Theo

I smile, expecting to see Lily when I open the front door, but instead four other women walk inside of my house. I back up as they walk past me and into the living room. When Lily finally comes inside, I frown, seeing her face covered in blood.

I immediately pull her to me. "How the hell did this happen?"

She giggles, holding her nose. "She hit my nose pretty hard, but don't worry, I hit her back harder, Muffin!"

Holding her hand, I bring her to my bathroom as her friends yell at each other. I get a towel and wet it with warm water before placing it on her nose. I grab another towel as she holds the other one, wet it and begin wiping her face softly as she stares at me with a small smile.

Once all the blood is gone, she changes into one of my shirts and we go to the living room.

"Damn." One of her friends mumble as I stand in front of the couch where they lounge. Looking down at her eye direction, I notice she's looking at my chest. I put on a shirt and quickly return.

A redhead woman awakes and jerks up hastily. She blinks slowly and looks around before speaking. "Where's Fiona and Dante?"

Lily pats her shoulder. "Oh dear, you are really gone, aren't you?"

I fold my arms. "Someone needs to tell me why the hell my girlfriend's nose is bleeding and four drunk women are in my house?"

A dark-haired woman stands up. "Oh, I'll tell you what happened! My girl, Lily, had her first fight today!"

The others nod and Lily smiles proudly. "Yup! I even did your move, sugar. It worked like a charm. I'll tell you that much."

I run a hand over my face, trying to appear mad. I was actually proud of her for finally defending herself. 

"We don't even know if the woman is alive after the beating Lily gave her." Another woman chimes in.

I look closer and notice she looks familiar. "Where do I know you from?" I ask, trying to remember.

She holds her hand out for a handshake, but I don't shake it. "Kelly Erez. I work for you. "

I frown, "Really?"

"Yes. Have been for almost three years now, sir."

Erez. I remember that last name now.

"Jerry Erez is your husband, right?"

"Yes."

"Now I remember. I fired him about a year ago."

The redhead points to the wall behind me. "Why is your house so gray? What are you, like a vampire or something?" She stands up. "Now, thinking about it, we don't even know this guy. He could like chickens for all we know." She says, staring at me suspiciously.

I look down at her and match her expression. "Do you watch criminal minds?" She asks.

"Yes."

"Favorite character? Answer wisely, vampire guy."

"Hotch."

She stares at me for a moment longer before sitting back down. "I guess he's good enough. I've got my eye on you, though."

When the dark haired woman begins coughing loudly, I shake my head and point to the door. "All of you, get out."

They groan and complain loudly, yelling at me as I walk to the bedroom. I hear Lily follow behind me. She pulls my arm as we reach the room.

"They can't go out alone! They're drunk!"

"Well, they're not staying here, Lily."

"Please!"

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

She holds my face in her hands. "I know there's a sweet man deep down in there that wants to do the right thing, Muffin. Please, oh please, let them stay."

Every time she touched me, it was like I melted or something. It was official. Lily Hernandez was starting to become my weakness.

Staring at her hopeful expression, I sigh. I kiss her forehead and get out of her hold. "You're going to be the death of me, woman."

She squeals happily and claps her hands as I grab multiple blankets and pillows out of the hallway closet. I roll my eyes, finding them already passed out. l throw the blankets on them, making sure they all have some. I glance at the table, hearing a vibrating sound. Someone's phone is ringing and after a while, curiosity gets the best of me.

"Who's this?" I ask, answering the phone.

"What the fuck?" A familiar male voice replies.

"Dante?"

"Theo! Man, I was about to track this phone."

I smile. "I haven't seen you in a while. How've you been?"

Dante Stone. I've known him since highschool and after his daughter's funeral we lost touch. He was one of me and Cass's friends and a person I considered a brother.

We catch up and I find out the redhead on the couch is his wife, which surprises me. I had never thought Dante would get married, since he swore he never would. Dante has the same reaction as me when I tell him about Lily and after a while of talking, I begin to miss her.

When I step back into my bedroom and close the door, Lily walks out of the bathroom and flops on the bed. I frown at the sad expression she has.

"What's wrong?" I ask, taking a seat next to her.

She pats my hand. "We need to talk, Muffin."

"Look, if it's about picking up her phone, I'm sorry for being nosey, but it was D-"

"That's not it. There was a woman tonight, and she said y'all used to date. What happened?"

I've only ever had something with one other woman, which was Erica. I forgot her last name since she wasn't all that important and I hated her.

"Erica? She's irrelevant." I move closer. "Is that what this is about, Lily?"

"Well, did y'all?"

"We flirted and talked a little, but that's it. Lily—"

Her face falls. "So you got bored?"

"Yeah, but—"

A tear falls from her eyes and I try to touch her hand, but she moves it away. She stands up.

"Is that what you're going to do with me?"

I stand up with her, "No. Hell no—"

"I'm not even half as pretty as her.
That means you're going to get bored with me quicker than you did with her!"

"Lily, no. That's not what I—"

She puts her sandals on quickly and grabs her bag. "Just leave me alone." She whispers, tears streaming down her face as she walks out.

