Lily’s POV.
The next day, Ryan comes to my apartment but Lady gives a warning bark. I calm her down and let her know that Ryan is part of the family. She sits aside but still looks at Ryan for sometime.
“I came here as soon as they left.” Ryan says and kisses me.
“Why?” I ask teasingly as I go behind kitchen island.
“To check, if you are okay or not.” Ryan says as he follows me and I raise my brows at him.
“Like this.” I say as his hands go up my thighs.
“I have to check thoroughly.” Ryan says as his hands reach its destination.
“I would be late for work.” I say as I try to control my moan.
“I will drop you.” Ryan says as he seductively kisses me under my ear.
“But Lady is looking.” I say as a little moan leaves my lips.
“So what? Teddy sometimes sees too. Maybe we can go to another room and do it if you feel shy in front of her.” Ryan says as I feel his other hand fondling my breast through my shirt.
“But-” I start to say but he interrupts.
“This is happening either way. And you have talked enough.” He says then kisses me.
I open my eyes slowly to see Lady going upstairs. Then Ryan makes love to me right on the table not once, not twice but thrice times saying it is for all the days we missed.
I had to get changed again and I saw Lady in my closet like she was waiting to reprimand in there. After getting changed, Ryan drops me to my company and I get in.
The next two week go hectic as the company gets the huge project and everybody pitches in to help one way or another. If this goes well our company’s name would be on top.
Slowly but gradually Lady gets used to Ryan and Teddy. She is calm but also very protective. She even got on well with my family as Emma gave her treats. It was not easy to get into routine but we managed well. As Emma was going to join her job on a part time basis only. It has been less stressful for her.
But something looks to have changed in Ryan’s behaviour in the last one week. After our weekend, when we went out to movies together and got clicked by paparazzi he changed. The photo doesn’t have my face and instead of looking red my hair looks brown in color. So nobody recognised who it was.
But there is something else going on here. I don’t know what but lately I have been feeling like Ryan is taking his steps back. He looks withdrawn. He doesn’t come to my apartment much and when I go over his, he stays busy.
I don’t make much of the issue out of it as he has a lot of work to do and lately he has been under the stress of a new project. So I try not to disturb him much. Maybe once it is all over he will be back to himself.
I take Teddy and Lady out for a walk in the park on Friday evening as Ryan said he would be late as he has some work to do. As we start to come back I see Ryan’s car stopping and Freya coming out of it in a sexy revealing dress.
At first I didn’t believe my eyes, then I rubbed it to see it was her and I also saw paparazzi taking photos of them. They are talking and laughing and Ryan is taking her to the elevator when Teddy barks loudly.
“Lily! So here is Teddy? How are you?” Freya says but Teddy moves away from her and Lady barks in warning.
“I am sorry she doesn’t respond well to new people.” I say.
“Oh!” She exclaims, “Shall we go up Ryan? We need to talk.”
I look at Ryan finally to see him having an irritated look on his face but because of me or Freya that, I don’t know. He nods and we all get on the elevator with Ryan in the middle and Freya and I beside him.
He doesn’t say or hint anything as the elevator goes up while Freya rambles on about some project but I rarely give her attention as all of my attention is on Ryan. But soon my floor comes and I leave the elevator. My last memory is as the elevator door closes, I see Freya leaning up on Ryan to do something, which I don’t want to imagine.
I come into my apartment and wring my hands as I don’t know what the hell they might be doing. For the first time I don’t like my relationship with Ryan being a secret. For the first time I want to reveal it to everyone to let them know that Ryan belongs to me, only me.
I wait for his text or call and also wait for him to come to my apartment. But neither of those things happens. I fall asleep on the couch only and wake up very early. I get the juice and make toasts with egg and some fruits and give Lady her breakfast. I turn on the TV as I want to get distracted.
As I eat the toast I change channel but stop at one channel when it shows Ryan’s face. I turn up the volume a bit and hear what I have been dreading. The news headlines are, ‘Are an old lovers ready to finally tie the knot?’.
My heart stops beating as the news tells about seeing the couple together in various places during the last two months. One of them is my picture which is now considered to be Freya’s.
They were meeting each other for two months. For some weeks, I could agree on as they are friends and only met for them. But I didn’t know that Ryan had contact with her for the last month and that they are so close that they are standing so close like they would be almost kissing.
Then the news of Freya being here at night comes and the extra detail is she left early this morning and Ryan personally came down to drop her. What the hell is going on? I put the rest of my breakfast in the fridge and went to his apartment with Lady.
I enter his apartment blinded by anger at him for hiding minor things like this. I may be in a secret relationship with Ryan but I have the whole right to know what the hell is he doing with another woman. The one woman who is not only his ex but also with whom he had the longest relationship with and who once got a chance to marry Ryan.
I don’t see him anywhere so I go to his room while Teddy and Lady play downstairs. When I reach his room, I see that his bed is totally rumbled on and it only happens when two people sleep on it. I hear shower running in the bathroom and look at the bed again.
No, maybe Ryan was restless last night. He is anything but a liar. He never cheats on anyone. I waited for him and went to sit on the bed but couldn’t. I go inside the bathroom and Ryan turns around to look at me then turns back to shower.
“What is happening, Ryan?” I ask.
“Can’t this wait until I get ready?” He asks as he comes out of the shower cubicle.
“No.” I say as I follow him to the closet.
“Why don’t you go downstairs then we will talk calmly.” He says as he dries his naked self.
