Page 25 of Lily
Chapter 7
"Lily?" Ashley's voice woke her up, and Lily blinked slowly as she tried to wake up. "Are you here?"
"Shhh! She's sleeping," Sam's whisper screamed from where he was still holding her on the couch.
"What?" Ashley burst into the room with a confused look on her face. "Why are the lights off an—"
"She is sleeping," Sam interrupted.
"No, I'm not," Lily said, slowly straightening and rubbing her eyes sleepily.
"Shewassleeping," Sam corrected, and Ashley bit her lip.
"Sorry. I'm just excited to see her." The lights brightened to reveal Ashley and who Lily was coming to think of as "her man.” "I didn't mean to wake you, Lily."
She smiled at seeing Ashley and shook her head. "No, I'm excited to see you too. Thank you so much for getting me here."
"Of course, I felt terrible for not telling you goodbye, but that night was, well, it was a lot."
"That apartment is no place for a Little," the man at her side muttered. His hands were in his pockets and his hair pulled back in a knot. He was someone who should be intimidating, or rather Lily supposed he might be in a different setting, but here, he was nice. He smiled at Lily and put his arm around Ashley. "I'm glad we could help you find a new place to sleep. Those roommates are scum."
Both Lily and Ashley made faces of disgust. "They really are," Lily said, crossing her arms.
"Definitely not good people," Ashley added and then gave Lily an apologetic look. "I'm sorry for leaving with just that note."
"It's okay. I'm just happy we are here now." Lily rose from her seat and smiled at the other woman.
"Me too!" Ashley rushed forward and threw her arms around her with enough force for them nearly to tumble back into the couch. "And you met Sam; I love Sam. Isn't he the best?"
Lily gave Ashley an enthusiastic nod. "He is. He's been so nice and good to me. I even had chocolate cake."
"He makes the best cake," Ashley told her with a serious look.
Lily's mouth dropped open and she whirled around to look at Sam. "You made that cake?"
He nodded and smiled. "I did."
"You're the best babysitter I've ever had," she told him, the words rushing out before she could stop them, but once they had, she clapped a hand over her mouth. "Oh," she looked to the side to James and Ashley. "I mean—"
"It's okay; you don't have to worry," Ashley told her, holding a hand out to her friend. "I'm a Little too. I didn't know you were, though. I just felt, well, I felt like you needed someone to watch out for you. I hated thinking about you still in the apartment with Xander and Sarah."
"Thank you," Lily said. "It's gotten so much worse lately, and I-I wish I'd known we had this in common while we lived together. It would have been nice to have a friend."
"We can be friends now," Ashley told her. For what felt like the umpteenth time that night, Lily counted her blessings. She had far exceeded her to do list item ofTalk to Ashley. They were going to be friends!
"I'd like that." Lily beamed at her.
Ashley clapped with excitement, and the two Littles missed the knowing look the men shared over their heads.
"See ya been spoiling her already," James observed, nodding at the plate that held the crumbs of her chocolate cake slice.
Sam shrugged, hands going to his hips as he gave his friend a chagrined smile. "I'm a softie. We all know it."
"That's what makes you the best babysitter ever!" Ashley exclaimed, throwing her arms around him in a bear hug. She grinned at Lily.
"You'll get to do whatever you want if Sam is in charge of you."
Lily laughed, but no sooner than her sound escaped her, did she stop. This wasn't going to happen again. Even if she was friends with Ashley, this wasn't her world or her place. Sam had given her a blissful evening, but that was as far as she expected his caregiving to extend. Her heart sank. Sam wouldn't be in charge of her, letting her do as she pleased and feeding her delicious treats. She would think of tonight whenever she needed cheering up.
