Page 14 of Perfidious Passion

FEB. 13TH - THURSDAY

Tomorrow's Valentine’s Day and we're still fucking brainstorming what we're going to do. Our initial idea of taking Lilly out to a nice dinner isn't good enough. Normally, it would be, but we want to do something special. I'm not sure what's up with her this week. Her mood has been up and down so frequently I'm getting whiplash.

Thoughts of her shaky voice on the phone a few hours ago makes me sigh into my hands after tossing my phone onto my desk.

If Lilly's not feeling well, then what would she want to do tomorrow?

A frustrated groan slips free as defeat digs its sharp claws into my already heavy shoulders.

Lilly's focus is always our happiness. Dean takes it in stride, and I know Caleb gets frustrated about it sometimes because he wants her to do something for herself. To live in the moment and stop worrying about us. I like to think I'm a mixture of both.

The twins are very outward with their behaviors and responses that I stay quiet and observe most family spats. There aren't many and they usually come from good places, butgoddammit, how, between the three of us, can we not figure out a good Valentine's Day surprise for our woman?

Lilly would know what we would want. Hell, we explicitly had to tell hernotto plan anything this year. We want to spoil her with affection and thoughtfulness. Which seemed easy up until a few days ago when she started seeming down and blue.

Something's wrong and I can't pinpoint what it is. She completely brushed me off yesterday after dinner. I'm never good at pulling feelings out of her, since I tend to bulldoze, like Dean says. He told us to give her some space since she clearly doesn't know how to talk about it yet.

That's the thing about Lilly; her communication is fucking amazing. That's why we freak out a little more when she can't articulate her emotions. I'm starting to get worried about her checking out like she used to. Lilly suffered from awful anxiety and depression, starting around the age of fourteen.

The cause of her struggles? Her dad deemed her unworthy of his time following some of her lowest moments as a teenager. He's rarely around, except for the one or two phone calls every year. Bastard makes her cry every damn time.

"You got a lot on your mind." Jolting upright in my chair, I find Brett entering my office with furrowed brows and hands raised in surrender. "Sorry, man. I knocked. You doin' alright?"

I itch my thigh, trying to shake all the thoughts away. "You're my boss. Isn't there a rule about friendships or something?"

Brett laughs and seats himself on the other side of my desk. "Don't get your panties in a twist. I'm just checking on you."

A shocked snort rips out of me at his inappropriate joke. "I'm fine, really." He raises a brow and I cave with a sigh. "Dean, Caleb, and I are trying to figure out something else to do for Valentine's Day. Lilly's been feeling off all week, so we want to make it extra special."

Cocking his head to the side, he asks, "Is she alright?"

I itch my eyebrow. "She wasn't feeling well today. I'm not sure what she'll be up for and the twins are unhelpful."

"What did they suggest?"

With an eyeroll, I answer, "Skydiving, haunted ghost tour, and—" I cut myself off, remembering who I'm talking to.

"Come on," he grins. "Don't hold out on me now."

"Sex in a graveyard," I blurt out and can't help but laugh along with Brett. "Yeah, that's why Lilly and I plan dates."

"Got nothin' huh?"

"Nothing. How is it that she could know exactly what to do tomorrow that would make all three of us happy, yet the three of us don't know what would make her happy on the most romantic day of the year?"

Guilt rushes through my limbs, making the hairs on my arm prickle. Shaking off the heaviness, I hang my head once again. Lilly is the most amazing fucking woman, and I have no idea how to cheer her up.I'm the worst.

"Well," he drawls, leaning forward. "You can make any day the most romantic day of the year, Aaron. But I have an idea for you if you want."

I perk up at that. Part of me hates that I need to take advice from my boss on how to please the woman I love. "Please," I breathe, relief coating my plea.

Brett nods, a small smile on his face as he pulls out his phone. "I have a friend who owns one of the bookstores in the Minneapolis arts district."

It's absolutely perfect. Lillylovesreading. I'm sold, but he keeps going while continuing to tap away on his phone. "Warm lighting, comfortable beanbag chairs, old timey rugs, and the smell of books. I'm sure I can get him to set up a table?—"

"No. We can get it all set up. Just tell me the rate to book it for the evening and we can do the rest." Heat floods my ears. "If... if that's okay?"

He's silent for a moment, then his phone vibrates. "You got it. Phil just asks you to get him a meal and tuck it in the fridge in the back from wherever you order." He looks up at me. "Which, if you want something fancy, you might want to do tonight just to make sure you get your order in."

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