Lily’s POV.
I hear voices and try to push them away. I bury my head into a cushion and get irritated when I feel hot. I kick away the sheets and feel cool air against my thighs and back. As I hear the voice getting closer, I sit up startled when I realise someone is in my apartment.
I open my eyes and rub them when I see that my apartment is totally changed. My bedroom is of lime green and white color but this room has dark navy blue and grey bedroom with velvet walls behind the bed.
This is not my apartment. Then where the hell am I? I try to remember the last thing that happened and it all rushes back to my brain. Ryan said that he is taking me to his room, so it must be his room.
Last night, I didn’t pay much attention to his room but it looks modern and luxurious and is very big. I push my hair behind and look down to see I am in a big college logo t-shirt of light blue color which I know belongs to Ryan and shorts which he made me wear last night. I have my panties on but not a bra.
I gingerly get up from bed and go towards the full length mirror. My face is clear at least as Ryan and Richard stopped me from scratching, I don’t have much on my body. Just some like one on my shoulder, one on each arm and one in the back.
My hairs look like they got shock treatment. I pick up a comb from a nearby table and try to straighten them up a bit. I still hear faint voices behind the door, so I go to open the door to see Noah and Ryan outside. They look at me then at my hair.
“I have looked better and I will again.” I say and get in, leaving the door open for them.
“I know.” Ryan says as he gets in and asks, “How do you feel?”
“Fine. And hungry but I don’t want to eat anything.” I say as I comb my hair.
“Juice maybe.” Noah says.
“That would be heaven.” I say as I sigh when my hairs are once again looking better.
“I will go tell Mom and Dad that you are awake. You have five minutes brother.” Noah says and leaves the room.
I walk to the bedside table and take one glass of water. As I drink it, I look at Ryan who looks uncomfortable somehow but why… I don’t know. I put the glass down and walked up to him.
“Are you okay?” I ask as I put my hand on his cheek.
“How do you know that I am not?” He asks as he looks at me with worry in eyes.
“Because I have been there and I thought that if you have feelings for me like I have for you, then you must be scared to lose me too.” I say.
“That was a prank but this was not. You don’t know what was going on in my mind when it became difficult for you to breathe. Yes, I am scared of these feelings and don’t want to know about it as I didn’t want you to have power over me. But screw that all, if to keep you by my side I have to become powerless then I am ready to do that too. I can’t define exactly what these feelings are but I know one thing clear after yesterday. I want you. I want you in my life as long as you want to be there and even after that I fear I will not stop wanting you.” Ryan says as he puts hands on my shoulder.
I feel my eyes welling up and I hug him and say, “I adore you. Let’s promise never to use other tactics to hide feelings just tell them to each other. Then deal with it.”
“I adore you too.” Ryan says as he kisses my head.
We stay like that for a minute then hear Noah’s loud voice approaching. Considering it as a signal, I wipe away my tears and Ryan helps me sit on the bed and covers me with a sheet after giving me tissue. Heather and Richard and enter the room with Noah.
“Lily dear, are you okay? Are you feeling well?” Heather asks as soon as she sits down beside me.
I hastily wipe away my tears before they come and say, “I am feeling fine.”
“Thank goodness. It is all my fault. If I had only asked before what you are allergic to, this would not have happened. I am so sorry, dear.” Heather says with concern in her eyes for me.
“Don’t be silly, dear. How would you have known that she is allergic to crab too? Lily understands that too. Right?” Richard says as he tries to console his wife.
“Richard is right, Heather. How would you know about my allergies when I myself didn’t know about them? It is no one’s fault so please don’t think about blaming yourself.” I say as I look at everyone, especially Ryan and his Mom.
“You take a rest dear and we will send you some food which would be appropriate for you to eat right now.” Richard says.
“No food please, just some fruits would do.” I say as I make a face.
“Okay.” Heather says as she smiles.
“Where are Theo and Freya?” I ask as I realise they are not here.
“Well Theo had an early meeting today so he left last night with Freya as she had some appointments too.” Ryan says.
“Appointment. I have two interviews today. I have to call them to cancel it.” I say.
“I heard that you have one more interview tomorrow, so why don’t you come with me to Manhattan.” Ryan says and his parents look at him.
“Why would she go there today if she has an appointment tomorrow?” Richard asks.
“Because she has a family there who would look after her as she should rest and should not also be left alone.” He says as he raises his eyebrows at his father.
“Not a bad idea. You can use the chopper.” Richard says to Heather and he goes out.
“So everything is sorted between you both kids?” Noah says and Ryan and I roll our eyes at him.
“Yes. But nobody should know about us, not even grandpa buddy.” Ryan says.
“How would he know? You know I never tell anyone anything.” Noah says.
“But grandpa has his ways and you are his favourite prey too. Don’t forget that.” Ryan warns him.
“But what is the need for you both to hide?” Noah asks.
“Privacy?” I say in confusion.
“And also we may be in a serious relationship but we are not ready for the aisle. So we have to hide it from Dad.” Ryan says and my heart soars when I hear him saying that we are in a serious relationship.
“Fine. I cross my heart and promise that no one will know about you from me.” Noah says.
“We are not Scots anymore, Noah.” Ryan says and both the brothers start teasing each other.
Heather sends a maid to my room with fruits and orange juice. Ryan takes a quick shower and gets ready in the room itself. The maid comes back again and keeps my washed clothes and bag on the chair and leaves with the tray.
I take a long cold shower and feel refreshed after it. I wear my dress and bra but really don’t feel like wearing my underwear again. I look in my bag and find a spare one as I always keep them in hand in case of my period.
