Page 10 of The Lilac River (Silver Peaks #1)

Someone You loved – Lewis Capaldi

Lily

M y nerves were jangling.

Twenty-four hours until the school doors opened, and a horde of overexcited, under-stimulated kids stormed back from summer break.

It wasn’t teaching them I was worried about—I loved that part. I loved the way a child’s eyes lit up when they figured something out for the first time. The joy of watching confidence bloom. That was magic.

No, what haunted me was whether they’d like me. Whether they’d go home and tell their parents I was boring or mean or worse, forgettable. I wasn’t usually a needy person. But the first day of school always stripped me bare, exposed the tender, bruised places I kept hidden.

All I wanted was for some kid to go home and say, "Wow, Miss. Gray is awesome."

Mom always tried to make me believe in myself. But doubt? Doubt was persistent. And maybe that was why it had been so easy to believe Nash would one day look at me and realize he was too good for me. Because deep down, I never believed I was enough.

It didn’t help that Mom and Grandma were gone for the day, supposedly shopping for Grandma. Though, considering the way Mom had chased me around the living room earlier with a tape measure, I had a strong suspicion I’d end up with some new underwear and a couple of guilt sweaters.

I should’ve been fine. I had activities and lessons planned for a month. Color-coded folders, themed icebreakers, and twenty-eight sharpened pencils in a ceramic mug. Being prepared wasn’t the problem.

Belief was and I needed to destress to avoid a meltdown before school had even started.

The weather was good, so I decided to sit outside with a book. Let the fresh air chase the tension out of my bones.

I was almost at the patio door when a loud, sharp banging made me jump.

Maybe a delivery. Maybe...

Nash.

I froze mid-step, heart suddenly hammering against my ribs. What would I even say to him? I wasn’t ready to see him again, not with that look of poison he’d given me still seared into my brain.

Another round of loud knocks made me flinch.

Then a voice.

Sharp.

Cold.

Male.

"I know you’re in there."

Not Nash.

Worse.

Mayor Miller.

Fear slithered down my spine.

"Lily, open this damn door," he barked. "I saw your mom and grandmother leaving. Open it. Now."

My hand trembled as I reached for the lock. My book dropped from my grip. The old envelope I used as a bookmark fluttered to the floor, and stupidly, I panicked about losing my place.

Anything to focus on except the terror making my legs feel like jelly.

Another pound on the door made me jump. I had to answer. If I didn’t, he’d stay. And I couldn’t risk Mom coming home and finding him here.

Gritting my teeth, I opened the door.

His silhouette filled the frame like a bad dream.

"What the fuck are you doing back here?" he snapped. "No one wants you here. Least of all my son."

"Hello to you, too, Mayor Miller," I said, summoning every ounce of false calm I had left.

He leaned in. His breath was sour with coffee. His narrow eyes were cold replicas of Nash’s only without the warmth Nash had ever held for me.

"I repeat. What are you doing here?"

I clutched my book tighter to my chest, like it could shield me. “I’m helping my mom with my grandma. That’s all.”

“Don’t be smart. You know what I mean. You’re back in Silver Peaks."

"I know. It’s been ten years."

His sneer deepened. "Don’t think you can pick up where you left off with my son. He’s moved on."

"I’m aware," I said, voice steady despite the shaking inside me. "I have no intentions toward Nash."

"Good," he growled. "Remember that."

He stepped closer, and I took an involuntary step back onto the first stair.

"I'd like you to leave," I said. My heart pounded. "You have no right threatening me."

"I'm not threatening. I'm reminding." His lip curled. "Stay away from my son."

Something snapped inside me.

I drew a deep breath. "And what if I don’t?" I asked, summoning courage I hadn’t known I still had.

He studied me, a sick gleam in his eye.

"I'll destroy you. I’m on the hospital board. Your mother’s job? Gone. Yours? Gone. I’ll ruin you again if I have to."

My stomach clenched.

I wanted to scream. I wanted to slam the door in his face. Instead, I stood tall.

"You took everything from me once," I said softly. "Even you can’t be so heartless to do it again."

His sneer twisted deeper. "You think so, little girl? Don’t test me."

He turned and stalked off, slamming his car door and tearing down the drive.

I collapsed onto the stairs, heart hammering painfully.

He couldn’t ruin me again.

He couldn’t.

Not really.

But he could still hurt the people I loved.

Mom.

Grandma.

Even Nash, if he ever found out the truth.

The secret that had ruined everything.

My father.

The murderer.

Dead now, but his crimes still haunted me. Still chained me. Still defined every decision I made.

I could still hear Mayor Miller’s words from ten years ago:

"You want to prove you love Nash and your mother?" he said softly. "Then you’ll do what’s best for them. You'll take the money and the plane ticket and vanish. Otherwise, your mother will suffer. I’ll make sure of it."

And I had.

I’d left the boy I loved more than life itself. I’d lived with a broken heart for ten long years. But I had protected Mom. Protected Nash, even if he never knew it.

And I would protect them again.

Whatever it cost me.

Because no matter what, the Mayor was right about one thing:

Nash deserved better than me.

And I’d made damn sure he got it.