with a guy, but until he finds that guy he seems quite okay with sticking it to anyone who’swilling.”
“Okay then. I’m not judging, I was just a littleconfused.”
“Honestly, he confuses me as well. He’s great, I love him dearly, but he’s changed recently. We’re not as close as we once were. I think he met someone a while ago that he really fell for and I can only presume he was knocked back. I worry about what he’s doing but it’s not for me to point out what I think aremistakes.”
“Fair point. I can say from experience that someone telling you you’re doing something wrong won’t help you. You’ve got to come to your own realisation. It will happeneventually.”
“Go on,” I prompt, hoping for a little more of aninsight.
“I don’t want to get into the dark stuff today, Lilly. It’ll ruin our time here. Tell me about yourfamily.”
“Okay. Well, my mum and dad are amazing. They live in Oxford in the house we all grew up in. They met at Mum’s coffee shop and fell in love over a slice of millionaire’s shortbread and a cappuccino.” Lucas smiles at the story. I so badly want what they have. Their love has only got stronger as the years have gone on; it’s incredible. “Emma and…” I pause, thinking about her twin. “Emma’s my older sister. She’s also a twin but Hannah died in car accident a couple of yearsago.”
“I’m so sorry,” Lucas saysquietly.
“Emma’s now married to Ruben. It was his sister, Connie, who had a baby the day you found me in your hotel room. She’s engaged to Ruben’s best friend.” I look at him for a second to make sure he’s keeping up. “Then there’s Molly and Ryan. Molly was Hannah’s best friend but she’s more like an adopted sister because her parents were…uh…useless. Ryan was Hannah’s boyfriend but they have since got together and have a little girl calledLois.”
“Wow, okay. What about the friend you saw thisweek?”
“We’ve been friends since playschool but Nicole moved away when we were teenagers. We’ve always stayed in contact though. Her life’s so hard at the moment with her mum, but she was given some respite care last week so she was able to relax alittle.”
“That must be hard,” Lucas says. He doesn’t say anything else and looks a little lost inthought.
“So what about your family? I mean, I’ve kind of met your parents, but any siblings or adopted family like I have?” His eyes snap to mine at my final comment and I feel like I might have said something wrong, although I’ve no idea what it couldbe.
“I have a brother,” hestates.
“Oh, does he work for the hotels as well? I don’t think I’ve ever come acrosshim.”
“No, I haven’t seen him since I was achild.”
“Okay?”
“Christopher and Elaine adopted me,Lilly.”
I suck in a breath. “Oh, I had noidea.”