I go downstairs after getting ready and see Ryan already saying goodbyes to his parents. I thank Heather and Richard for taking such good care of me and promise Richard that I will come for a picnic on the farm.
I give heads up to Emma that I am coming to their home within an hour. She asks me what happened and I assure her that I am fine and will tell her once I get there. Ryan helps me sit in the chopper and tells me about safety measures. He straps me on and sits beside me in the back and does the same.
This is a private luxurious chopper of Andersons and it has a very good interior with a partition between captain and passengers. I wave at Richard as we start flying and soon we are in the air.
I put my head on Ryan’s shoulder and relax for a while as he looks at the files as he attends a conference call. His voice and chopper lulls me to sleep.
Ryan shakes me awake and says, “We are here, honey.”
“Honey?” I ask as I look at him holding onto my smile.
“What? I am trying to use some pet names for you.” He says and I can see his cheeks getting red.
“Well I won’t mind you trying, sweetie pie.” I say as I giggle.
“Okay we are officially banning ever using pet names.” Ryan says and I laugh when his cheeks get more red.
“No. I like calling you that darling.” I say as I kiss his cheek.
“I don’t mind you calling me that.” Ryan says as he kisses me.
The chopper lands on Anderson company and Ryan helps me down. We go to his floor and Sarah looks at us in question but stays very professional.
“How are you Sarah?” I ask as I stay outside of Ryan’s office.
“I am fine. What about you?” Sarah asks with a smile.
“I am fine too.” I say.
“Sarah called Bob to tell my driver to drop Ms. Scott to her brother’s place.” Ryan says and I cut him.
“That is okay Mr. Anderson. As it is lunch time I will ask Lucas to drop me. Thank you for the ride and care for last night.” I say.
“Make sure you keep Epi with you and take your medicine Ms. Scott. Ms. Scott’s Dad’s secret god daughter and got an allergy last night. Make sure Sarah no one knows about this. It was just a favour towards my father.” Ryan says to me and Sarah.
“I will make sure that no one knows sir.” Sarah says.
“I have to make a few calls if you both don’t mind.” I say and leave to sit on the couch in front of Sarah’s cabin.
I first call Lucas to ask if he has anything for lunch and he says he is free. I tell him to meet in the garage and he tells me that he will be there in fifteen minutes. Then I called the two companies to cancel my appointment as I am ill.
“Lily, Dad is on the phone. Would you come in?” Ryan says as he comes out.
I go inside and talk to Richard as I sit on the couch and assure him that I’m fine and I am going home with Lucas in ten minutes. I hang up on the phone and Ryan comes towards me with something in his hand.
“Here.” Ryan says as he takes my hand puts something metallic in my hand. I open my fist to see a key with a small card attached to it.
“What is this? Key to your heart?” I ask as I giggle.
“No. My apartment.” Ryan says and I look at him in shock.
“But why?” I ask.
“Well I can’t come to your apartment but now you can come to mine whenever you like. I told Sarah last night to make a copy of it first in the morning as I lost my key.” Ryan says.
“Ryan! I didn’t mean for this-” I say but get cut off.
“This is more for me than you. I want you to come there for me, so we could spend some time with each other. The card has the code and address of my apartment. I already informed security to let you in.” Ryan says as he takes me in arms.
“Okay.” I say and tighten my arms around him.
My phone rings making us both realise that we are in his office. I see it is Lucas and after giving Ryan a kiss, I get out of his office.
“Good bye Sarah.” I say as I enter the private elevator with her help.
“Bye. Please take good care of yourself, Lily.” She says.
“I will.” I say and wave as the door closes and I see Ryan waving at me too.
I take out the key from my bag and look at it with stupid grin. Well Ryan deserves surprise from me and he will get it this weekend. I make a plan in my head and think about it clearly.
“What happened?” Lucas asks as he drives towards home.
“Well I have an allergy to crabs too.” I say as I smile.
“What?” Lucas asks.
“Yes. Yesterday night I got allergic to it but thank god Heather had Epi so I was saved.” I tell Lucas everything that happened, skipping some parts.
“Remember when you ate shrimp for the first time and got allergic to it? Dad almost cried at that time and Mom was calming him down while I talked to 911. That beach holiday had gone horribly wrong.” Lucas says.
“Not totally. We were together at least and then the next day we had fun at that house with cartoons and fruits.” I say as I smile.
“Yes it was fun especially when Mom commented on the cartoons to act in a particular way.” Lucas says and we laugh as we remember that.
Lucas drops me home and after lunch leaves. I tell everything to Emma over lunch and she compliments me that pink does suit me to brighten my mood. After Lucas leaves, I go into my room and lay down for a while.
I have an interview tomorrow and I have yet to prepare for it. I don’t even have my portfolio but as I already emailed them, it won’t be that much of a problem. I look in my closet as I keep some of my clothes here and see a few options.
When Ethan is back we play for sometime and I also help him study. I play with Eve from afar only as I fear she will get infected because of me.
“So how do you feel now?” Emma asks as she sits beside me.
“Much better. And you?” I ask.
“Okay. I have one more month of maternity leave until my job starts again.” Emma says as she sighs.
“Do you wanna join?” I ask.
“Actually yes but I also don’t want to be away from kids that much. I worry for them.” Emma says.
“In two months you will change your mind. You were like that on Ethan’s time too. Emma, you are very good at your job and don’t worry about kids. I will babysit for them on weekends for you.” I say.
“Lucas said the same thing. You know what you are right. I like working and we have good childcare in our office.” Emma says.
I make her understand she does not need to feel guilty if she likes working. Kids are not only her responsibilities and they will learn from her the value of hard work.