Page 68 of Fragile Love (Fragile 3)
“Yeah, it’s kind of liberating. The fresh air is helping clear my head. I’m going to be working in that little house all day, so I want to soak it in while I can.” Just up ahead, they saw that Katharina’s driveway gate was open just enough to walk through. “She must have left it open for us.”
Cayden looked around. “That’s weird. She’s never left it open for me.”
Lillian flipped her hair. “I’m special. Hey, before we go in, I wanted to say thank you for taking care of me last night. Usually I’m traumatized after something like that, but I’m feeling much better already.”
“It was the waffles,” he said. “There’s medicinal material inside of them.”
“That probably played a big part.” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him. “I appreciate you.”
“You’re amazing, Lil. I’ll tell you until you believe it.” He took her hand and led her inside the gate. “Now, come on. It’s time to kick some ass today. We have work to do, and we have to make it good.”
“What’re you doing today?”
“Some more interviews, blah blah blah. The usual. Workout with Katharina right now. I’ll take you to dinner tonight.”
She smiled and opened her mouth to say something as they started up the steps to the house, but suddenly she grabbed Cayden’s shoulder and pulled him down to his knees.
“What the—” he exclaimed, but Lillian clapped her hand over his mouth.
“Be quiet,” she whispered, a silly grin on her face. “Look.”
Very slowly, they rose just enough to see through the window into the living room. Right inside, Katharina and Andrew were ferociously making out. Katharina had pinned him against the big bookshelf. His crutches had fallen on the floor.
“Holy hell!” Cayden mouthed, and Lillian giggled like a little girl. “Looks like someone didn’t go back to his hotel room last night!”
“I can’t believe it, but it kind of makes me happy!” Lillian squeezed his arm excitedly.
“They’re still going at it,” Cayden said, lowering himself to the steps again. “Dang.”
“Maybe we can do that later,” Lillian murmured, touching his cheek.
“Not in Katherina’s house. I prefer some privacy.” He chuckled. “But we can definitely make that happen.” He looked up again. “I think they’re done. She just picked up his crutches. Let’s go to the bottom step and walk up again.”
“They’ll know in an instant!”
“No, they won’t! We were completely quiet.”
“Andrew will be able to tell.”
“Because your face shows every emotion you feel?” Cayden teased. “Come on, blushy.”
THEY CRAWLED TO THE bottom step, stood up, and climbed up again, this time all the way. Lillian tried to make it sound like they had been carrying on a conversation, but could hardly contain her giggling. She’d felt so low this morning and now, everything was starting to feel so much easy to handle. Like the world wasn’t such an evil place. Andrew making out, crutches on the floor, his leg dangling... she started giggling all over again. Katharine was so proper. So Hollywood, and she was all over Andrew like bees on flowers.
“Quit laughing, Lil.” Cayden wiped the smirk off his face and knocked on the door, nudging her again.
“I can’t help it!” she hissed right as Katharina opened the door. “Good morning!”
“Hi, darlings!” she greeted. If they hadn’t just seen her in the middle of an intense make-out session, they would never have known anything just happened. Lillian wished she could hide her feelings that well. It was Hollywood actress perfect.
“How’s everything going?” Cayden asked as they followed her inside. He nodded. “Hey, Andrew.”
“What’s up,” Andrew replied from his seat on the arm of the sofa.
Lillian waved at him, and knew instantly Andrew could tell she had seen. She started giggling and tried to hide it behind her hand. Dammit, she thought. At least I gave it my best shot.
Katharina still had no idea. She took Lillian by the shoulders. “My lovely Lily of—”
“Yes,” Lillian hummed, trying to interrupt the awful nickname.