When I hear the front door close, I sit on the bed in disbelief. "What the fuck just happened?" I mumble to myself.

I realize she's walking alone outside and sprint up from the bed. I put on my sneakers I haven't worn in months before grabbing my keys and rushing out of the door.

Rain drops make contact with my skin almost instantly when I get outside. I shiver slightly at the wind and rain combination as I look down the sidewalk in search of Lily.

When I finally spot her, walking hastily to a bus stop, I jog to her. She turns around just as I reach her.

"I told you to leave me alone, Theo." She mumbles, not making eye contact with me. Lily sits down on the bench for the bus stop.

I take a seat next to her. "I wanted to make sure you got home safe."

"I wish everyone would stop treating me like I'm a child. I can get home just fine. Thank you very much."

"Am I still your boyfriend?" I ask. She glances at me for a moment before turning back around.

"Yes." She mutters.

"Then if you're mad at me, that's fine. I'll take that. But it's my duty to make sure you at least get home safe."

"So you're just gonna sit here and wait for the bus to come?"

I smile, "Yup."

She scoffs and turns away from me completely. I sigh and get comfortable. As we wait for the bus to arrive, I try to think of what I did wrong. I replay the night, the past few days and even weeks, but nothing comes to mind that would make her this mad at me.

The bus arrives after around fifteen minutes and we stand up. She steps inside the bus and my face falls.

No goodbye kiss?

As if knowing my thoughts, Lily gets back off of the bus, presses a quick kiss to my cheek and gets back on it. I smile as the driver drives off.

When I make it back home, I try to go to sleep but can't. I stay up all night worrying about Lily and working. At around nine in the morning, Dante shows up and takes his wife and the other women home. I get ready for work and once I get to my office, I am barely able to stay up.

By the time five o'clock hits, I can't stand the sight of people. Lily hasn't messaged or called me and she didn't even show up to work today. All day I have been replaying last night to see what mistake I made.

I couldn't focus on anything or anyone. It was like something was missing not hearing her voice all day, her squeals, constant hugs. I hated it.

"I was also thinking of maybe bringing in more workers. I think expanding the company will also expand the amount of hotels we can invest in, you know?" A woman says and everyone else in the conference room nods in agreement.

A man turns to me, "What do you think, boss? I think it's a great idea, but with your reputation, a lot of people are afraid to work for you. I mean that with the utmost respect, of course, sir."

That's it!

I stand up. "She's scared! That's why she's mad. She's scared I'll get bored and hurt her!"

You're a goddamn genius, Theo.

"Excuse me?"

I ignore them and pick up my coat. I sign the paperwork that I was here to sign and throw the box of cigarettes inside of my pocket in the trash.

I don't need those anymore.

"But sir! What are your thoughts f-"

"Terrible. We're not hiring more employees, so get the hell out of my conference room and go home." I reply before rushing out of the room.

I go to my office, lock up everything and make my way to my car. On the way to Lily's place, I think of how I'm going to apologize. Halfway there, a realization hits me.

I care

I fucking care. I care about someone besides myself. The last time I cared about someone this deeply was when Cass was alive and I wasn't this grumpy pants I am now. But I care about hurting her Lily, which meant the old Theo was starting to return. Lily did that.

By the time I arrive at her place, it's dark out. I honk once before getting out of the car and picking up a small sized rock. There were only two windows visible, so I throw the rock at one and hope it's Lily's room.

There is no reply, so I pick up another one and throw it at the same window again. When the window opens, revealing Lily, I breathe a sigh of relief and smile.

"You're gonna break my window!" She shouts and I don't think I've ever been more happy to hear that southern accent of hers.

"I'd like to apologize, please!"

"What?"

"I want to apologize for how I made you feel. I'm fuckin' terrible at caring about other people's feelings, comprehension, everything in a relationship, really. I know you're mad at me right now, so I'll sit right here until you're ready to talk!"

I take a seat on top of my car as she moves a strand of her hair blowing in the wind, out of her face.

"And if you don't want to say anything right now, that's fine, too! I can wait as long as you need, baby!"

She stares at me with a small smile and turns away to hide her blush. Lily shuts the window and a minute later, she walks out of the house. Wearing a puffy pink coat, she walks to me.

I hop off of the car and laugh, seeing she is still wearing her sandals despite the weather. "Not even the fact that it's insanely cold out here will stop you from wearing those sandals."

She smiles and stands in front of me. "Vivo told me the same thing."

I frown, "But Vivo can't even t-"

"Shush."

I chuckle and pull her close to me, wrapping my arm around her waist. "I'm sorry, Lily. I want you to know, what Erica and I had was nothing like this. We were using each other, and we both knew we didn't have a future together." I lean closer, "You, I… I don't know what it is, I can't explain it. But, whatever it is you want me to change, I'll change it, pretty girl. As long as I get to have you."

She stands on her tippy toes and presses a soft kiss to my lips. "I don't want you to change. I like you just the way you are, sugar."