Page 14 of Lily
"'Course." He pointed at the bags he was carrying. "I'll get this in the trunk and we'll get on our way."
She nodded, preferring to watch the man in action than say anything. He closed the door and walked around the car, making quick work of storing her synth and computer in the trunk. Lily's eyes followed him in the rearview mirror and she felt her lips turn up in a smile at seeing Sam putting her things away. If she was still, leaning into the luxury of this small moment, she could pretend that things were different. That she had gotten involved with Sam, not her old fair weather Dom, that this man who was already proving to have her back was the person she would call Daddy.
It was a nice fantasy, but it was just that. Sam opened the car door and hopped into the car with a shiver. "It's cold out. You want me to call Ash?" he asked.
He wasn't her Daddy. She wasn't his Little. But that didn't mean they couldn't turn out to be friends.
"That would be amazing. We can call her and see how things shake out?"
"Right on." Sam pulled his phone out and tapped on a contact. "It's ringing. I'll start driving while you call."
Lily hummed and lifted the ringing phone to her ear. She only had to wait a few rings before Ashley's voice came over the receiver. "Sam?"
"It's uh, Lily, not Sam."
"Oh thank god! How are you?"
Lily fidgeted in her seat and looked out the window. "I'm good. Sam found me easy peasy. Thanks for sending him."
"Of course. I felt terrible about not getting to tell you goodbye. How are, ah, things at the apartment?"
"Terrible, but you probably already knew that."
Ashley sighed. "Yeah, with those two for roommates. I know, I know, but I meant what I said in the note. I'll help you get out of there."
Lily's fingers twisted in her skirt. "But why?" They hadn't been great friends. Even if they had been friendly, there was a big difference between the two, which Lily acutely knew. She didn't have close friends. Not anymore. She hated it.
"Because someone helped me out once, and if I can help you, then I want to. You don't deserve to be in that apartment with those people." Ashley's voice was sincere; she meant every word and Lily smiled at the mention of someone.
"You mean 'your man'?" she asked, unable to keep the singsong tone out of her voice.
Ashley giggled. "Yes, my man, but seeing as you don't have one…" Ashley's voice broke off and she gasped, "…I mean, I'm sorry for assuming. You don't have a man, right?"
Lily flushed and looked down at her hands. "No, I don't have a man," she said, but her voice was barely above a whisper.
"What?" Ashley asked. "I'm at the performance, so you have to speak up. What did you say?"
"I said I don't have a man," Lily repeated her answer a little louder, but apparently, it still wasn't loud enough for Ashley.
"What?"
"I don't have a man!" Lily all but yelled suddenly, and Sam's hands jerked on the wheel. The car veered to the right and he swore.
"Sorry, sorry," he apologized, pulling the car back into its lane. "Surprised me there, Lily Bell."
She put a hand over her face. "Sorry," she told him. Meanwhile, Ashley was chattering on excitedly.
"That's great news! I mean, Sam is pretty handsome, right?"
"Ash—"
"What? You're both single and attractive people."
Lily wished she could sink into her seat. "Okay, yeah."
"Anyway, Lily, would you mind going with Sam to his place? James and I will come by right after the performance, and we can figure it out from there."
"Sounds like a plan," Lily said, unable to keep the smile off her face as she rushed through her goodbye. "Hey, Ashley. Thank you. I mean that. It's been rough."
