Page 10 of Easter Daddy

With a finger under her chin, I tip her face and her eyes widen. She swallows hard and licks her lips. That’s when I knew I’m done for.

My whole body burns with anticipation and just when I’m about to claim her mouth, I hear the unmistakable sound of my father’s car rumbling in the driveway.

Perfect timing, Dad.

Lily tries to push me away. With her hand on my chest, I wrap my fingers around it and pull her closer to me. Her face is just inches from mine, so I dip my head low and graze my nose along her jaw, inhaling her scent.

“See you around, Lily.”

6

LILY

It’s the morning after my party, and as I stand in the garden outside, I couldn’t stop thinking about Liam, the gift he gave me, and how we almost made out while our parents were already in the driveway.

I take out my phone and scroll down my playlist, looking for anything that won’t fill me with thoughts of him.

Why can’t I get this man out of my damn head? I listen to a song that had absolutely fuck-all to do with him, and he creeps his way back into my mind. Again. It’s like a sick joke, like some kind of curse.

Falling for someone you can’t have? Pain. Agonizing. I hate it.

* * *

I’ve decidedto listen to classical music and try to think about him as little as possible. I play Cello Concerto in E Minor by Edward Elgar. It sounds beautiful yet melancholy and is one of my favorite pieces. I put it on repeat and turn it up as it plays through my earbuds.

I busy myself with cleaning my room, using it to distract myself, and it works. That is until someone knocks on my door. A crazy thought passes through my mind. What if it’s Liam? It isn’t impossible. It’s his father’s house, after all, and I’m hoping it’s him.

“Come in!” I call, yanking the earbuds out. My mother enters the room. I sigh, disappointed that I’m disappointed. I need help.

“You okay?” she asks with a frown.

“Yes! Yes, I’m okay. I just feel… a bit lethargic,” I lie. “But I’ll be okay.”

“Hmm. Maybe this will lift your spirits. We got something else for your birthday. You love that band, um, Red River Vandals?”

“Yes, they’re my second favorite band.”

“Which one’s your favorite?” she asks me.

“AC/DC.”

“Oh, well. We got you tickets to see them. You and I.”

My eyes widen with shock. “When?”

“Next Saturday,” she says as she wraps me in a hug. “You deserve it, hun.”

I’m so surprised I can’t even say anything to her at first. But after about half a minute of open-mouthed silence, I finally speak.

“Thank you… so much!” I shout. “Thank you, Mom, I… Wait, you don’t like rock music.”

She shrugs. “I get to spend time with you.”

I nod my head. “Okay. Okay. Well, thanks again, Mom. RRV. Oh my God. If I met Grant, I would just die.”

“Who’s Grant?”

“The lead Singer,” I tell her.

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