Chapter 25
Lily had been through hell and back yesterday, used by three different men. Watching it all, I felt this twisted knot of emotions in my gut.
But I was torn. Could Lily still be my girlfriend after all this?
No matter what, I couldn't just leave her now. Her parents had just gone through a tragedy. If I bailed on her now, what would happen to her? I didn't even want to think about it.
Lily texted me, saying she wasn't feeling well and needed a couple of days to rest at home alone. I knew what was really going on, but I just sent back some comforting words.
A week later, I was in a great mood. I heard that Jack and Noah were seriously injured, and it looked like they wouldn't recover anytime soon. They were heading back to their home country in a few days, partly to heal and partly because their injuries were in, well, sensitive areas. It seemed like they couldn't stick around in the U.S. anymore.
I figured they wouldn't be back for a few years. And with them gone, all the drama with Lily and those photos on Jack's camera would disappear too. I didn't fully get what was going on between them, but the thought of it all vanishing made me feel a lot better.
The weather was amazing today. After a chill walk in the park, I was heading home, sipping some water and sneaking glances at the girls in their summer outfits.
Just as I got to my yard, a girl in a white tank top and frayed denim shorts showed up. She wore gold high-heeled flip-flops that showed off her sexy feet, her pink-painted toes like little cherries. Her long, tanned legs gleamed in the sunlight, smooth and flawless.
She turned her head, her long, wavy hair flowing like a waterfall. Her mixed-race beauty shone through as she smiled at me.
It was Lily.
I was speechless, totally mesmerized. Lily blinked her big eyes at me and teased, "Kevin? Why are you just standing there like a fool?"