Chapter 15: Chapter 14

LILLIAN

Lillian wasn’t exactly jumping for joy at the prospect of returning to work. She was always honest with herself, and the truth was she was dreading it. But she did what she had to do, rising at the sound of her alarm and slipping back into her old routine.

She showered, dressed, and applied her makeup with a lack of enthusiasm that was palpable, not even bothering to plaster a fake smile on her face. After all, Tamara’s scowl was a permanent fixture, unaffected by Lillian’s mood.

The more cheerful Lillian tried to appear, the more Tamara seemed to seethe. Maybe that was reason enough to smile. A wicked thought crossed Lillian’s mind, imagining Tamara’s reaction if she found out about her and Noah.

Not that she’d ever spill the beans, but the mental image was amusing. It was a spiteful thought, sure, but it was enough to brighten her day a bit. She didn’t mind indulging in a little spite now and then.

Even Tamara’s icy glare couldn’t wipe the smirk off Lillian’s face. It seemed to only irritate her boss further.

“Why the hell are you smiling?” Tamara snapped.

“Am I not allowed to smile?” Lillian retorted, feigning innocence.

“You have no reason to do so,” Tamara shot back.

“You don’t know that,” Lillian countered.

She wanted to say that annoying Tamara was reason enough, but she didn’t want to reignite their feud just yet. She could hold off until tomorrow, but she knew their truce wouldn’t last more than two days. Any longer would be unbearable.

“And I don’t care to know,” Tamara said flatly. “You are here to do a certain job.”

“And I am doing it impeccably,” Lillian replied, matching Tamara’s tone.

“Your appearance isn’t convincing,” Tamara insisted. Wasn’t she tired of this same old song and dance? It’s not like she could actually fire Lillian. Not yet, anyway.

“I don’t set up your schedule using my eyeliner, do I?” Lillian asked, her voice dripping with faux sweetness.

“You are insolent,” Tamara accused.

“Because I won’t stand being insulted by you?” Lillian shot back.

“You forget your place all the time,” Tamara said.

“If I did, I wouldn’t be here to tell you that your next meeting is starting at ten,” Lillian retorted.

Tamara glared at her, then rose from her seat, grabbing a file and rushing off as if her ass was on fire. It was three minutes to ten.

Lillian took this as her cue to leave. She wasn’t needed for this meeting—Tamara had made it clear she’d scare off the clients. So, she returned to her desk and began planning next week’s schedule.

The day flew by with a few phone calls, and before she knew it, it was time to go home. She breathed a sigh of relief.

***

A month passed. Lillian wasn’t one to keep track of time, but she found herself doing it anyway. How long would she stay here? She already had one answer to that question, but it wasn’t her choice. It was Noah’s.

She found herself wondering about him. Where was he? What was he doing? Was he still traveling the world? She didn’t exactly miss him. That would be absurd.

Their relationship was just a summer fling. It was the best sex of her life, and she was willing to admit that it was more than just physical. It wasn’t love, but it was more than lust. They had enjoyed each other’s company, and she knew the feeling was mutual.

But that was all in the past. She probably wouldn’t see him again anytime soon. And even if they did meet, what would they say to each other? The last time they were together, the circumstances were different.

There was a carefree air about them because it was summer and they knew their time together was limited. If they met now, it would be awkward. She doubted they’d have much to say to each other in the fall, in this place.

What they had was perfect for the time and place it happened. It wasn’t something to be repeated—it would feel wrong. She even thought the sex would be less enjoyable.

But that was a moot point because they wouldn’t meet, and even if they did, they wouldn’t sleep together. That’s why she preferred not to think about him at all. It was pointless. They were practically strangers now.

By some twist of fate, she found herself with the opportunity to put her theory to the test sooner than she’d ever anticipated. A couple of weeks later, she came home from work to find her former boss and summer fling leaning casually against the entrance of her apartment building, a smirk playing on his lips.

“You know, I’d forgotten how you look with all that goth makeup,” he remarked as she approached.

“What are you doing here?” she demanded, her face set in a scowl.

If he wasn’t going to bother with a proper hello, she wasn’t going to either, especially after he’d sprung himself on her like this. He was the last person she’d expected to pull a stunt like this, and it irked her.

“Are you not happy to see me?” he asked.

“No,” she replied flatly.

“Why not?”

“I don’t know,” she retorted sarcastically. “Maybe because I didn’t invite you here, or because I didn’t think I’d ever see you again after the summer. You’re not supposed to be here. You were supposed to be off seeing the world.”

She could have asked how he knew where she lived, but she knew it was in her file. He had both her addresses, in fact, because she’d updated her information when she moved. She just hadn’t thought he’d bother to remember them, let alone show up unannounced.

“I don’t have a job anymore. I can be wherever I want, whenever I want. And right now, I want to be here.”

“For how long?” she asked.

“Are we really going to have this conversation here?” He raised an eyebrow.

“You want me to invite you up?” she scoffed.

“That would be the polite thing to do—especially since I’m the reason you moved to this neighborhood.”

“How’s that?” she demanded, defensive.

She knew she was overreacting, but she couldn’t help it. His sudden appearance had thrown her off balance.

