Page 41 of Fragile Kiss (Fragile 2)
With a look of triumph, Katharina put a hand on her hip and looked around her huge open living room. “This looks amazing.”
“It does.”
“And we’re already almost done?”
“We are.”
Katharina squealed and took another sip of wine. “You’re truly a magic-maker, darling. I have to tell everyone about you.” She set the glass down and began taking photos of her living room from all different angles, reviewing each one after and muttering “Yes, that looks good” to herself every now and then.
Lillian enjoyed having a seat for the first time since arriving earlier that morning, and seeing Katharina so captivated by her home’s transformation made her feel like the trip was worth it.
I should send Andrew a text and let him know that this was all a success, she thought, stifling a laugh as Katharina got swept away down the hallway by her photo frenzy. The sound of her phone taking picture after picture became nothing more than background noise. Pulling out her own from her pocket, she tapped Andrew’s name and sent him a quick message.
I’m glad I came to Los Angeles, was all she said. It was all she needed to say. He would be glad enough. At least she wasn’t sending him a message full of regret and tears he would be able to sense even from hundreds of miles away.
Katharina reappeared, but instead of the loud shutter noise being emitted from her phone’s speaker, it was her ringtone. “Hello?” she purred, and her face lit up.
Good, Lillian sighed a breath of relief as Katharina’s face lit up and her mouth erupted into that huge grin of hers. There was nothing that gave her so much anxiety as seeing her face fall and hearing her having a heated discussion—argument, rather—in another language with whoever was on the other end. Even though she knew it had nothing to do with her or her work on the house, Katharina was mildly intimidating in that way. That didn’t stop Lillian from admiring her, of course, but how Katharina was able to bounce from her clear irritation during the fussy phone call earlier to elation now with someone else was incredible.
Please, whatever god is out there listening, I want to be like that one day. She almost laughed, imagining herself being that free of stress.
“Did you get the photos I sent you just now?” Katharina paused. “Yes just, maybe, ten seconds ago. You must see the house. It’s fabulous! For a moment—and this is the only time you will hear me say this—dare to recall how atrocious this whole place looked last week.”
> It did look pretty bad, thought Lillian.
“You see it in your mind now, right? Okay. Look at the photos I sent.” There was another pause, and Lillian could tell Katharina was so excited for her friend to see the pictures. “Yes!” she suddenly shrieked, her voice ringing out through the house. “That’s the bedroom! The one with the silly window. I was dreading having to find a company to fix it. Reshaping a window is such a hassle, don’t you agree?”
I wouldn’t know, Lillian thought.
“Can you believe how she decorated it?” All of a sudden her jaw dropped, and she whirled around to look at Lillian. “I know! Haven’t I told you? Her name’s Lillian. I flew her in. She’s the best of the best, no doubt. It’s only taken two days for her to do my whole home like this. I haven’t even had to buy anything extra. Yes, she gave each guest room a decorative theme, if you will.” Getting carried away by her rant, she held up a finger to Lillian and disappeared back down the hallway. She was glad; her face was beginning to blush like she hated.
Checking her phone again, she saw Andrew had already replied.
Good to hear. Everything going okay?
She knew exactly what he meant by that, and knowing where Andrew stood in regard to her relationship, or lack thereof, with Cayden was only going to make responding harder.
Maybe now isn’t the best time to say anything, she tried to reason with herself, knowing this was shaky ground she stood on. At the same moment she lowered her phone, it dinged again.
Listen, Andrew had sent, you don’t have to hold back telling me anything. You’re my family and I want us to always be open with each other.
“Dammit,” she cursed, clapping her hand over her mouth and looking around to make sure Katharina wasn’t nearby. Not that she would have cared about Lillian saying—well, pretty much anything. The woman had no filter herself, and seemed to get along best with people who also didn’t tone themselves down on any occasion.
Lillian knew she wasn’t that person. Yet. But Katharina seemed to like her anyway.
A bird chirped loudly from the railing of Katharina’s porch and Lillian watched it for a minute or so, hoping that in the meantime her brain would come up with some appropriate response. I shouldn’t be over- thinking a text to Andrew this much, she huffed, frustrated. It’s just Andrew. But it’s also a slightly sticky situation.
She remembered her wine and took another sip, begging it to take the edge off her thoughts. How am I supposed to tell him what’s been going on? Oh, Andrew, things are awesome. I’ve been here for two days and last night I slept with Cayden. It was great sex. It couldn’t be compared with any of the sex we had before when we were together. Last weekend came back to her, but she wasn’t in a place where she wanted to admit to herself, or anyone else, what she had done to him—making their relationship even more confusing by telling him off in her kitchen then seducing him while he was doing yard work.
I hope I never let that one slip.
Katharina’s voice, muffled behind the wall, reached her ears; she was speaking in the tone that meant she was about to get off the phone. Hurry, Lillian pressured herself, shaking the phone as if that would help. Just tell him how things are. That’s all he asked.
Repeating his question didn’t help her reach any conclusion at all.
“She’s leaving tomorrow, but I’ll ask her if she wants to stay another few days.” Katharina stepped back into the kitchen and locked her gaze on Lillian. “Would you like to stay for a little longer and help my friend Talia when you’re finished here?” she asked, quickly adding, “Not that I’ll ever be done here. I think I’ll always find reasons for you to come back. Do you do interior design as well?”
“Uh...” Not sure which question to answer first, Lillian cleared her throat. “I’ll have to go back for a couple of weeks, I think. My clients are waiting for me there.”
