Lily Read online

  I just want to be able to pull my own weight financially, and with this contract, I’m well on my way to that end.

  What do you miss about me the most? I text back, smiling.

  There’s hardly a pause before my phone vibrates again.

  I can’t help but laugh when Lily responds with an eggplant emoji

  Oh, you’ll get it baby ;) I reply. Just you wait.

  Lily is, of course, not far away. She’s in town. When you’re as rich as she is, flying on a private jet to the city where your boyfriend is staying isn’t much different than taking taxi to his apartment.

  The plan is to sign the contract this morning and then ravish her this evening.

  I have a very specific plan for our love-making session today. The city where Jayden got drafted just so happens to be the same city where I played the majority of my career. I have a mansion in the gated part of town that I want to meet Lily at.

  I haven’t been there in a while, because it brings back too many bad memories of my ex, Tessa. It’s where we lived for most of our relationship, before I found out she was she a fame-hungry gold-digger.

  What I want to do, is get Lily in there and replace all my bad memories of Tessa with good memories of her. I want to fuck Tessa’s stench out of my bed and drench it with Lily’s sweet scent instead.

  I’m not sure where Tessa is now, but I’ve heard rumblings that she’s in town and that she’s become particularly vile since she was recently dumped by a semi-famous basketball player. I can’t but smile at the news, she deserves all the bad luck that comes her way.

  I enter my final meeting with high hopes. I can already picture Lily’s thick, naked body splayed out across my master bed.

  Unfortunately, the team’s GM has other ideas. He’s a young guy trying to prove his chops, so he’s giving me one last go, trying to get the money down a bit, so he can look good to the media and fans.

  I don’t budge.

  As a result, we’re stuck in our little boardroom for longer than I would have liked.

  During a small recess, I text Lily.

  I’ll be a little longer than expected... I say.

  Grrr. I want you so bad! She texts back.

  Before I can respond, I’m called back into the meeting room.

  I huff.

  Let’s just get this over with, I want to be with my girl.

  6

  Lily

  I decide to head over to Xander’s place early and wait for him there.

  I figured the meeting would go a little longer than expected, everything always does. I’m not used to waiting. Xander’s the only person in this world who can control me the way he does. Anyone else, and I’d already be out of the door.

  I have my own penthouse condo in this city, but I wanted to see Xander’s place. Maybe I could help him sell it and we could move in together?

  God, how nice would that be, to never be apart for more than a day? I dream of his body as I pick up my car and drive over to his place.

  I enter the gated community, mildly impressed by the size of the houses inside.

  They’re bigger and nicer than I thought they’d be.

  I have a little trouble finding Xander’s house – it’s in a cul-de-sac, all to itself – but when I do, I park in the street. There’s already a car in the driveway, one that I don’t recognize.

  That’s not entirely suspicious. My brother, Hunter, has more cars than I can count. Xander isn’t as rich as Hunter, but he is a former muscle-head, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he had some extra cars laying around here and there.

  It doesn’t look like something he’d drive, though...

  I shrug it off. I’ll ask him about it soon enough.

  In the past, he’s mentioned a spare key that he keeps under a potted plant at the front. I go looking for it.

  There are only four potted plants to look under, but I can’t seem to find the fabled key, no matter how hard I look.

  I’m ready to give up hope when I finally decide to just try the door. It is a gated community, after all and there were two security guards out front – less than I’m used to, but still enough to feel comfortable, I guess.

  I wrap my hand around the shiny gold doorknob and push.

  It squeaks open, far louder than I thought it would.

  You need to get your door hinges oiled, baby.

  I step inside.

  Not bad.

  I have a house like this in Italy. It’s... cozy.

  It’ll be even cozier with Xander in it.

  Suddenly, I hear rushing footsteps come from upstairs.

  I freeze.

  Burglars?

  I didn’t know anyone else would be here. Xander never mentioned that he let anyone else stay at his place.

  The sound is unmistakable, though. Someone is running around upstairs.

  I slowly back up towards the door. My whole body is tense.

  The footsteps stop and the house goes silent again.

  I listen closely and feel blindly behind myself for the doorknob. Just as I’m about to pull it open and make a run for it, I hear a huff come from the top of the stairs.

  “Who are you?” comes a woman’s voice.

  I don’t respond. The bodyless tone is shrill and angry.

  Is Xander’s house haunted!?

  I get my answer soon enough.

  The floorboards creek and a disheveled woman appears at the top of the staircase. I want to run, but I’m frozen in fear.

  I feel the room get cold. I’m terrified.

  The woman slowly makes her way down the stairs until the chandelier in the foyer finally lights up her face enough to get a good look.

  Oh shit, It’s Tessa!

  Wait... What the hell is Tessa doing here?

  I’m not sure whether to feel better or worse. If there’s one person in this world I don’t want to see, ever, it’s her. I’d have preferred a ghost.

  She’s the one who broke my man’s heart. I feel my claws ready to come out.

  We’ve met before, of course. She either just doesn’t remember or doesn’t care. I don’t mind, I want both Xander and I out of her mind and her mouth and her life.

