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"So, what have you guys been talking about?" I asked, pulling my gaze away from his.

"Are you jealous?" Lily responded.

Knowing from her history that this isn't a cutesy comeback from her, I'm honest. "Only if he's trying to steal you from me."

That didn't satisfy her. "I didn't think I was yours to steal."

Noting her discomfort, I did away with the accusation. "I'm sorry. It really doesn't matter to me what you do with him." Her eyebrows shot up in her hairline like I'd just slapped her in the face. I rushed to soften my words. "Ah hell, Lily. I don't mean it like that. I mean, not exactly. I just get worried I might lose you to him, that's all. But I can't tell you who to talk to, and I guess technically, I've already lost you." I cleared my throat, wondering if it was a bad idea to come over here. I was having a great day, seeing her made it even brighter, but I kept talking myself into an early grave.

She narrowed her eyes at me, locked her mother's wheelchair in place, and crossed her arms. "Why would you be worried about losing me to him?"

Well, I couldn't outrightly say 'because he's attracted to you.' Besides, she heard it. And if I were to even say that, I couldn't without implying that I didn't trust her not to go there.

"I'm sorry," I breathed, the rising pressure inside me needing a release.

She unfolded her arms and sighed. "I'm sorry, too."

Smiling, I stepped closer to her, unable to stop myself. "Why? What have you got to be sorry about?"

She dropped her eyes from mine. What's she hiding? "Nothing," she said.

As I said, it didn't matter. As long as I hadn't lost her. But if she's hiding an attraction to Matt, I'd prefer if she told me. It would be mutually beneficial for certain. But I wouldn't push her.

"I miss you," I confessed, reaching out to tug on her large T-shirt. She moved closer to me, our gazes magnetized to each other.

"Come on, Mrs. Thornbread. Let's get you out of the sun. They're going to be here awhile," Matt joked, pulling her wheelchair toward the shade.

"We should probably head over there too." Lily nodded toward the tree.

"Yeah," I agreed, sweat running off my body like a waterfall.

Slipping my hand in hers while we walked, I smiled when she laced her fingers through mine.

Every time she and Ryan glanced at each other, though, she pulled her eyes away, to the ground, like someone caught staring. Ugh, how do I ask her if she has a thing for Ryan without offending her? How do I let her know I'm okay with it? There's a huge elephant in the room and if we can't get past it, I don't know how we're going to be together, and that breaks my heart. I took a deep breath, and it's loud enough for her to hear it.

She turned to me. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." I half-smiled. We didn't trust each other enough to open up. But it's been weeks without her. The last thing I wanted to do was focus on what could keep us apart.

"So, Lily's agreed to come to the fair with us." Matt broke through my thoughts.

"What fair?" Ethan asked. I'm just as confused.

"The fair I've been telling you guys about. Don't you listen when I talk?" Matt grumbled. "Anyway, it should be fun and carefree. I didn't get to enjoy public fairs as a kid. My parents wouldn't be caught dead there. And my nanny was under strict instructions not to make me mix with the poor kids."

"Ugh." Lily scowled. "Sorry. I didn't mean to disrespect your parents." She covered her mouth.

He laughed. "It's okay. It is 'ugh.'" He reassured her. "But it's a family affair, and these guys are the closest I've had to a real family. I've never been to a fair. I kinda want to fulfill that dream of mine."

"That's really sweet. I didn't know," Lily said softly.

"Fine. We'll go to the fair. It's not all it's cracked up to be, though," Ryan said. "It's a lot of screaming kids, headaches from the sun..."

"That's what Lily said. Are you two just party poopers?" Matt asked.

Ryan and Lily did that 'looking at each other and looking away' thing again. Oh, Lily. If you like him, just say something. It'd make things a whole lot easier. But, whatever. It's down to whatever she wants. I'd been consumed with how she might feel about them for the past few weeks anyway, and I'd forgotten what it's like when it's just us.

So, I pulled her toward me to whisper in her ear. "How about I walk you home?"

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