Page 68 of Lily In The Valley
Let me know if you need anything.
Or if you just want somebody to talk to.
I’m still here.
You don’t have to go through this alone.
My fingers stilled over the keyboard. I couldn’t reply. A lone tear crept into the fibers of my pillow. Instead, I whispered into the dark, “I miss you.”
But even I didn’t know who I meant.
Chapter 22
Khalil
I landedin Seattle under a sky that looked like wet paper—gray, heavy, and creased with the faintest threat of rain. It was barely noon, but everything felt muted, like the city was holding its breath. The ride from the airport was quiet. The driver didn’t speak, and I didn’t invite conversation. I just stared out the window, watching the trees blur past, the skyline in the distance smudged like a memory I hadn’t made yet. My heart was doing that thing again. Racing too fast for no reason, like it knew something I didn’t. I told myself I wasn’t nervous. Just ready.
Kelly’s building was modern; all glass and steel, too clean to feel like home. I stepped into the elevator, pressed the button for her floor, and watched my reflection shift in the brushed metal doors. Hoodie. Black jeans. Sneakers clean. Bag slung over one shoulder. Heart in my throat. Each floor blinked past like a countdown.
Ding.
Her door was at the end of the hallway. The handle a matte black, minimal, and cold just like the rest of the building. I adjusted the bag on my shoulder, took a deep breath, and knocked. Waited. Knocked again. The door opened. And thereshe was. Lily-girl. Hair pulled up. Face bare. An oversized tee hanging off one shoulder. She looked like softness wrapped in silence. And when her eyes met mine, I saw it. Not surprised.
Guilt.
That shit hit like a gut punch.
“Hey,” I said, smiling. Trying. “Surprise.”
She didn’t say anything. Just blinked.
“Khalil…what are you doing here?”
I tapped my bag like a peace offering. “Decided to take a weekend trip. You seemed off in your last message.”
“Yeah. I just…”
Before she could finish, a voice came from inside the apartment. Male. Cocky.
“Tell whoever’s at the door to leave so we–oh.” He stepped into view. Clothes wrinkled. He looked between us, caught the tension like static, and straightened his posture. He walked past me, slow and quiet, brushing Kelly’s shoulder gently. She didn’t flinch. That was the worst part. “You got us breakfast delivered?” he asked, looking at her, not me. “Careful, sweetheart. It’s too early to get clingy.”
Kelly’s eyes widened as she looked from him to me. She fidgeted with the hem of her shirt. My head spun, ears rung, as I tried to unhear what he’d just said.
“Kelly, who the fuck is this?” I asked, seething, trying to keep my lid from blowing off.
The guy turned to me with a slimy grin, extending his hand. I slapped it away.
“Kelly, what the fuck?” I hissed, trying to keep it together. “This what we doing now?”
Kelly stepped between the two of us, raising her hand to my chest. “Khalil, you need to calm down.” Her eyes fretted all over my face. She bit the corners of her lips, as if looking for the words that would make this okay.
“Nah,” I said, my eyes laser-focused on the dude behind her, still wearing that smug-ass grin. “If this what you on, I need to know.”
“She ain’t on nothing.” Jordan laughed. “Well, could’ve been until you popped up.”
I chuckled once, no humor, just heat. “Man, keep talking and see what happen.”
He didn’t take the warning, just kept moving his mouth. “You mad because she upgraded? She ain’t your girl, bruh.” He moved closer to grab Kelly by the waist and pull her to his chest.
