Unbreakable 2, The Mystery of Lilly (Cypress Grove Series) (7 page)

             
I walk into the small diner and see Sidney sitting in a booth.  She is a beautiful girl, but not as beautiful as my Lilly. She sees me and her face lights up as she stands to give me a hug.

             
"Oh, Luke, I've missed you so much.  If it's possible, you’re even more drop dead gorgeous."  She gives me a tight hug, and I hug her back feeling as if this is all wrong. 

             
"I'm a mess, Sid, I am a fucking messed up bastard." I can't believe I am sitting here with my ex-girlfriend and am so far away from Lilly.  What am I doing here?

             
"No you're not, Luke, you have been through a lot and are having a hard time wrapping your head around it. I'm sorry, but you have never thought straight when it came to that girl." Her tone has changed, she has changed. "She really has never caused you anything but trouble. And then she went to see the man that kidnapped her.  I mean, really, what was she thinking?"

             
"What?" She already went to see Matt Henning? 

             
"Yeah kind of stupid if you ask me, but it's all over the news.  Whatever Lilly did, she got him to give up Senator Magado.  Can you believe it? He was indicted just a little while ago." Sidney rambles on and on.

             
I can't believe what I am hearing, she went there without me.  Did she ask Jacob to go with her?  Of course, Jacob is her protector not me.

             
"Apparently your girl got him to admit to a whole slew of stuff.  Heads are rolling I guess you can say. Of course, they aren't saying her name, but your sister told me that it was because of Lilly." 

             
"I didn't know she went."  I tell Sidney half mad, half dumbfounded. 

             
"According to your sister no one did. She checked herself out AMA, called the agents and just did it.  Emma said you all were fighting her on it so she just went and did it.  She's got some guts.  Albeit, I think it was stupid as hell."

             
"So, is that why you left her, because she didn't listen to you?  Smart really, you need a woman who listens to her man, like I always did, Luke.  I'd do anything you'd tell me to.  I would be a proper southern wife, the kind that respects her man.  Not the kind that spits in his face," Sidney says taking my hands in hers.

             
I stare down at our hands for a second. Is that what I am really mad about?  Lilly never listens to me, it makes me so mad, but that's not what I want. I love that she is independent and has a mind of her own.  I love her feisty side, oh God do I love her feisty side.  What the hell am I doing here holding another woman's hands?  I jerk my hands away like hers are on fire. 

             
"This was a bad idea, I can't be here, Sid," I blurt out, seeing the shocked look on her face to my sudden withdrawal. 

             
"Do you wonder why you started driving toward Shreveport, Luke? I let you go before because you were never going to be with me with her in your head, but now you see it, don't you?  We belong together, we always have." She is snide and I see her game now, but I drove to her. Why in the hell did I drive to Shreveport?

             
"Now I see what, Sidney? My sister lives here, too, and I lived here, so it was just instinct." 

             
"No I don't think so, I think you see that Lilly is not for you, and you drove here to see me. Don't fight it, Luke, you know we have chemistry. You know you have feelings for me, and I love you, I always have." She is pleading now. I make to stand up, but she grabs my arm.  "On the phone I told you to turn around and go back to Lilly, but you kept driving to me.  I gave you an out, and yet, you are sitting here with me.

             
"I need to go, this was a mistake," I tell her twisting away from her grip.

             
"Luke, no please, just give me one night and if you still want to go back to that pathetic little rich girl, then fine."  She stands and starts to follow me out of the diner.  I know I have to go back, I know I have to go back to find my girl and make things right.  Beg her forgiveness and hope she takes me back.

             
"Sidney, I am going.  I am sorry if you got the wrong idea, but you have always known where my heart belongs." I get in the SUV and she steps in front of the door before I can close it. "Sidney, please move." I am trying to keep my calm. Even though I never gave her any indication that I was here to be with her, she seems to have worked that out in her mind.

             
"When you come to your senses you better just hope that I am still available, Luke Hansen, because I am done waiting for you!" She shouts.  I had no idea she was this delusional about us.  We have texted some since I left Shreveport, but it was always platonic.

             
My phone rings and I reach for it.  I turn back around just as Sidney is standing on the rail of the SUV and is planting a kiss on my lips. It takes me a second to register what is happening. When her tongue enters my mouth I grab her arms pushing her away from me and look into her eyes. 

             
"Did you feel that? That was chemistry baby, you know you felt it.  Just one night and I will make you forget all about her."  She reaches for the back of my neck pulling me into another kiss. 

             
"No, Sidney, I didn't feel anything." I push her away as she is trying to climb in the truck to straddle my lap.  I step out of the truck, her arms in my grasp, and I bend to look in her eyes.  "Sidney, please, I don't want to hurt you, but this is not happening, and you just made it so we can't even be friends now."

             
"Oh really, you came to me, Luke Hansen!"  She shouts pushing on my chest.  "I think that poor little innocent Lilly didn't see the good thing she had.  I think you wanted a real woman, and now guilt is taking over, just like always." She's pointing her finger in my face, and I feel as if I don't even know this woman in front of me.  She is not the same girl I used to know.

             
"Bye, Sidney."

