Page 3 of Lily's Shadow

Only a few minutes go by when I hear her grab the door. I quickly lean against the wall and look up at the ceiling, acting like I don’t know what she was doing in there.

Her face is red and she isn’t making eye contact with me when she stutters out that she has to go. I realize her taking extra time in the shower means we don’t have as much time to talk now, so I offer to walk her to work.

Once we get outside I just walk next to her. I’m not sure what it is about Lily but being near her relaxes me. She’s not loud and outgoing like Fiona but she isn’t a wilting flower either. In the short time I’ve known her I’ve come to respect her.

I see Poison Pen getting closer and realize we haven’t talked at all, yet. “Can I meet you after you get off work and get something to eat?”

“You do realize we don’t close until 2 in the morning right?”

“Yes.”

“You also realize nothing is open that late, right?”

“Yes, you can come to my house. I can cook you dinner and explain today. I promise to keep my hands to myself.”

She is reaching for the door when I blurt out, “Her name is Erica, she’s my ex-wife and she is a bad person.”

Lily puts her hand on my shoulder, I think she is going to respond but instead she turns, disappearing inside the tattoo shop. I start to walk away before I realize I have no idea what to make for dinner. I turn back and open the shop door.

“Hey Lily”

“Yes Austin?”

“Are you allergic to anything?”

She just gives me an odd look.

“Anything you don’t like or can’t eat?”

“Oh, umm no. I’m good with anything.”

With that I head back to the gym for my last class of the day. I’m finishing up my cleaning when Hay Hay pops in. I look around for the little munchkin.

“Where’s Hanley?”

“I sent her off with Wrench. We need to talk.”

Sighing I run my hands over my head and drop down on a bench.

“First off, Lily? You never said you were dating anyone and you tell me everything. Everything Austin, why wouldn’t you tell me that?”

“I’m not really dating her. I just didn’t know what else to say to make Erica leave.”

“Does Lily know about your history? Why would she play along like that?”

“I don’t know, I’m meeting her after the shop closes. I promised to cook dinner and tell her everything.”

“Oh my God! Austin, you're cooking for Lily? She must be really special, you don’t even cook for me.” Hayden pouts.

I can feel my face turning red. Cooking is my guilty little pleasure. I took it up after all the shit went down with Erica. I needed a hobby and my mom always says, “A man who can cook, is one you don’t let off the hook.”

It took a long time for Mom to understand that me and Hayden felt more like siblings than friend’s. I did bow down to her pressure once.

I kissed Hayden with everything I had, but it was like kissing a mirror. Stale and empty. I love her but there was no flame, no zing, and no connection. We would always be just friends.

Next thing I know Hayden has a big grin on her face. She starts chanting, “Austin and Lily sitting in a tree.” I put my hand over her mouth to stop her. “It’s not like that. She just happened to be there at the right or maybe wrong time.”

“So, about Erica. What does she want?” Hayden asks.

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