Chapter 16
Lily's POV.
I pasted a smile on my face, even though my chest felt heavy with the sting of Mark's words. Every time I thought tonight was going to go well, something reminded me that perfect was impossible.
The soft purple blossoms looked gorgeous under the restaurant's chandelier light, and his grin was as warm as the buttered bread we'd just tasted.
"Are you okay?" Mark asked, reaching across the table to brush my hand with his fingertips. His expression was innocent and hopeful. "Sorry if I was harsh earlier. You know I didn't mean it that way."
I gave a tight nod and squeezed his fingers gently. "It's fine. Really."
The conversation shifted to lighter things, homework, mutual friends, funny things that happened in class. By the time we were waiting for the desserts, my heart felt lighter too. Mark reached behind his chair and pulled out a bouquet of lilacs.
"They're beautiful," I whispered, touched by the gesture. The sweet fragrance was intoxicating as I brought them close to my face.
"Happy early anniversary," he said. "I thought we could celebrate the month since our first date."
My chest warmed. "That's sweet." I leaned forward, inhaling the flowers. A tickle blossomed in my nose.
Mark's eyes shone. "They're lilacs. They're supposed to symbolize first love."
Lilac represents first love. How perfect. I closed my eyes and took another deep breath of their scent…then I sneezed.
"Whoa…are you okay?" Mark reached out, concern evident in his tone.
I waved him off, sniffing. "Just… allergies." My throat tightened. A wheeze followed, my chest squeezed.
"Lily?" His face was drained of color. "What's wrong?"
I tried to speak, but my voice came out a squeak. My ears filled with ringing. The lights flickered as my vision narrowed.
"I… I need air," I managed, pushing back my chair. I clutched my dress and stood, legs wobbling. "Excuse me, I need a second."
"Want me to come?" Mark asked, brow furrowed.
I waved him off quickly. "No, I'll be right back."
I stumbled past our table. The other diners watched, concerned. I made for the elevators.
Out in the hallway, I felt my breath shorten. The elevators were all full, so I pressed the button and waited, rubbing my itchy arms.
When the doors finally opened, I slipped inside, pressing the "1" for the lobby. The doors slid closed, and I leaned against the cool metal. Relief, for a moment, until the elevator's lights blinked from "1" to "2, 3, 4." It kept climbing past the restaurant floor, past the mezzanine, sliding all the way to the top floor.
My stomach flipped. "No, no, no…" I pounded the call button. "Stop!" But nothing changed. I pressed the button again. It still climbed.
My chest tightened like a vise. I clutched the control panel and tried to take a deep breath. Instead, my chest seized, and I pinged my forehead against the wall.
The doors finally whooshed open onto the penthouse floor. I swayed out, gasping for air. The corridor was silent and sleek, with marble tile and gold accents. I leaned against the wall, dizzy, trying to suck in oxygen.
Then a voice, low, urgent, cut through my haze. "Lily?"
I blinked, focusing on the figure stepping out of the shadows: Joe Wellington. His expression shifted from surprise to alarm as he took in my pale face.
"Joe,"
Of course. Joe. Of all people, Joe.
I croaked, nose tickling. I backed up, accidentally sneezing right onto the front of his shirt. I gasped, mortified.
"I'm so sorry!"
He didn't recoil. Instead, he calmly dropped to one knee and wrapped an arm around my waist before I could wobble off my feet. "Don't worry," he said. "I've got you."
His scent…like fresh linen and cedar, filled my senses. It grounded me. He guided me into a nearby suite: plush couch, floor-to-ceiling windows, city lights twinkling below. He laid me gently on the couch and knelt beside me.
"Stay with me," he said.
My lips trembled. "I…I can't breathe."
He nodded, standing up to fetch something from a side table. My head lolled back onto the cushion as I watched him. He returned with a small glass of water and an EpiPen.
"Tilt your head back," he instructed. His hands were swift but gentle as he pressed the pen into my thigh. I flinched, then felt a warmth spread through my body.
He handed me the water. I sipped, the burning relief easing my airways.
"You administered that perfectly," I said, surprised. "You… know what you're doing."
He paused, his gaze softening. "I had some first-aid training."
I swallowed and sat up slightly, reaching for his hand. "Thank you."
He exhaled, hugging me lightly. "Don't apologize. Give me a minute to make sure you're okay."
I nodded, my head spinning but calmer. After a moment, I rose unsteadily to my feet. He stayed close, steady as a rock.
I attempted a smile. "I'm better now."
He brushed a strand of hair from my face. "Good." His eyes flickered with something I couldn't read. "You scared me."
That triggered something inside me, all the emotions that had been coiled up like a spring since the night he rejected me. My hands balled into fists at my sides.
"Why? Why do you care, Joe? One moment you save me, the next you pretend I don't exist. Why won't you just leave me alone if you hate me so much?"
His lips thinned into a hard line. "You think I hate you?"
"Yes!" I shot back. "You told me you didn't want anything to do with me! Then you fight my battles? You save me every time. What's the point if you're just going to pretend I'm nobody again?"
"You're so ungrateful," he growled, his hands clenching into fists. "Do you have any idea what it's like? What do you want me to do? Not save you when you need help? Should I have left you to die out there?"
I gaped at him, my breath hitching as my own temper flared.
"Then why do you do it, Joe? Why do you keep showing up like this if I mean nothing to you? You told me…"
He was on me before I could say another word. His hands found my face, and he crushed his mouth against mine in a kiss so fierce and aching it stole my breath. Every question I had melted into heat as my hands clutched his shoulders, pulling him closer.
And just like that, everything else disappeared, leaving only him and me, tangled together in a kiss that spoke all the things we couldn't say aloud.