             
I get back in the truck, shut the door and drive away, seeing her in the rearview mirror as she cries.  Shit, how did things get this fucked up?  I have to talk to Lilly. I have to let her know I am sorry and that I am coming back.  I ring Jacob's phone so he can put her on.

             
"Jesus Christ, where the fuck are you?" Is how he answers the phone.

             
"I'm on my way back, let me talk to Lilly."

             
"Well I wish to fuck I could let you do that, but she's gone and I have no idea where she is."

             
"What?" I'm instantly angry and ashamed. Here I am hours away, with another girl, and my Lilly is gone.

             
"She left after you tore her heart out.  She has no phone and she has been gone for hours now." Jacob is scared, I can tell by the tone of his voice even through the anger. 

             
"I will be there in a few hours, where have you looked? What is she driving?"

             
"She took my SUV and we have looked everywhere. Where are you anyway?"

             
"I'm just leaving Shreveport, Jacob, I fucked up. Oh God, I can't believe she took off."

             
"Look man, I get it. We all deal with very stressful situations different, but you need to get your ass back here to find your girl and beg forgiveness, because she is hurting.  Ask your dad, he probably has bruises. Just hurry, I've got to go.  We are checking hotels right now," and with that the line goes dead.

             
She beat up my dad? It almost brings a smile to my face.  My feisty girl, God I love her. Hopefully she still loves me.

Chapter 10

LILLY

              When I first left I went straight to the bank to get some money. Luckily, Joe was still there so I didn't need an ID to make a withdrawal.  I had decided to go to New Orleans for the night to get a hotel room. I needed to be somewhere that didn't remind me of Luke.  I just needed some
time alone
, and I did not want to be at Cypress Grove being fawned over by Lucy and Jacob. 

             
I didn't want them to worry either, so I stopped at a gas station just outside of New Orleans to phone Jacob.  He answered on the first ring.

             
"Hello?" His voice is frantic and I can tell he is worrying. I should have called sooner. I didn't want him to worry.

             
"Hey, Jacob, it's me."

             
"Thank you God, baby girl, you have me going out of my mind right now.  Where are you?"

             
"I'm fine, Jacob, I just need a little time to process."

             
"Lilly. Where. Are. You?" He is probably tracking my call right now.  I want to keep it short so he can't find me.  I really need some time alone.

             
"Jacob, I'm fine and I will call you tomorrow. I just wanted you to know I am okay, but I have to go," and with that I hung up, but not before I heard him shout my name one more time through the phone.

             
I drive the rest of the way into New Orleans, and stop at a cute little hotel that I had seen a few times on one of Emma and mine's shopping trips.

             
I book a room using my cash.  Before I go up to my room, I go next door to a boutique that Emma and I had been at before.  I need clothes, only having the ones on my back. Miss Finnegan and Emma had been on a shopping spree the last couple of days buying clothes, furniture, and stuff to replace what was gone from the fire, but I need some clothes now. 

             
"Miss Sumnor, so glad to see you again."  The tall woman behind the counter greets me by name.  Only having been here twice, I can't believe she remembered my name.  Of course, we had spent a lot of money, and I guess if you work on commission you remember those people.

             
"I'm sorry, I forgot your name," I tell her sheepishly, very embarrassed that I don't remember. I'm not even sure if I ever knew it. God help me, I will not turn into Jane.

             
"It's Kate, and don't be sorry.  Are you okay, dear?"  She says, checking out the cut on my cheek and the bruises.  I explain I was in a car accident, which she just nods.  "So glad you are all right, you'll want to soak in Epsom salts. That will take the soreness right out of those bruises.  What can I help you with today?" She smiles brightly at me.  She helps me pick out some jeans, a couple of tops, and some skirts.  I also need underwear and find a pair of blue lace panties and bra. It reminds me of the day I bought Luke his truck, and I feel the tears well in my eyes. 

             
"Oh honey, what's wrong?" Kate sees the tears.  Grabbing a box of tissues, she guides me to a small bench by the changing rooms.

             
"Just some boy trouble, I'm fine." I wipe my eyes, not wanting to tell my story to a stranger and pick out a few pairs of bras and panties.  Taking my bag of clothes, I stop at the drug store on the corner to get some Epsom salts.

             
As I soak in the hot tub, it stings at first, but after a few moments I feel the hot water do its job.  If only the hot water could take care of my aching heart.  All I want is to see Luke right now.

             
I towel off and put on one of the brand new lingerie gowns I just purchased.  I bought it with Luke in mind. It's silk with lots of lace. He loves me in lace, at least he used to.  I look in the mirror combing my hair and flinch at the image staring back at me.  Not at just the cuts and bruises, but also at my eyes that are red and puffy from all of the crying. Even though the deep cut on my stomach is healing nicely, the silk of the nightgown still feels like sandpaper on it.  My body is healing, but my heart is not. 

             
Sitting on the bed in the large suite, I grab the phone off the nightstand, and with hesitation I dial Luke's cell, praying to God he answers. He picks up after one ring and I swear my heart stops.

             
"Lilly?"

             
"Yes." I finally answer, surprised that he knew it was me from the strange number.

             
"Lilly, baby, oh God baby, I'm so sorry.  I love you and I am coming to get you. Where are you, baby?" My heart leaps out of my chest as he says the words.