Page 52 of Kissing the Debutant
“I’m terrible at math,” Lillian said. “It’s hard stuff, isn’t it? I always have to study a lot.”
“Me too,” Wyatt said with a smile.
Lillian was a natural with the terrible two. She had them wrapped around her little finger. Truth be told, she had him wrapped around her little finger too.
18
Lillian
Why did she agree to this? Lillian looked around the Butler home, trying to keep a calm smile on her face. She didn’t know what she was doing. Jack’s brother and sister looked to her expectantly, wanting her to say another of her other witty and kind things when she had no idea where they’d come from. She wasn’t exactly used to kids.
Once, when she was young, she’d asked her mom why she didn’t have any siblings. Her mom only scoffed and grumbled something about kids being “such a pain”. But as Lillian watched Jack with Lexi and Wyatt, she couldn’t help but wish for something she’d never had.
A family.
A car pulled into the driveway, and Lillian watched Cara through the big window in the kitchen. It didn’t hit her until right then she was about to face the woman who’d heard her rambling about her first kiss, about Jack’s touch. Lillian hadn’t allowed herself to think about that, but now, with the prospect before her, her breathing stuttered.
What would Cara do when she realized it was her son Lillian had been talking about?
Lillian couldn’t handle disappointing the waitress she’d come to think of as a friend. Her phone buzzed, and she tore her eyes away from Cara’s approaching figure to pull it out. Wylder’s name flashed across the screen. Relief shot through her, and she looked down at Lexi in her lap. “Can you show me where the restroom is?”
Lexi nodded, sucking a lip into her mouth as she climbed off Lillian. Jack shot her a smile as she passed. Lexi led Lillian to a tiny bathroom, smaller even than Lillian’s washroom at the academy. It housed a narrow shower, tiny sink, and toilet.
Lexi left, and Lillian shut the door, leaning against it. She called Wylder back, sagging in relief when her friend answered.
“Lil, are you still at the dance studio? I was thinking of sneaking out to hit up the diner.” The Main was across from Wylder’s family’s hardware store, so Lillian wondered if she’d actually get in trouble for that or if she could have her parents sign her out.
“I can’t,” she whispered.
"Why do you sound weird? Speak up.”
“No, Wylder, I’m… in a bathroom at Jack’s house.”
Wylder was quiet for a long moment before barking out a laugh. “Okay, was not expecting that. Wait… what are you—oh my gosh, it happened, didn’t it? I knew it. You and Jack. Jack Butler and the Defiance Academy ballerina. This is gold. I’ve been waiting for you two to realize all that aggression was so much more fun with kissing involved.”
“Wylder, shut up.”
“Why are you hiding?”
“Because I sort of told his mom how much I like kissing him, that I liked him touching me.”
“Um… Lil… Moms don’t like to hear that kind of thing about their sons.”
“I didn’t know she was his mom at the time!”
Wylder chuckled. “Okay, calm down. I’m sorry. This is so not funny.”
Lillian leaned her head back on the door. “It kind of is.”
“Oh, it totally is. I was just trying to be nice… which isn’t really like me. Gross.”
“What do I do?” Lillian groaned.
A voice came through the door. “First, you come out here and officially meet my mom.”
Lillian closed her eyes.
“Did I just hear Jack?” Wylder asked.
