Page 141 of Ghosts Don't Cry

“Yeah.” I follow her, the comfort from the drive receding, replaced by uncertainty.

What is happening between us? Is this the start of something new, or is it closure for something old?

I watch as she goes through the motions of measuring beans into the grinder, turning it on, the quiet whir of the machine. She knows exactly how I take my coffee without even needing to ask.

I turn away, the weird domesticity of the moment hard to watch, and look around the living room. It’s no different from this morning, yet …

When she touches my arm, I startle before catching myself, and take the mug she hands me. She doesn’t say anything, crossing to the couch and sitting down. I take the armchair opposite, giving her space to decide how this goes.

“I keep thinking about what you said in the factory yesterday.” Her voice is quiet. “About why you pushed me away back then, and trying to protect me from watching you die.” Shetraces the rim of her mug with one finger. “All these years, I thought … I thought I wasn’t enough. That you decided I wasn’t worth it.”

“Lily—”

“No, let me finish.” She sets her coffee down. “I need you to understand something important.”

My muscles tighten, and I brace myself for what’s coming.

“When I stepped between you and Dan on Saturday, it wasn’t just instinct. It was a choice.Mychoice.” Her eyes hold mine. “Just like loving you was my choice, and why we’re here now is also my choice.”

Before I can figure out how to respond, a key turns in the lock. Lily’s head snaps around, just as the door swings open and Cassidy walks in.

She stops when she sees us sitting there, taking in the scene.

“You better have a good reason for why you’re not answering my texts.” There’s no real heat in her voice. Her eyes move between us, assessing what she’s seeing. “I’ve been trying to reach you for the past hour.”

“Oh! I forgot I turned my phone off when I went into the meeting.” She looks around for her coat, and takes her cell out of a pocket. “Everything is fine.” She grins. “I still have my job.”

“Yeah?” Cassidy drops into the other chair, making herself comfortable. “What happened?”

A knock at the door interrupts Lily’s reply. She frowns, and gets to her feet. When she opens it, there’s an older woman standing there, with the same eyes as Lily, and the same stubborn set to her jaw.

“Mom?”

“You’re not answering your calls.” It’s not quite an accusation. “I’ve been worried about you. I know you had that meeting today.”

“We just got back.” Lily moves aside to let her in. “Beverly backed down.”

“We?” Her mom walks into the apartment, spots Cassidy first and offers a smile. Then her eyes find me. “Ahh, I see.”

“Mom, this is Ronan. Ronan, this is my mom.”

Her gaze moves over me. I get the distinct impression I’m being evaluated for threat level, history, and future intentions all at once.

“Lily was about to explain what happened,” Cassidy says into the charged silence.

Lily settles back onto the couch. “Ronan’s neighbor gave me an envelope right before we left to go to the school. I didn’t look inside, but I did catch a glimpse when Beverly opened it. There were photographs inside. I’m pretty sure they were of her when she was younger. Apparently, she didn’t always have the stick up her ass that she has now. Beverly changed her mind about pushing for me to be let go the second she saw them.”

“Wait.” Cassidy frowns. “You were at Ronan’s place.” She looks at me, and I can clearly see her replaying the conversation we had in her mind.

Lily’s mom studies her daughter, then me.

“You look better.” That isn’t what I was expecting her to say. “Than you did in that courtroom, I mean.” Her voice carries no judgment.

I don’t know how to respond to the way she’s looking at me, so I keep it simple. “Thank you. I’ve had a long time to figure things out.”

“Heisbetter.” Lily’s voice is firm. “Webothare.”

Her mom’s expression softens when she looks at her daughter.