I shake my head and say, “Was she sleeping in this room?”
“What?” Ryan asks, shocked.
“Was she sleeping on your bed? Did you both…” I can’t even finish the sentence.
“First let me get changed then we will talk.” Ryan says and starts wearing clothes.
“No first answer to me.” I say.
“Fine. No we didn’t. I slept with Teddy as he was feeling lonely as you and Lady were not here last night. Does that answer satisfy you? Now can I wear my clothes or are you enjoying the view?” He says.
“I may enjoy the view but I am not in the mood for that. I am way too angry by the news.” I say.
“They are just rumours and you are always in the mood. Do you want me to prove it?” Ryan asks and I feel like he is intentionally distracting me from subject.
“No.” I say when he gets near and I ask, “If they are all rumours then what the hell are you doing with her going to the parties then bringing her here last night? What do I make of all that?”
“Nothing. I am just doing a business deal with her father and she is looking after that project for her father. I wanted to take you to the parties but we can’t be seen together because of the secret relationship. If you don’t know then let me tell you that Freya is a heiress, it is common for us to run into each other at parties as we are from the same circle and share almost the same friends. What more do you want to know?” He asks as I see him getting angry.
“Did you clear her misunderstanding about you not getting back with her? Because from what I saw last night, she still feels like she has a chance. Does she have a chance?” I ask.
“I didn’t get time. Anything else?” He asks.
“You didn’t tell her. Why?” I ask.
“Because she is my friend and she has some problems. I am just helping her out, that is it.” Ryan says.
“But she is also your ex-girlfriend. Why don’t you just understand that it is difficult for me to see you both together.” I say.
“Lily, there is no need for you to feel this way.” Ryan says.
“I would not have felt this way if I had heard the truth from you before knowing about it in the news. And also the fact that she was with you for four years. And we are not even past four months yet. Of course I would feel insecure about you being with her.” I say.
“We are literally living together. It is more than I had with her. We never stayed with each other through the night ” Ryan says.
“I don’t want to hear any details please.” I say.
“Well that’s what I get for dating a virgin.” He mumbles but I hear it.
“What did you say? Well, if dating a virgin gives you pain then why are you even doing it?” I say and leave from there as I am done arguing with him.
He calls for me but I just leave without looking back. Lady follows me as I go out. Teddy wants to follow but he goes to Ryan when he calls for him. I look at him one last time as the elevator door closes and he has a frustrated look on his face but his eyes had a different look and before I could understand it, the door shut down.
I go to my apartment and change into jeans and a baggy top. I take Lady with me to go to meet my family and spend some time with them. Ethan gets more happy when he sees Lady than me and that makes me smile a bit.
I spend time with Eve and Emma as Lucas has gone out with his friends after our insistence. We have lunch and I try to cheer myself up even though from inside I feel hurt by some of Ryan’s words.
“What is it?” Emma asks me after she puts the kids down for a nap.
“What?” I ask.
“There is something wrong. I asked you to pass me a diaper earlier but you gave me formula instead. What is going on? Tell me.” Emma says as we sit on the couch.
“What do I tell you? We had a small argument.” I say.
“About what?” She asks.
“About him going out with his ex-girlfriend.” I say.
“What?” She asks.
“I mean they were friends first then broke up after four years of relationship. Now he and she are working together on a project. She is under illusion he will get back with her and get married to her. When I told him then he said he will do it but later as she needs help right now. But he doesn’t understand that this makes me feel so upset. I don’t know how to make him understand that she is getting touchy with him and that makes me feel angry and jealous as they both had a relationship in the past.” I try to explain as best as I can.
“Okay…” Emma says and I sigh.
“I just don’t know what to do. Sometimes I fear that what if he goes back to her? Where would that leave me?” I voice out the main concern that has been troubling me for days.
“Don’t you trust him?” Emma asks.
“I do. But… I don’t know how to say this. I may never have been in a relationship but this one feels going too fast. Not that I don’t like it but I am… I am…” I say but can’t complete the words.
“You are falling for him.” Emma says.
“Yes.” I say and hold my head in my hands in defeat.
“So what is wrong with that?” Emma asks as she makes me look at her.
“Nothing but I am worried if Ryan is feeling the same thing for me or not. If he does then I don’t need to worry about anything but if he doesn’t then what would I do?” I ask myself more than her.
“Why don’t you just tell him that?” She asks.
“What?” I ask in astonishment.
“Yes. Go ahead and ask him. Atleast then your worries would be less and you would not be stressed about all these stupid stuff about him being seen with other girl.” Emma says.
“I can’t tell him that I am falling for him. What if he doesn’t feel that way and it creates some kind of awkwardness between us.” I say.
“But what if he does feel the same? Wouldn’t that be great? We will see that together if he doesn’t feel the same. But don’t wait now and regret it later.” Emma says.
“I will try to tell him if he listens to me.” I say.
“I thought you always make people listen to you according to your brother.” She says and I raise my brows.
She starts telling me about the things Lucas told Emma about me. I leave for my apartment at 5, so I could ask Ryan to have dinner with me. I will try to tell him about my worries then and make him understand the things I feel about him meeting with his ex-girlfriend.
I hope he just understands. I don’t get any texts or calls from him all day. And when I call he doesn’t pick up. I decided to text him and inform him that if doesn’t come to my apartment for dinner then I am coming to his house.
He immediately texts back that he would come for dinner at my apartment. So I decided to make something special and solve this issue between us.