Page 26 of Unpredictable Flames

Jake sighed, his expression unyielding. “Lily, this is ridiculous. Why does it even matter?” he snapped, his patience wearing thin.

The more he refused to open up, the angrier I became. “Because Jake, I care about us! Or doesn't that mean anything to you?” My voice rose, a mixture of anger and desperation coloring my words. I had decided to love this man fully, despite knowing his past as Lakeridge’s playboy, believing he had changed. But now, doubt crept in, shadowing my heart.

He remained stoic, his jaw clenched tightly. “I'm tired, Lily. I need to rest,” he said curtly, effectively ending the conversation.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I realized how futile my efforts were. With a heavy heart, I excused myself, whispering a barely audible, “I'm sorry,” before leaving his room.

I had hoped, foolishly, that he would chase after me, that he would explain everything and we'd laugh about this misunderstanding. But as I left his room, that hope crumbled.

Alone in my room, I allowed myself to fully break down. Sliding down the door, I hugged my knees, sobbing quietly. “Why, Lily? Why did you let yourself love him?” I whispered to the emptiness, my heart aching with a pain I hadn't known before.

I scolded myself for falling for Jake West, believing that a notorious playboy could change for me. It was insane to think that someone like him could be content with just one woman. Especially someone like me.

As I sat there, in the quiet of my room, I cursed the day Alissa convinced me to throw that party, the very event that led me into this goddamn situation. If only I could turn back time. If only I hadn't let her throw that party I wouldn't be in this mess, drowning in a sea of what-ifs and heartache.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN - TENDER RECONCILIATION

I couldn’t believe it. I had actually made her cry. I clenched my jaws hard, gritting my teeth to stop myself from running after her, but I couldn’t let myself do that.

What would I tell her?

What explanation could I possibly give her?

I sighed to myself, looking at my bandaged shoulder and remembering when I had jumped to push her out of the way. The very same person I had risked my life for was the same person I had just made cry and run out of my room, and for what?

I glanced down at my laptop and steeled my resolve. It was already too late to stop now, so I might as well just keep going. I sat on my chair, using my good hand to open the laptop, and went to the folder, looking for Ali's last message.

Then I saw the message's subject line and clicked on it. To be honest, it was quite hard typing with one hand, but I had no choice.

‘Everything’s almost ready for us. I can’t wait for it to finally happen. I’m still surprised at how long you’ve been able to keep this from Lily. Make sure you delete this after reading.’ — Ali.

I sighed. My fingers danced over the keyboard as I replied. ‘I’ve been thinking about it non-stop for days, and I honestly can’t wait either. And don't worry - I'll make sure to delete this message. We can't risk any leaks. See you soon.’ — Jake.

I closed my laptop, leaning into my chair as I let out a loud sigh. What the fuck was I going to do?

The dull throb in my shoulder slowly started to increase, so I did the next best thing. I popped a few painkillers into my mouth and quickly climbed into my bed, hoping to escape into sleep, even if only for a little while. My altercation with Lily still troubled me, but at this point, I didn’t want to think about it. Deciding that rest was my best ally, I let the weight of exhaustion pull me under.

The painkillers I swallowed should've guaranteed me a night without dreams or disturbances. They did, at least, until my stomach decided to throw its own little tantrum. Groaning, I reluctantly peeled myself out of bed. Every movement was a careful negotiation, trying not to jolt my shoulder. The hunger was insistent, gnawing at me, driving me out of the warmth and into the cold kitchen.

It was dark, the kind of dark that seemed to swallow sound, and the kitchen felt cold, almost unwelcoming. I rummaged through the fridge and cabinets. Nothing. My hope of finding something easy to eat dwindled with each empty shelf. “Guess I’m going to have to fix myself a sandwich, then,” I muttered to myself, underestimating the challenge my injured shoulder would pose.

As I tried to slice the bread, the knife slipped—its blade skimming harmlessly off the counter but sending the plate I'd set out crashing to the floor. The sound of breaking ceramic shattered the night's silence. “Damn it.” I cursed louder than I intended, staring down at the mess.

My attempt to clean up was cut short by the sound of approaching footsteps. Panic seized me. The last thing I wanted was for Lily to find me like this—struggling over something as stupid as making a sandwich.

Her silhouette appeared in the doorway, the light from the moon casting shadows across her face, but her green eyes were unmistakable. They found mine immediately. The connection was brief before she quickly looked away, taking in the chaos I'd created.

“What happened here?” Her voice was soft, barely above a whisper, but it filled the kitchen.

“Just... got hungry. I wanted to make a sandwich, but…” I gestured helplessly with my good arm, “it's a bit harder than I thought.”

She surveyed the mess once more, her expression unreadable. Her gaze lingered on the broken plate before shifting back to me. Then, with a scoff that seemed more like a defense mechanism than disdain, she moved past me toward the counter.

I stepped aside, watching her gather ingredients with a proficiency that made it clear she'd done this a million times before. Without a word, she made not one but a few sandwiches, stacking them neatly on a plate. She placed them in front of me without a word. Her silence was louder than any argument we'd ever had. As she turned to leave, a sudden urgency overtook me.

“Lily, wait,” I called out, the words catching in my throat.

She didn't come back, but she paused, turning slightly to acknowledge me. Her eyes met mine again, and I could see the hurt there.

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