Page 69 of Lilly
“It doesn’t matter. What matters is that I know who you are and what you’ve done to my lovely Lilly.” The lady goes to pass me and opens the door. “And don’t even try to sneak in after me. She’s not here. She’s at yoga with her sister at the sports centre,” she calls over her shoulder before the door closes behind her.She obviously isn’t that against me if she’s telling me where Lilly is, I think as I make the dash back towards mycar.
I press my foot down and take off for the sports centre, hoping I’ll get a better reception from Lilly than I did this morning. I know it’s wishful thinking. After the way I’ve behaved, I couldn’t blame her if she never wants to talk to meagain.
Lilly
“He was just sat there waitingfor you?” Emma whispers over from her mat a foot or so over frommine.
“Yeah.”
“I can’t believe you let him into the scan withyou.”
“He’s their dad, Em. No matter how he behaves, he is and always will be theirdad.”
“Iguess.”
“Ladies at the back, either take this seriously or take your gossiping elsewhere,” the instructor says, looking less thanamused.
We both mutter our apologies and go back to what where meant to bedoing.
“I still can’t believe the cheek of him. No contact for two months and then there he is? How did he even find out about the appointment anyway?” Emma continues ranting when we leave thehall.
“I presume his mum. Lucas tends to get whatever it is he wants, so I shouldn’t have been sur—” my sentence is halted when I catch sight of the suit-clad figure waiting in reception who is turning every woman’s head as they walk past. “Noway.”
“What?” Emma asks, looking over at me. I nod my head in his direction. “Holy shit, is thathim?”
“Yes. Why the hell is hehere?”
“Looks like he’s back with vengeance, Lills. And he wants you.” I don’t miss the way Lucas’ eyes run over my Lycra-clad body either. “Christ, he looks like he could melt those clothes off your body right here with that look. Good luck,” Emma says with a laugh. I think she’s right, but I’m going to need more than luck to keep some much distance fromhim.
“Lucas, what are you doinghere?”
I watch as he looks between Emma and me, then at our matching bellies. I don’t miss how his eyes darken when he looks at methough.
“Is it safe for you to be doing that?” he asks, gesturing to the direction we’ve just comefrom.
I stick my hands on my hips and stare at him, hoping that I look as irritated by him as I feel. Emma doesn’t seem to notice, as she answers for me. “Yes, it’s pregnancy yoga. It’s designed for pregnantwomen.”
I watch as Lucas takes on that bit of information before nodding and stating that we need totalk.
“I agree, but now’s not a goodtime.”
“Well, whenis?”
“I don’t know, Lucas. When I don’t feel like trying to kill you with whatever weapon I can find. It’s been two months. Two. I’ve just about got my life somewhat sorted and now here you are. Well, you don’t get to call all the shots. I’ll talk to you when I’m ready, but that’s not now. Let’s go,” I add, looking atEmma.
“Don’t you think youshould—”
“Emma, don’t,” I warn, knowing exactly where she’s going. She holds her hands up in defeat and begins walking towards the carpark.
“Lilly, please. I’m not above begging,” Lucas saysquietly.
“Good to know,” I say, before striding off afterEmma.
“I can’t believe I just did that,” I admit, before bursting into tears in Emma’scar.
“I’m proud of you,Lills.”
“I told myself over and over again I wouldn’t cave to him when—if—I ever saw him again, but I didn’t think I would be strongenough.”
