“It’s okay… after all it’s not like you actually broke your promise since you didn’t tell anyone,” she replied.
“Actually I was referring to your uncle,” James told her. “It’s not fair that he’s treating you the way he is and on top of that making your life in the pack impossible.”
Lily got a nasty look on her face then sighed. “That’s life. Some people just are big giant pricks for only God knows why… and I don’t need the pack and their approval,” she told him, only sounding angry when she mentioned the pack but James had a feeling that their attitude towards her affect her more than she was willing to let on. He wanted so badly to go over to hug her and comfort her, but he knew she wouldn’t want that.
“So,” James started slowly. “Is A. J. around?” He asked not hiding his eagerness to see the little boy and Lily smiled at him, making his heart go a little erratic.
“Where else would he be James. He’s barely two. I’m not going to let him go out on the town for a few more years yet,” she told him, clearly mocking him and he laughed dryly.
“I meant is he taking a nap or not smartass,” He replied.
“I’d rather be a smartass than a dumbass,” she shot back and James shook his head at her. “And sorry, but yes A. J. just fell asleep but if you want to stay and are hungry Sandy has some leftovers from lunch,” she offered and James almost blurted out something crude about not being hungry for what Sandy could offer him but he stopped himself in time.
“Yeah that sounds great,” he replied and he opened the door for Lily, allowing her to enter before him.
“And you said you weren’t a gentleman,” she teased him.
“I’m not I just want to keep an eye on your backside remember,” he teased her back. She gave him a scolding look with a shake of her head, but a smile was on her face.
Lily sent a Jessie a text, but she honestly didn’t expect a response for a while. Evan would have no idea how to relay the message on her own and until Jessie returned she couldn’t check her texts. With that done, her mind went to the events of last night and what insanity struck her to do what she did. How could she have kissed James? She finally had the type of relationship she wanted with him and now she sabotaged it.
Lily ran her hand through her hair in frustration and paced the room. Ever since James came over to tell her about Hunter she had the strongest urge to grab a hand full of his hair and slam his face into the wall several times. Which only made her feel even more frustrated because he didn’t do anything! Damn perfect James Lacrosse didn’t kiss her, didn’t mention it once since, and he didn’t blurt out her secret!
She blew out a lung full of air so forcefully it sounded more like a hiss. Just when she could use one of Charlie’s long-winded chats he was nowhere need to be seen. You need to get a hold of yourself, she told herself. What I need to do is get out of here!
She decided, grabbing her jacket and leaving the room. “Hey Lily,” Sandy greeted her as soon as she saw Lily come down the stairs. Lily saw her sitting on the chair with a book in her lap and James was playing with A. J. “Everything okay?” Sandy asked with a look of concern.
“Peachy, can you two keep an eye on A. J. I’m going out for a while,” She said and without waiting their answer jogged out of the house. Lily jumped into her car and peeled down the driveway, not sure where exactly she was going to go. After a while of mindless driving, Lily stopped at the majorly human bar, Lucky Luke’s. “Now there’s a face I haven’t seen in a while,” the grey-haired owner said as soon as he saw her.
“Hey Luke, how about the usual,” Lily said as she slipped on a bar stool.
“Are you sure? It’s kind of early,” he asked and she nodded. “Alrighty missy… I expect you’d like me to leave the bottle too?” Lily nodded in reply again.
“Lady Luck isn’t much of my friend the last couple of days,” she told him and he got her a glass and a bottle. She thanked him, getting up from the bar and moving towards one of the corner tables.
About a quarter of the way through the bottle, Tony suddenly sat in the chair across her.
“Tony? What are you doing here?” She asked surprised. “Don’t you have boss man duties to attend to?”
“They can wait. Mom called me telling me how you practically ran out of the house. Everyone was a little worried,” Tony said, waving to one of the waitresses to get her attention. “Hey can I get a glass too, I can’t let her drink this all by herself,” he told the waitress, flashing her a bright smile that had the poor girl blushing and nearly dropping the tray in her hand.
“You’re not here to lecture me are you?” Lily groaned as she topped off her glass. “It’s during the day, I didn’t leave town and I was going to be back in the house well after dark Tony. I swear,” she explained.
“No lectures Lily. I’m here as your brother, not as the al-top dog,” he said as the waitress returned to give him a glass. He thanked her and once she was gone he turned to Lily again. “I thought maybe you’d like someone to talk to but go easy I’m not sure how to be the confidant. Lacy was the one who always did those things,” he said filling his glass. Lily gave him a small smile.
“Yeah, she always did know how to reach a person,” Lily said then raised her glass. “To Lacy!”
“To Lacy,” Tony repeated and they bumped their glasses and drained them. “Damn this is nice,” he said once he finished.