Page 30 of Light It Up Red
Fuck it. He already wants to kill me. It’ll be worth it. You’re worth it.
Me:
I think that might be the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me.
Travis:
See you soon, babe.
“Fucking hell, Lil. Why do you have to look so happy?” Alessandro asks while glancing back at me.
And it’s only now that I realize Lorenzo’s nosey ass has been reading my entire conversation. “She’s texting lover boy.”
“It’s hard to kill someone who makes you look like that, sis,” my brother grumbles, and I narrow my glare on the back of his head.
“You’re not touching him.”
“I don’t like the guy,” Alessandro says. “He’s far too cocky.”
“Compared to all of you?” I gesture from my brother to my cousin. “Besides, Dad promised none of you would hurt him.”
“How the hell did you get him to agree to that?”
“I just told him the truth. That I really like Travis—like really, really like him. And if anything were to happen to him, it’d make me cry. A lot.” I smile. My father cannot stand to see me cry. Nothing sends him into more of a murderous rage than seeing me upset.
Did I use that knowledge to get whatever I wanted when I was younger? Yes. It would have been stupid not to. Am I using it now to stop him from going after my boyfriend? Again, yes. For the same reason.
I don’t care what that says about me. Because what I told my father was the truth. I do really, really like Travis. And I want to see where this relationship goes. I’ve never met anyone like him before. I’ve never felt this comfortable with anyone before. It’s this sense I get whenever he looks at me. Like he understands and sees me.
For the first time in my life, I feel seen. Which is odd, considering I’m used to having all eyes on me all the time.
Chapter Fourteen
The moment I step off the jet, I pull my phone out of my pocket. For the last three days, I’ve been texting back and forth with Lili. We’ve been talking about everything and anything. I’ve been purposely thinking of random questions to ask her just to give her a reason to reply.
I really like this chick. I don’t want to talk to anyone else but her. I’m supposed to be going to see my parents today; instead, I’ve asked Lili to meet me at my place. I sent my mother a message, making up some bullshit excuse about being tired and telling her I’d catch up with them tomorrow. Right now, I just want to see my girl.
Except, when I walk into my apartment, it’s not her who I find waiting for me. It’s her father.
“Where’s Lili? Is she okay?” I drop my bag, barely registering the sound it makes when it hits the floor. I should be wondering why he’s standing here, how he got in. Fuck, I should probably be looking for the closest exit. But the first thing that comes to mind isn’t my own safety or well-being. It’s Lili’s.
Her father is standing in my foyer, his hands in his pockets and his head slightly tilted. Assessing me. “She’s fine,” he finally says, and I exhale my relief.
“Want a drink?” I offer before walking past him and farther into my apartment.
“No.”
“Okay,” I say and turn back around to face him. “I’m assuming there’s a reason for your visit. I don’t get the impression you make house calls to all of your daughter’s friends.”
“Friends? Is that what you are? Friends?” he asks.
I take a second to consider his question. Lili might be the first girl I’ve actually enjoyed getting to know. Does that make us friends? Sure, but it’s more than that too.
“We’re friends,” I tell him. “Without friendship, there isn’t much of a relationship, is there?”
“My daughter likes you, Mr. O’Neil,” he says.
“And I like her.”
