When he had a line of sight to Lily’s front door, Gage paused in the shelter of a tree. Yeah, he was becoming that guy—the stalker. He’d never done a thing like this in his whole damn life, but this was how crazy Lily made him.
Her front door opened, Derek blocking the doorway. Her blond curls were visible just above his shoulder. Derek leaned down, gave her a quick hug, and left. Gage walked across the street at a pace just short of a run. Knocked. Lily opened the door, her eyes widening when they landed on him. “What are you doing here?” She stuck her head out and looked up and down the street.
“He’s gone. You shouldn’t open your door when you don’t know who’s on the other side,” he offered, his voice calmer than he would’ve expected.
A scowl greeted him in return. “Are you stalking me now?”
Yes. “No. I need to talk to you about going to Dillon, and I didn’t want to do it over the phone.”
“At midnight?”
“It turned out to be the only time we were both free.” He bit back the snark about Derek being here at midnight. It wouldn’t help him get inside.
She seemed to consider for a moment, then opened the door and invited him in. He slowed his breathing, slowed the whirring blender of emotions inside him, like downshifting his mind when a puck came blistering at him across the ice. Don’t overthink.
His eyes locked on Lily. Evidence of her stage getup was completely gone, and she was casual in bare feet, leggings, and a baggy sweater that revealed a black strap over pearly skin. He loved this look on her. He fought the longing to pull her against him. Judging by her body language, she wouldn’t have allowed it anyway.
Folding her arms across her chest, she leaned against the couch, where she was out of reach. “So. What about Dillon? I assume it’s off since you have guests.” She practically hissed the last word.
He smoothed his beard. “I was thinking I could rent a bigger place, and we could all go. Sarah’s coming too.”
Lily looked at him like he was out of his mind. She wouldn’t have been wrong. Recognition seemed to dawn in her bright blues. “You’re serious.”
“It’s the only way I can think of to make this all work.”
“I have a much better idea. You go. Daisy and I will stay here,” she huffed.
“Look, I’m sorry Mom and Jess hijacked our trip. I had no clue they were coming. I asked Sarah just now because I wanted … balance.”
“Balance for who?”
“Me? You? But let’s back up a sec. I’d like to hear your version of meeting my mom.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Why?”
“Because she told me her version, and I suspect she left out a few details.”
Lily rolled her eyes. “My version isn’t pretty.” She filled him in, and he nearly choked. Was Lily exaggerating? Had to be.
“My mom wouldn’t do that,” he declared before he could stop himself.
Lily shot him daggers.
“Did Daisy hear?” he asked.
“No, but she got a full dose of your mom’s scintillating personality. And I’ve got to say, it was a slap in the face to find out you’ve never told her about us. I felt like your dirty little secret. Of course, seeing the way you jump in and defend her, it all makes perfect sense.”
The hair on his neck lifted. A normal reaction when someone, no matter the source, disparaged his mom or anyone in his family.
“Oh, for Christ’s—” He blew out an exasperated breath. “I’m not jumping in to defend her. I didn’t tell her because I knew it would stress her out, and I didn’t want to add on to the pile. Plus, she would’ve hounded the shit out of me.”
Lily gave him an eye-roll. “Right. Sure. Got it.”
Emotions began unraveling inside him, and his control slipped. His mind veered to the dick side. “Mom said you were dressed in a sexy outfit and had on a lot of makeup. You can understand where she might’ve reached the wrong conclusion.”
Though bright pink was working its way up Lily’s neck, he kept going. “What’s up with dressing like that anyway? And why did you go out with Derek and friends in that getup?”
Her mouth swung open. “Are you for real right now? You don’t even ask if I was dressed that way for dinner. You just assume. And since when do you have any right to throw your caveman weight around? You act as if you have some ownership claim, so let me remind you: you don’t. And let’s not forget, if you’d been there tonight like you said you would, if you hadn’t chosen to stay home with your old girlfriend—oh, who also knew nothing about Daisy and me—I wouldn’t have gone out with Derek and friends.”
“I wasn’t with my old girlfriend,” he gritted out.
“As long as we’re on the subject of who’s doing what with whom,” she continued, “at least I didn’t lie. I didn’t tell you I couldn’t see you because I was hanging with buddies while what I was really doing washaving some chick give me a lap dance.” The pink splotches on Lily’s neck spread upward, blazing brighter.
He laced his hands on top of his head. “Fuuuuuck! It’s not how it looks. I wasn’t lying.” He careened onward and told her about Kendra and how she wound up on his lap. “I was hanging with buddies, and I did go home early. Alone.”
A “who cares” shrug was her answer.
“You’re sending mixed signals, Lily. On one hand, you act like a jealous girlfriend. On the other hand, you’re telling me I have no right. Which is it?”
She flapped a “whatever” hand at
