Page 53 of Lilly
Thankfully, when I open Lucas’ wardrobe there is a familiar dress bag hanging from the rail. I drag it out before unzipping it and hanging on the back of thedoor.
“Wow, it’s stunning,” Julia says when I step back. I can’t disagree with her because itis.
“I’ll just be aminute.”
“No rush,” she says as I walk thought thedoor.
I find my phone where I left it on the table. I unlock it before redialling the most recently callednumber.
I’m a little shocked when it starts ringing this time. That soon changes to anger when I hear a familiar irritating female voice on the otherend.
“Is Lucas there?” I snap after hearing her flustered soundingvoice.
“No, I’m sorry, Poppy. He’s just in the shower; we’ve had quite a day,” shesays.
I may not know Lucas all that well, but I’m pretty damn sure I know him well enough to know he wouldn’t go there again like she isimplying.
“Right, well…please get him to ring me when you’re not too busy,” I say as sweetly as possible in a pathetic attempt to sound unaffected by her. I’m not sure how effective it is though. I hang up and throw my phone back down on the table before letting out a breath and heading back upstairs. I should really tell Julia to leave and call myself a taxi. I know that’s the right thing to do, but for some reason when I get upstairs and she tells me to sit in front of the mirror I do exactly as I’m told. It’s just easier, and I’m too exhausted toargue.
A couple of hours later, I’m stood in front of the full-length mirror in Lucas’ bedroom, staring at a pretty prefect looking version of myself wrapped in the gorgeousgown.
I want to be excited about tonight. I want to be looking forward to my first swanky event in a designer dress but all I feel is dread. Is Lucas even going to turn up? And if he does, what mood is he likely to bein.
“I need a drink,” I announce after thanking Julia for her work, because my hair and make-up areflawless.
When I get to the kitchen I grab a glass and pull a chilled bottle of wine from the fridge. I offer Julia a glass but she declines and leaves me to it after wishing me a good night. I didn’t really talk much while she was working, which I realise is unusual, but I didn’t have the energy to fake excitement fortonight.
I stand and look out over the garden as I drink the wine in my hand. It goes down a little too quickly, seeing as I’ve eaten nothing allday.
I swallow down the final drop and turn around to put the glass down. A figure stood in the doorway makes me jump and I drop the glass on the tiledfloor.
“Lucas,” I say, as I bring my hand over my racing heart. “You scared me half todeath.”
“I’m sorry. Let me get that,” he says, walking over and bending down to pick up the larger pieces of glass—or, more likely, crystal—that I just smashedeverywhere.
“I’m sorry, I’ll buy you a replacement,” I say nervously, because I still have no clue as to where his head isat.
“Don’t be stupid,” is all he says in response as he cleans up the mess. I stand there watching him, feeling totally out of place. Maybe I should have gone home afterall.
Once he’s done, he leaves the room without anther word. When he reappears, his suit has been replaced with a tux. He looks incredible, and if it weren’t for the dark shadows in his eyes, you wouldn’t know anything was wrong. I can see them though, and I know he’s hurting after lastnight.
“Luc,I—”
“Not now, Lilly. We’ll talk, but after the auction,okay?”
“Okay,” I mutter inagreement.
When he stretches his arm out towards me, I place my hand in his and let him lead me from thehouse.
Lucas
Ihate that word.The only thing it means to me is that someone is using me. That was all the woman that gave birth to me did. She didn’tloveme, she just used it againstme.
“Lucas, baby, if you love me then you’ll go and get mymedication.”
“You love me don’t you, Lucas? I promise I’ll make you nice big breakfast in the morning to make up for dinnertonight.”
I accepted every word that came from her mouth when I was little. What child wouldn’t? It’s ingrained in you to trust your mother, that she only has your best interests at heart. Well, not for me. The woman who gave birth to me only ever thought about herself. Herself and her drugaddiction.
