Lily’s Pov.
The next day I knew my day is going to be boring as I get ready white shirt and black pants and black coat. I wear my flats and have breakfast of oatmeal. I run out of my apartment in hurry as I slept a bit late.
When I reach a cafe near our company I ask for takeaway coffee and rush for work. It is exactly 9 when I reach there. Thank God I was on time. I like my track record to be immaculate.
I finally look at my phone as I get in the lift. And find five text from him.
‘I reached Pheonix and right now checking in a hotel.’
‘Good Morning! Hope you have good day!’
‘Text me as soon as you are in the office.’
The other two are the details our conference meeting I have to attain to write down notes. I text him back ‘Good Morning’ and tell him that I am fine. I reach my desk and start my work.
The whole day goes with three long conference meetings where I finally see him but have to act professional which was difficult as I was trying not to blush as I see him. Because everytime I see him, I remember our kiss. I shake my head as I get back to work.
Then I start my work on filing system whose room is at the opposite end of this floor. One more filing system is at the basement of this building but the one I want is in this floor.
After getting the files I wanted, I start my work on cross checking and email Ryan about every details that I learnt. I didn’t wanted to have lunch alone so I go to my brother’s floor to have it. I have sandwiches and fries for lunch in cafeteria.
I reach home early today, so I get changed into comfortable clothes and put my dirty laundry in a basket to take it for washing. Ryan has yet to call me, I think that as I go to basement and put the laundry in washing machine. As I start it, I get a call and I see it is Ryan. I pick it up.
“Hi!” I say with a silly smile even though I know he won’t be able to see it.
“Someone is happy that I called. Were you waiting that much for my call?” He asks and I don’t know how he knew that I was smiling and waiting for his call.
“Who said I am smiling or waiting for your call?” I ask indifferently.
“Well my intuition told me so and I know I am right. Don’t deny the truth. Tell me how was your day?” He asks as I sit on a bench nearby.
“Same as always but a bit boring.” I say and start telling him about my day.
He teases me maybe my day was boring because he wasn’t there to kiss it better and I tell him stop. I ask him about his day and we talk for a while about his company in Pheonix and what the problem he has gone to solve.
Then we talk about our family. I tell him that my parents died when I was ten in a car accident and in my grandparents only my paternal grandfather was alive but he was paralysed from below the waist. He died peacefully in his sleep when I was fifteen.
“Then why didn’t you and Lucas stayed in your house only?” Ryan asks as I take out my clean laundry and keep it basket.
“Well Lucas did wanted to stay with me but Richard convinced him to complete his study and not abandon his dreams for me.” I say as I take my basket and go for my apartment.
“Weren’t you lonely? I mean how come Dad was this insensitive.” Ryan asks.
“It was not insensitive, it was… practical. Richard sent me to the best school and gave me ambition to move forward. If my brother had made some sacrifices and stayed with me then none of us would have been happy. He would not be where he is today, happy with family and I would be under the guilt of putting him through difficulty. You should make sacrifices only when it is needed. And even though we were away from each other he sent me gifts and letters every month. He is the bestest brother in the world. And Richard decision was right.” I say as I put the basket and close my door.
“Well my Dad is practical but also a soft person. By the way, have you had dinner?” He says.
“No. But I am thinking about ordering pizza.” I say as I sit at the sofa.
“Don’t. I already ordered something for you and it would be there in five, four,-” He says and.
“One. It is here only. Please hold on a minute.” I say as I hear buzz. After confirming that Ryan has send him, I open the door to see a man with big box of dinner along with a bouquet.
I take the bouquet from him as he place the dinner on coffee table and I sign on receipt. I thank him and he leaves after refusing for tip as he has already got that. I close the door and put phone on speaker as I find a vase for bouquet of white roses and lilies.
“So how is it?” He asks.
“The flowers are beautiful.” I say as I fill vase with water and put the flowers in them after unwrapping them.
“I was asking about food.” He says.
“I going to see it now. But did you had dinner?” I ask as I wash my hands and take my phone to put it on coffee table.
“It is here only. You unwrap your surprise dinner while I take mine in.” He says and I start opening the box.
It has minestrone soup and bruschetta. It also has antipasto chopped salad, and classic cheesy mac and cheese in medium sized metal containers. It also has vanilla and chocolate gelato in one big container. He did notice I can’t have meal without something sweet especially chocolate.
“So how is it?” He asks as he comes back on line.
“Nice choices. How come you knew that I love Italian dishes more?” I ask as I have some soup.
“Just a guess.” He asks and I smile.
We have meal as we talk. He tells me about his family and grandparents. His maternal grandparents are living New England and his paternal grandparents live in Connecticut and training his younger brother about farming and other things.
He tells me some funny story about his siblings and also how they used to have most fun at farm especially at Thanksgiving time. They have to go certain place for festivals.
Like Thanksgiving at their farm then Halloween at New England and Christmas and New Year with family at their parent’s mansion. It is their family tradition to keep everyone happy.
I am laughing by the end of dessert as he tells me about their brother personal tradition to prank their elders every year and they fall for it every year. We talk till late about many things as I clean up everything and lay down on bed to talk. I don’t even realize when I fall asleep while talking to him.
The next two days go on like that only. I would wake up to see his text then work with him on conference and he would send dinner surprises for me and we will talk about different things.