“You were living on the other side of the city when I hired you. Six months later, you moved here. It’s a better neighborhood—safer, closer to work, and I’m guessing a bigger apartment.”

“I know why I moved here, but I’m not thanking you for it.”

“I don’t want thanks. I want an invitation inside.”

“You’re not getting laid tonight,” she said flatly.

“With you, you mean.” He smirked.

“Oh, I almost forgot about Tamara. Are you seeing her later?” she asked, her tone mocking.

Some might think she sounded jealous. Maybe she did, but she didn’t think she was. She had no reason to be, but she didn’t like having to deal with him again so soon.

The only thing she didn’t worry about was whether he was sleeping with other women. That was his business—just as it was hers to sleep with other men.

“No, I’m not. She gets too clingy, and I don’t like it. I’ve told you that before.”

“She doesn’t understand the concept of no strings attached?”

“Apparently not, as I’ve also told you before. But I’m not here to talk about Tamara or any other woman. So, are you going to let me in or not?”

“I don’t have a choice, since you’re here, do I?” she snickered. “But keep your hands to yourself. I can’t promise you’ll leave with both of them if you don’t.”

“I won’t put you in a position where you have to resist me,” he promised.

She rolled her eyes. “The only struggle I’ll have is deciding whether to punch you or not.”

She unlocked the door and let him in. They took the elevator up.

“That falls under external struggle. Why would you want to punch me?” he asked.

“Because we weren’t supposed to meet again after the summer.”

She opened the door to her apartment, and he looked around curiously. If he thought she was going to give him a tour, he was sorely mistaken.

The most hospitality she could muster was to offer him a glass of water and point him to the bathroom if he needed it.

“Who said that?” he asked, his attention elsewhere.

Just great. Now he wasn’t even listening to her.

“No one had to say it, Noah. It’s like an unspoken rule, one you should’ve known as a seasoned player. Plus, you’re always globe-trotting and I’m rooted here, thanks to you. But still… This was meant to be a summer fling.”

“It was a summer fling,” he replied nonchalantly. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t see each other again. You’re making this awkward, Lillian, for no reason.”

He finally turned to face her, his expression so indifferent that she felt a sudden urge to ruffle his feathers—maybe by pinching his nose or something equally childish. She just wanted to provoke a reaction.

“So, if I were to make a move on you right now, you’d stop me?” she challenged.

“I’d take you right here and now,” he replied with a smirk.

“And I’m the one making things weird?” she retorted, a smirk of her own playing on her lips.

“Who am I to turn down great sex?” He shrugged, gesturing toward her couch. “Are you going to invite me to sit?”

“Sit, if you want. I need to change,” she replied but paused when she noticed his duffel bag. “Why did you bring that?”

“I just got in town a few hours ago and came straight here.”

“You didn’t go to your hotel?”

“I don’t have a hotel.”

“You jerk!” she exclaimed, laughing in disbelief. “You planned to stay here, didn’t you?”

“I was hoping you’d invite me, but you’re not as welcoming as I thought.”

“Why are you doing this, Noah?”

“I don’t know why I do anything these days,” he admitted, a sad smile on his face. “I was back home before I came here. I even saw my ex-wife and offered to help her husband find a good job.”

Instead of changing, she found herself sinking into the couch next to him. She’d change in a bit.

“Help her husband find a good job,” she scoffed. “How about you find yourself a good job and stop wandering?”

“Can we not talk about this tonight?” he sighed.

She studied him closely. He looked worn out and lost, just as he’d admitted. The more she got to know him, the less he resembled the man she once knew.

Some traits remained, but this Noah was different. He sought her company—something the old Noah would never do. And he hadn’t made any snide remarks about her appearance.

He was definitely a mess.

“I’ll let you off the hook, only because I’m starving,” she said, narrowing her eyes at him.

“Same here,” he agreed. “Airplane food is terrible, unless you’re in first class. It’s been a while since I could afford that.”

“Pizza then?” she suggested.

~Just a glass of water and a trip to the bathroom, huh?~ she thought to herself. Noah might have changed, but she was still the same—all bark and no bite.

“Pizza,” he agreed.

She pulled out her phone and ordered two pizzas and a couple of beers, realizing she had none in her fridge. Then a thought struck her.

“You’re not broke, are you?” she asked.

He looked at her, surprised. “What?”

“Is that why you’re here? You need money? Because if you do, I could…”

He burst out laughing, cutting her off.

“Why the hell are you laughing?” she demanded.

“I’m sorry, it’s just… My former assistant offering me money? That’s not something I ever thought would happen.”

“You’re currently jobless,” she reminded him.

“Yes, but I don’t spend much. I just didn’t feel like going to a hotel. I’m tired of them.”

That made sense, she supposed. If she’d been living out of hotels for the past three years, she’d probably be sick of them too. She didn’t like how he’d imposed himself on her, but she could always kick him out tomorrow.

“You can sleep on the couch,” she said finally. “But only for tonight. You’d better be ready to check into a hotel tomorrow because you’re not staying here.”

With that, she got up and went to change, ready to wash off her makeup.