  “What are you doing here?” I ask. My voice sounds small and scared, so I clear my throat and try again. “What are you doing here!?”

  I see a smirk form on Tessa’s face as she approaches and gets a better view of me.

  “You’re that rich girl, right?” she asks. Her voice is full of barely contained disdain.

  I can’t help but sneer.

  “What’s your name again?” she asks, snidely. “Rachel? Rose? Cauliflower?” she laughs at her own comments. She sounds like a witch.

  “Lily,” I growl.

  I’m no longer afraid of her, just angry. She doesn’t deserve my fear, anyway. She’s clearly a mess. Her hair is wild and she has bags under her eyes. Her skin is glossy like she’s been sweating... like she just got done making love...

  No, throw that thought from your mind, girl. There’s no way Xander would do that to you...

  “Ah, yes. Lily, the usurper... or should I say the ‘wannabe’ usurper,” she hisses.

  “What does that mean?” I ask, hesitantly.

  I don’t want to entertain her, but I can’t help myself.

  She struts closer to me on her long, skinny, elegant legs.

  I could break this woman in half...

  “It means you’re no longer needed,” she hisses.

  I know she’s lying, but I can’t help but feel like I’m losing a battle against all of my insecurities. Her words are like fuel for them.

  She stops at the bottom of the stairs and leans against the wall.

  She laughs an evil, snide laugh.

  “I thought you were smarter than this...” she chuckles. “But I guess money doesn’t buy brains. Lucky for us... Xander was just using you to get to your brother. With that contract he got for Jayden, he’s now the most sought-after agent in professional sports. He’
s set for life... he doesn’t need you anymore. So, you can leave now. Goodbye.”

  She smiles and waves at me.

  I feel a fury rise up inside my belly. I just want to crush her.

  “Bullshit!” I yell.

  Tessa brings her finger up to her mouth and shushes me.

  “Quiet now. You wouldn’t want to wake Xander. He’s upstairs sleeping. I’ve made him very... tired.”

  I feel my fury instantly die down as it’s suffocated by despair.

  There’s no way... I know Xander; he wouldn’t do that to me; to anyone.

  How well do you really know him, though? You’ve only been close for a month...

  “Bullshit,” I say again. I don’t yell this time, though. It’s almost a whisper, I suddenly feel so fragile.

  Tessa steps aside and gestures up the stairs.

  “Feel free to go find out for yourself.”

  The stairs suddenly seem a thousand miles long and as steep as any mountain. My legs feel weak and my skin is damp with worry.

  I don’t believe her... but I don’t want to risk confirming it either. Seeing Xander would devastate me beyond belief.

  I don’t know what to believe anymore.

  “What do you say, honey?” teases Tessa.

  I feel tears well up in my eyes. I’m overwhelmed. I turn and run out of Xander’s place before Tessa can see me cry.

  I should have known better. I don’t deserve love.

  7

  Xander

  Guess who just signed the biggest contract in the history of the NFL! I text Lily.

  I already tried calling her, but she didn’t pick up.

  I feel like I’m on top of the world. I jump in my car and check my phone. Still no reply.

  Meet me at my place. There’s a spare key under the center plant on the deck -- if you get there before me, I text.

  There’s no way she’ll beat me home. I feel like I have wings as I race down the highway towards my old home and my new woman.

  We’ve talked about this moment since we got together a month ago, although back then I was hesitant to show her my old house. I was afraid she’d smell Tessa’s evil stench and want nothing more to do with it or me.

  I feel like our love is strong enough to bury those doubts, though.

  Lily knows my address. She’ll be there. I know she won’t pass up an opportunity to be with me.

  I screech into the final turn before the gates of my little protected community and bypass the lax security. I slow down a little bit as I drive down the residential streets, but I’m still going over the speed limit.

  I’m on cloud nine.

  My life has finally turned back around for the better. I’m rich again, both in money and in love.

  I make the final turn onto my old-cul-de-sac... and my heart drops.

  There’s no sign of Lily... all I see is Tessa’s old car in my driveway.

  What the...

  I’ve been staying in a hotel by the team’s training camp, so I can be on call and close to the action – I haven’t been back to my old house in a long time, but this was the last thing I was expecting to see.

  I park out front and check my phone.

  Nothing. There’s no response from Lily.

  I suddenly become very worried.

  I can only hope that Lily’s just driving, and hasn’t had the chance to check her phone yet. I consider warning her about Tessa, but I decide against it. I want to protect Lily from any confrontation... I’ll deal with Tessa myself. Hopefully, she’ll be gone by the time Lily arrives.

  I march up to my old front door and knock. The door squeaks open, far louder than I ever remembered it being.

  I need to get my hinges oiled.

  I step inside and put on my most commanding voice.

  “Hello!?” I bellow out.

  There’s no response.

  I close the door behind me and wander inside. The house appears to be empty.

  I enter the kitchen, feeling stressed out.

  I go to pour myself a glass of water and notice dirty dishes piled up in the sink.

  Has Tessa been living here?

  I’ve heard rumors of her recent break-up, but there’s no way she would stoop so low as to squat in my house.