“So you want to go to Vermont in May?” He asks me as I have mini apple pie on Friday.
“Yes. I am planning that. It would be my first trip. But nothing is fixed yet. I have to book a month before for hotel in Vermont as Richard once told me.” I say.
“Well I have a cabin there if you want we can go there together.” He asks me out of the blue and I choke on my pie and cough a bit.
I drink some water then ask, “Is it not too soon to go somewhere together?”
“It is a month away, Lily. It would be fun. Think about it then tell me. And my cabin is at the best palce in Vermont. It has beautiful views and by lake too. You will enjoy it in summer.” He says.
“We will see. When are you coming back?” I ask.
“On Monday.” He says and I feel a bit disappointed about waiting for two more days.
“Oh. Good.” I say.
“Do you have any plans for tomorrow?” He asks.
“No. Tomorrow I am going to clean up and just watch some new series maybe. I don’t know.” I say as I get up to clean.
“Well I have meetings lined up tomorrow also especially one on the breakfast. So I have to prepare some things.” He says because of which we have to hang up soon.
“Oh do you need any help from me?” I ask in hope to prolong our conversation as I don’t want to hang up so soon.
“No. I would do it myself. You rest. Good Night.” He says and hangs up.
I make face at my phone and put it down to clean up my kitchen and change into night ware. After that I lay down and I am so tired that I get a very long sleep.
It is Saturday still I wake up at 7 because of my habit. After brushing my teeth and having cereal with milk, I tie all my hairs in one tight high bun and start vacuuming my apartment then scrub the whole kitchen.
Even though I do it thoroughly, it still takes me only one and half hour to complete it. I decide to take hot both and relax. I come out of the bath after an hour and get changed into oversized light grey sweater dress with long ballon sleeve and sit down with a good book on chair as I let my hair dry.
I will go out for lunch and go to garden or some public library or maybe to watch a movie or maybe for shopping. I have to go out otherwise I would get bored in my apartment. After reading, I wear my black thigh high boots and get my leather sling bag. I put on nude lipstick and eyeliner and I am good to go.
As I lock my apartment, I get text from Ryan, ‘Come downstairs.’
It is weird. I go down and see nothing there except for very few people on street. I hear a horn from right side and turn to see a car. Not any car but Ryan’s car. He peeks out of the window and winks at me. I smile as I walk towards his car then sit inside.
The second I close the door and turn around, he puts one hand my hairs and smashes his lips with mine. This is not some sweet first kiss, it is the one I missed you so so so much kiss. I kiss him back with same emotions. We come up for after few minutes and I look at him.
“You look beautiful and smell so nice. I thought you were not going out but I think it is nice you were planning to as I don’t have to wait up while you get ready.” Ryan says he looks in my eyes while holding my hand.
“I cleaned up way to fast and decided to have lunch outside and go for shopping or movie or something else rather than getting bored in the apartment.” I say as I look down to hide my blush at his compliment.
“Well then let’s have lunch together.” Ryan says as he starts the car and a question comes to my mind.
“Weren’t you going to come at Monday? Then how come you are here on Saturday?” I ask.
“Well I wanted to surprise you so I obviously lied. You should have guessed it when I asked about your plans for today.” Ryan says as he drives.
“Well I was too upset about the fact you would not be here for weekends to think about anything else.” I say.
“So you are saying you missed me?” Ryan says with boyish grin.
“No. I was just missing having free meals with you.” I say with teasing smiles and he laughs.
“I completed my work and took early flight for New York in the morning and as soon as I got changed I came straight here.” Ryan says.
“Did you had breakfast?” I ask.
“Yes.” He answers.
Soon we reach in front of a small restaurant. We sit far in the corner and look at the menu. We order two cheese burger, one wrap, one grilled sandwich with tomato and basil, tater tots, fries, and one pistachio milkshake for Ryan and one chocolate malt milkshake for me.
“So when is Richard coming back?” I ask as he and Heather have been gone for a month.
“Well they are on their second honeymoon as they were not able enjoyed first one that much as she was pregnant with me. But they would be back in April maybe. Have you thought about where you want to apply for job next?” Ryan asks.
“I have many options in mind but as I am going to start in June so I have to wait if better opportunity comes along by mid week of May maybe.” I say.
Our order soon arrives and as we eat Ryan asks, “How many people live in that building?”
“No one except me. Richard owns the building. It is three storied but top floor is always empty. My floor has two apartments. One is small and one is big. But both are good and spacious. Richard showed both but I did not needed big apartment so it is empty too. The basement has laundry room and ground floor has swimming room.” I say.
“I never knew Dad has property like that.” Ryan says deep in thought.
“I think he has one in Manhattan too. He told me if I want to move there for work, he has apartment there too.” I say as I eat.
“So where do you wanna go after this?” Ryan asks as we come out of the restaurant.
“Where do you wanna go?” I ask.
“Movies to make out.” He says casually with a smirk and I slap his arm.
“You think nothing but that, don’t you?” I ask as I sit inside the car.
He sits inside the car and says looking at me, “Well you don’t know how good you taste.”
He winks then gives me a smooch then takes me to watch a movie. We decide to see a thriller movie and take the private balcony seat. And as he said instead of watching movies we were just busy kissing.
Well how can I deny him when I love kissing him too.