Page 49 of Destined For Forever

Loving Lily had helped him to see where he was holding himself back and how he could stop being afraid of wanting more. He’d sat still for long enough. Not another day of his life would pass him by.

And one day, maybe he would find a love like that again.

16

New Year’s Eve…

Lily felt an overwhelming sense of déjà vu as she walked through Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport, a small suitcase trailing behind her. Was it because she’d been in another airport recently? Or was it because of the swell of Aussie accents around her, a sound so familiar it was like wrapping herself up in a big, fuzzy blanket?

She’d trudged through the necessary lines to clear customs and border control, her eyes blurring with tears as the officer looked over her Australian passport—with its emu and kangaroo emblem—and said, “Welcome home.”

She was home. Well… almost.

Scanning the crowd, she hunted out a familiar face. When she saw her dad waving, a wide smile beaming, she rushed forward. Her suitcase bumped and rattled with the change in pace, but she didn’t care. Her dad held his arms open and pulled her into a bear hug, crushing her against his chest. “Oh sweetie. It’s good to have you back.”

Now she was home.

For the rest of the day Lily’s stomach felt like a pretzel, all twisted and knotted. She settled into her old bedroom in the family home—which her mother had preserved as if Lily had never left. She still had her old bed, with girlie floral sheets and a pink crochet blanket strewn over the end. Her vanity mirror had photos wedged between the glass and the frame—smiling shots of her and her cousins in their school uniforms or dressed up in silly outfits with feather boas and too much lipstick.

When she’d called her parents after her meeting with Nina, they were thrilled she wanted to come home so soon after seeing them at the wedding. But there were questions. Lots of questions.

And frankly, Lily didn’t have all the answers.

All she knew when she threw a handful of outfits into her suitcase was that she needed to be here as soon as possible. The trip wouldn’t be long—her return flight was in three days, because she had commitments in LA for the next few months. But after that…

She was coming home for good.

Tonight would determine what was waiting for her upon her permanent return. Sean was currently working the day shift at Riptide—something she’d gleaned from a few subtle questions—and tonight there would be a big party on the beach like they had every New Year’s Eve. Fireworks would explode along the coastline and there would be music and dancing, and lots of food, and romance. It was worlds away from the exclusive LA clubs with the expensive champagne and celebrity guest lists that Brock had dragged her to year after year.

This was exactly what she wanted, though. Rolling waves, the company of the people she loved, and maybe a few New Year’s wishes on her lips. If she was lucky, a kiss. All she had to do was turn up tonight and tell him how she felt. No dodging questions, no skating around the truth, no protecting her heart.

It was time to go for broke. To go all in.

Her packing skills had left something to be desired, however, and the only thing that even closely resembled a party-appropriate outfit was a crumpled black linen dress. Thankfully, when she called her cousin, Amelia had been there in a flash.

“I still can’t believe you’re here.” Amelia sat on Lily’s bed, shaking her head. She wore her signature casual style to perfection—a short denim skirt with a white top knotted over a bright pink bikini, flat sandals, and her brown hair tumbling in beachy waves all around her shoulders. “Now, nothing in my closet is anywhere near as stylish as Evie’s, but hopefully something works.”

Evie and Jasper were still on their honeymoon in The Bahamas and wouldn’t be back for another week.

“Seriously, I appreciate any bit of help,” Lily replied, looking through the options. She was instantly drawn to a pale blue cotton dress with a frill around the bottom and thin straps that criss-crossed at the back. The fabric had a subtle dotted pattern to it, and it still had the tags on. “Oh, this one is gorgeous!”

“I bought that for a wedding and never ended up wearing it. It’s a bit frilly for me, but it’ll look amazing on you. You can keep it.”

That was Amelia in a nutshell—she was the person who would give the shirt off her back if someone needed it.

“Thank you for coming to my rescue. I swear, I must have packed with my eyes closed.”

“Blinded by love, huh?” Amelia grinned. “And who says the holidays aren’t magic?”

“Corny as it sounds, I think love un-blinded me.” She fingered the soft cotton fabric of the dress. “I was about to walk into a work situation because I thought it was what I should do, even though every signal in my gut was telling me I would be unhappy. I almost made the biggest mistake of my life.”

Almost? You don’t know that Sean is going to forgive you for being so stupid.

He’d put himself out there while she held back. He’d voiced his feelings with courage and dignity, while she hid behind her insecurities. He’d grown while she tried to be the same old Lily.

What if he didn’t forgive her?

She would face up to it. Regardless, Patterson’s Bluff was where Lily wanted to be. Working on her novel was what her creative muse desired. Being around her family was what her soul needed.

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