  I turn on the faucet and the water sputters on. That’s an old telltale sign I remember clearly. It means someone’s in the shower.

  I take a sip and place my glass on the kitchen counter and then slowly make my way upstairs.

  “Hello!?” I call out, as I reach the second floor.

  I can hear the shower running behind the closed bathroom door.

  I hope beyond all hope that I’ve misunderstood all these signs and that it’s just Lily in the shower, getting ready to surprise me.

  I hesitantly knock.

  I hear the shower turn off. There’s a silent pause.

  I knock again.

  I hear bare footsteps slowly walk towards the door.

  “Hello?” I say.

  The door opens.

  My heart sinks.

  There stands Tessa, in a towel, with an evil smirk on her face.

  Steam rises up from the floor like she’s just escaped from hell.

  “Look who finally decided to show up,” she teases, with pure malice in her voice.

  “What are you doing here!?” I ask, sternly.

  “Showering,” she replies, matter-of-factly.

  “And the dishes?” I ask.

  “Oh, those. I’ve been meaning to hire someone to clean those for me.”

  “Why are you in my house, Tessa?”

  Her eyes suddenly go big. They shimmer with water, like she’s on the verge of tears.

  “I have nowhere else to go,” she whimpers.

  I’m not so easily fooled. I know her game. This isn’t the first time she’s given me those doe-eyes.

  “You’re not welcome her anymore,” I tell her. I step aside and gesture down the hall. “Get changed and leave. I’m expecting company.”

  She just smirks. The crocodile tears instantly vanish and are replaced by a sinister gleam.

  “I’ve already taken care of that for you...”

  I freeze. If this witch has done anything to hurt Lily...

  “You’re welcome, by the way,” says Tessa, with a big show of rolling her eyes.

  “What did you do!?” I ask her. My voice is growing louder. I can feel all the anger and resentment I have for this woman taking control of me again.

  “I took care of business. I know you were only using her for her brother. Now we can get back together and never have to worry about money again... Although, maybe I acted too quickly. You should have married her first and then gotten half of that huge fortune of hers in the divorce. Then we’d really be rich. Oh well, I’ll take whatever you’re making as an agent these days.”

  I take a deep breath, trying to control my raging anger.

  I sternly point down the hall.

  “Out!” I command.

  Tessa doesn’t take me seriously. “Oh, you...”

  “OUT!” I interrupt.

  Her eyes go wide with surprise.

  She must really be crazy.

  “At least let me get dressed first,” she whines.

  “NOW!” I shout.

  8

  Lily

  One Week Later...

  I got as far away from Xander as I possibly could.

  I’ve spent the last week at my estate in Australia. It’s winter here and the weather is just cool enough to be bearable... it’s too bad my love life has become so unbearable.

  I can hardly believe that Xander would do something so horrible to me.

  I still have my doubts but I’m glad I didn’t check upstairs when Tessa gave me the chance.

  If I had seen Xander asleep in a bed he had just used to ravish another woman, especially if that woman was Tessa, I would have broken into a million pieces.

  For now, only my heart is shattered.

  I�
�ve unplugged myself almost entirely from the world. I let my family know I was going on vacation and that I needed to de-stress.

  It’s not unusual for one of us to jet off to some exotic destination for a week to de-stress. I texted and called my brothers to let them know I was alright but that I needed a little quiet time away.

  I turned off all my phones and I haven’t checked my emails sine I got here.

  No one knows where I am and I like it that way. I need to be alone.

  Better get used to being alone...

  I’ve cried more in the past seven days than I have since I was a kid.

  How could I be so foolish to think that I was ready for true love, and that I had found it in someone who works for my brother?

  I know Hunter has had trouble with gold-diggers in the past, but I never thought I’d be so naïve as to let myself get taken advantage of.

  It’s even worse that it seems like Xander wasn’t even using me for my money, but rather to get close to Jayden, so he could springboard his own career. I’m less than a mistress to him. I might as well just have been a step on the stairs to his success. He walked all over me and I was too naïve to realize it.

  It’s times like these that I wish I had more close friends.

  I’m close with my brothers, sure, but it’s different with them. Being a curvy rich girl often leaves me on the outskirts of high-society. I’m not a trophy wife or a celebrity. I’m just a sassy plus-sized woman looking for love.

  None of the girls my brothers have ever brought home have anything in common with me.

  I just want someone who I can cry and eat ice cream with.

  I see Hunter’s new girlfriend as a protentional friend, though. I haven’t officially met her yet -- Grace is her name, I think -- but she’s curvy, just like me and seems like a fun, sweet girl. I wish we’d have gotten to know each better since the draft day party. Maybe then I’d have some company on my lonely getaway.

  I make a mental note to befriend her when I return home.

  I spend most of my time on the beach, with a mixed-drink in my hand.

  I’m a little tipsy when I spot a storm coming on the horizon, over the ocean.

  I stumble back inside, almost happy that the weather is finally matching my mood.

  Low rumbles of distant thunder slowly approach. Rain starts to pitter patter on the roof. I can smell the earthy scent of the storm. It’s relaxing.