Page 70 of Where the Dark Knelt
“No, Will, nothing like that. I was more than willing.”
I saw Will swallow hard at my admission. “We’ve been over for a while, since Max, but he doesn’t want it to be finished. The crazy thing is, he doesn’t want any commitment either.” I was worried about Will’s reaction now. “I was doing great, but now he’s started coming around more and he’s kind of in my face, playing mind games with me.”
My eyes filled with tears,and I looked up, blinking fast, as I struggled to keep them from falling. I was so tired of crying. I could tell he was processing what I had said and knew he’d have questions for me.
“So… this conversation last night, it happened in Mandy’s kitchen I take it? Where did that go?” He looked disbelievingly at me. “Did you go home with him?” he asked softly.
“Hewas waiting for me outside. I didn’t plan it. He said he only wanted to talk and persuaded me into giving him a ride home. I got upset and ended up staying at his house last night.”
Will drove into the car lot on campus andswitched his engine off.
He closed his eyes absorbing what I’d told him, and I waited to see how he was going to respond to my deceit.
“So you stayed the night?” he repeated.
I nodded. “I didn’t sleep with him if that’s what you think. He slept on the couch. It was supposed to be a simple relationship, but it’s turned out to be a really complicated one, and we’re not even together.”
“So… What? You want to talk about it with me now?” He seemed to be trying to contain his anger.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I knew him, but I wasn’t proud of what happened. I could really use a friend right now, but I understand you’re hurt that I lied to you.”
Sniffing, I licked a tear that streaked over my lips. “I told you because I don’t want any secrets coming between us and our relationship. If talking about my love life, or the lack of it, does that I’ll keep it to myself.” I swallowed and waited for him to reply.
He chewed his lip, mulling over what I’d said and shrugged. “Why didn’t you tell me?” I held his gaze then lowered my eyes.
“I was ashamed, and althoughSaffyand Holly know I had a relationship with someone, they never knew who he was. So you are the only person who knows who it is, Will. I really want it to stay that way… and I don’t want him to know you know.”
His eyes went wide.“Really?”I shook my head. He squeezed my hand. “Guys like Alfie take what they want, Lily. You should never have been with him. He would knowexactly what it takes to charm you.” I nodded to show Will I knew what he was saying.
“That’s just it, I got that. It took me a little time, but I got there and broke it off… except he still wants me. This morning, I told him that I wouldn’t go there again with him, and now he wants to be friends.” Willmoved my hair away from my face.
“Can you do that? Be friends with him? Maybe it would ease the tension for him, and he’d move on.”
I considered what Will said. “I had thought of that before too, so… maybe, I could try.”
“Meanwhile, talk to me about it. I’m here for you, and I’ll be honest with you if that’s what you need. Lily, your secret is safe with me.” I felt relieved that someone could share this with me, and I knew that Will cared what happened to me.
“He… Alfie asked me if we were sleeping together.He thinks that’s part of the reason I’m not with him.” Will looked wide eyed again, his jaw dropping open.
I giggled nervously at his shocked look. “Hey, I’m not that bad!” I joked but felt self-conscious at telling him this. “It’s not the first time. Remember your exchange in the car lot on campus? Then in the kitchen at Mandy’s there were comments too. This morning he asked if you were better than him.”
Will’s knuckles were white on the steering wheel as he growled, “Pervert.” I giggled again, seeing the humor in Will’s anger. “Why would he think we were having sex?”
I bunched my brows thinking about that too. “He said we played like we were in love.”
Will raised an eyebrow and glared at me. “What did you tell him?”
I half smiled. “The truth, Will. I told him what we have is better than sex.” I then relayed Alfie’s comments about Willand the sax, although I giggled a lot when I tried to tell him that part.
“Shit, Lily.” He chuckled heartily. His eyes went wide and sparkled with humor. I giggled embarrassed that I’d said anything. “How am I ever going to wrap my lips around my sax without thinking about that now?” Scowling, he looked tormented.Will’s thinking voice once again had failed to stay in his head, and I blushed crimson. Will drew breath again. “He really thinks we are having sex? You think we give off a vibe or something?”
I shrugged.“What does that matter? We know we’re not.”
“Pity though,” he muttered, chuckling, a mock seductive expression on his face. I swatted him on the arm and smiled warmly, he was funny.
The actual day at college went better than I expected. My midterm theory and performance exam results were great. I got a lift back from college with Neil, who was passing by my condo building.
Will and I didn’t have any further discussions about Alfie, but our earlier conversation about him helped me put some perspective on the whole situation with him. I’d been thinking about how to deal with Alfie all day since and how Alfie thought I should try to be friends with him.
