Page 48 of Faking It with my Small Town Billionaire

I actually can’t speak. There are literally no words in my head right now. Instead, I just keep gazing at him.

“I have feelings for you, Lily, and I believe those feelings are real. I know this wasn’t part of the deal, but I can’t hold back from telling you any longer.”

He looks at me again like he expects me to say something. Things have happened between us; I know that. Still, I didn’t expect him to just come out and tell me how he feels. I’m not ready.

“Please, Lily. Say something,” he pleads. “Tell me what you’re thinking or feeling. Tell me anything.”

I need space, I need air, I need a guardian angel to tell me what to do. What am I supposed to say? Orson has been thinking about this. He’s had time to consider his feelings. I haven’t.

“I need some time to think,” I blurt.

He looks a little hurt, but there’s not a lot I can do about that. I’m not going to say the first thing that comes to my head, which is currently, Lord, somebody help me.

“All right,” he says evenly.

“We will talk, Orson. I just need some time.”

“I get it,” he says. “It’s fine.”

By his tone, I know it’s not fine, but instead of trying to appease him, I turn, grab my bag, and head for the door.

The journey home is a joy. Not!

We barely say a word to each other for an hour and a half, which makes the whole trip way too tense. I’m so busy concentrating on the dense atmosphere in the limo that I can hardly get my head around my feelings, and by the time we reach the apartment, I’m no wiser about how I feel.

Dragging my bag into the living room, I’m about to tell him that he can’t just drop something like that on me and expect me to have an answer when my phone rings.

It’s Ellie, and I’m suddenly alert. My younger sister always texts. She never calls.

“What’s happening?” I say as soon as I answer.

“It’s Mom,” Ellie replies with panic in her voice. “She had a seizure, and they rushed her to the hospital. You have to come, Lily.”

“All right. It’ll be all right, Ellie. I’m leaving now. I’ll be there in a couple of hours.”

“Okay. Love you.”

“Love you, too.”

When I hang up, Orson is watching me with a worried frown. “Your mom?”

I nod and relay to him what Ellie told me.

“I can drive you,” he offers.

“I appreciate it, but I’m going to take my car.” Maybe I’ll get that chance to be alone with my thoughts, if only while I’m driving.

Orson nods knowingly. “Keep me posted, will you? And let me know if there’s anything I can do.”

“Thanks. I will. Got to go.” And I hurry out of the apartment.

The journey is a mix of thoughts and emotions, between worrying about Mom and trying to make sense of how I feel; by the time I arrive at the hospital, my head’s a mess.

I’m shown into Mom’s room, where my sisters are sitting beside the bed. Upon seeing me, they jump from their chairs, and we meet in the middle, hugging each other tightly.

“How is she?” I ask, moving to her bedside.

She’s unconscious and looks peaceful, but the fact that she had a seizure has me worried.

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