Page 32 of Lily
Chapter 8
The ride back to the city was far shorter than the night before. There was something about the night that always made Lily forget exactly where she was, made things seem more magical, and she frowned seeing everything in the bright sunlight of the day. It made things seem like they were normal, as if nothing had changed in the past twenty-four hours, when that couldn't be farther from the truth.
Everything had changed, or at least, it felt that way to her. She looked to the side and smiled seeing Sam driving. She hadn't felt this way about anyone in a long time, and having a caregiver, a Daddy, made Lily's world a brighter place.
Or at least it was until they were pulling up in front of her apartment building.
She sank lower in her seat and pursed her lips. This was not where she wanted to be, but it had to be done. She couldn't exactly waltz into work wearing the plunging neckline and short hemline of her current outfit. It was meant for the limelight, not carrying orders out, and her work dress was folded upstairs where she'd left it, forgetting to pack it the night before, meaning she was going to have to go inside whether she liked it or not.
"Let's go," Sam said and opened the car door.
She looked at him in surprise. "You're coming with me?"
"Of course, I am." He gave her a puzzled look and moved to get out of the car, but she held out a hand stopping him.
"You don't have to do that. I can do it," she said finally, unbuckling her seatbelt. She got out of the car and didn't know what to do when Sam got out with her.
"I'll just be a minute," she told him, but Sam shook his head.
"You mean,we'lljust be a minute."
"But, Sam—"
"Sir," he corrected.
Lily dipped her chin and looked at her feet. "Sir, you don't have to go in with me."
Sam rounded the car and came to stand in front of her. "Why not?"
"I don't know what is going on up there," she said, pointing at her building. "My roommates are unpredictable. I'd rather you not have to see them."
"Why would you be worried about that when you have to see them?"
He had her there. They both knew it, and she sucked her teeth. "Fine," she sighed. "It's on the third floor, just so you know. And there's no elevator."
"Then let's get a move on, hmm?" He offered her his arm, and she smiled in spite of the fact that she was about to walk into her apartment. The walk to her front door passed all too quickly despite her best efforts to slow them down and drag her feet. It didn't matter how many times she pointed out "interesting" things to look at or tried to take them around the building on a side tour.
"Well, here we are," Lily said, gesturing to her door with a frown. Sam gave her an encouraging nod, but a resounding bang from the other side of the door had him moving to sweep her behind him.
"What was that?" he asked, glaring at the unopened door.
"My roommates," she told him, peeking around him to the closed door.
"Do they normally make a habit of slamming things around this early in the morning?" he asked, glancing down at his watch that showed it was barely ten.
"They could be doing anything in there, honestly. They might not even have slept yet."
"Open the door and stay behind me, Lily."
"But—"
"Open the door, Lily." Sam's voice was stern and unyielding. "We have to get your clothes. You're not staying here another night." Another bang, this time far closer to the door, punctuated his words, and Lily did as he asked. There was no talking him out of it or asking him to wait for her outside of the apartment while she gathered her things. She opened the door and stepped back, letting him go in front of her, because if she were honest, Lily was nervous at what was going on inside of her apartment.
"Give me my money!" Sarah's high-pitched shriek greeted them, and Lily leaned to the side to see that the living room was completely destroyed. The couches were overturned, the coffee table upended and their television busted. In the midst of it, were Xander and Sarah. The pair was fighting, or at least Lily thought that's what it was. There was no other explanation for the kitchen knife in Sarah's hand.
"You crazy bitch!" Xander jumped back when she pointed the knife at him, the overturned coffee table behind him tripping him as he landed in a heap "Stay away from me!"
"What the hell?" Lily whispered, staring at the scene with wide eyes. This was so much worse than what she had thought they might find, and she was nervous to look at Sam now. She didn't want to know what he thought of her and her roommates or where she lived. Whatever it was, it couldn't be good. She cleared her throat and put a hand on his arm. "We can always come back," she told him.
