Page 55 of Where the Dark Knelt
Max kissed my nose one last time, and Iwatched him looking back at me. He looked as torn as I felt. He cleared security and disappeared out of sight. I sighed and a singletear ran down my face. My heart squeezed when I could no longer see him.
Driving back, the radio was full of music that did nothing to lighten my mood. It was dark by the time I arrived home, and the apartment was empty.
I was thankful for that at least, I didn’t feel like talking and went for a hot bath, filling the tub with bubbles. The smell of the bath oil was intoxicating but it didn’t make me feel any better.
Saffywas staying with Will again, and Holly was working. I hadn’t seen her in days. I crawled into bed and tried to do some homework for college, but my mind was still with Max. My cell buzzed in my purse, and I leaned out of bed to reach for it, almost toppling out of it.
Max: Lying here, remembering your sweet face.
Lily: Me too, yours I mean; not that your face is sweet… it’s handsome.
Max: You like what you see, huh?
Lily: Nah, honestly… you’re a troll.
Max: LMAO. My time with you was wonderful, Lily, thank you.
Lily: I had a great time… it sucks we didn’t have more of it.
Max: True, but I will try to repeat. I don’t want you to sit waiting for me though.
Lily: You mean I should see other people? Not sure we’re on the same page with that.
Max: If we don’t put boundaries in place, then we’re less likely to get hurt if one of us isn’t strong.
Lily : Hmm… I guess… Night Max x
Max: Sweet dreams,mwah x
Max’s text made me feel uneasy. It was almost like been there done that, but you don’t have enough to hold my attention. It was a complete contrast to what he was saying when he was here.
He told me he really wanted to try to have something between us, that it was only the distance that made him hesitant.His texts didn’t read that way at all. I made a note that the next time we spoke, I would need to clear this up with him.
Exhaustedby the time I finished texting, I realized I hadn’t had much sleep this weekend. Clutching my cell phone in my hand, I turned it over and over, then placed it under my pillow and snuggled down to sleep. When I woke itwas buzzing against my cheek. It was 7a.m.
Will: Meet me at 8:15 I’ve snagged a recording booth for two hours.
Lily: Sleepy, can we do 8:30a.m.?
Will: Nope, see you at 8:15a.m. Aren’t you energized from your ‘fitness regimen’ this weekend?
Rollingmy eyes, I stretched out, groaning. It was easy to see that Will was going to milk my situation for his own amusement. He was going to give me as much shit as possible over his observations of what went down withSaffy, Max, and I.
I stepped into the shower, the temperature only tepid, so I didn’t linger.Once I’d had a quick scrub in all the important places, I threw on some cropped jeans and a crisp white Ralph Lauren crew neck T-shirt.
Placing asmall red, wooden beaded necklace around my neck, I let it hang down in front, taking the plain look away from my outfit. Then I began to gather my stuff to leave for campus. Holly arrived home from her night shift and looked gray with tiredness.I felt so bad for her doing night work.
Hugging her, I picked up my guitar and rucksack, and shoved some toast in my mouth as I ran out of the door. Will squeezed me tight when I arrived at the parking lot at college.
We settled in therecording booth and got straight to work on an arrangement he had put together the night before. He asked about yesterday with Max, and I mentioned his strange comment in the text he sent me.
Will sighed.“Sorry, Lily.” He looked awkward.
“For what?” I asked confused.
Will exhaled. “Max.” I sighed sadly thinking he meant about Max having to go.
“Well, we like each other Will, but the distance and where we are in our lives right now…” I hesitated, “we’ll see how it goes.”
