She nods. “He says he gets why I did it. He said that isn’t why he’s staying, but I know him. I really hurt him.” She chokes.
“It will be okay sugar, he’ll come round.”
“Fuck, he’s the last person I would ever want to hurt.” I reposition myself next to her on the bed, and wrap my arm around her shoulder, pulling her against my side. She cries on my shoulder. Why is life so damn hard? Poor girl can’t catch a break. One crisis is averted, and there’s another one, just waiting to kick her in the crotch.
The flight back to London is fairly short, but Lilly sleeps almost the entire way. Then when we get home, she goes straight back to sleep. I don’t try to wake her. I get our bags from the car and bring them into the house. Her phone is ringing in her handbag, I rummage through to find it, just in case it’s important. It’s just Molly. I press the green button.
“Hey Molly, Lilly’s asleep.”
“Oh.” She sniffs. “Sorry. I’ll uh, I’ll call her later.” She sounds really upset, like she’s crying.
“Wait, are you okay?”
“Yeah, I…I’m fine. Just tell Lilly I called will you?” She says through her obvious tears.
“Sure.” I say. This must be one of those girl things. Who knows?
I press the red button to hang up, and see a message flashing up from Harry. I don’t open it. The first line which is visible reads: ‘I’m sorry. I love you baby girl.’
I put her phone back in her bag and go through to my bedroom. Lilly is curled on her side in the enormous bed. I don’t undress her, I don’t want to wake her. I unbutton and remove my jeans and shirt. I get into bed and spoon her, wrapping my arms around her. She clings to my arm, snuggling into my hold. I hold her tight, and for the first time in a long time, it feels like everything might be alright, as though we may actually make it.
Jane stays true to her word and barely twenty-four hours after we return from Monaco, Claudia calls and informs me that the charges have been dropped. Without Jane’s statement, there simply isn’t enough evidence to even consider charging him. Luckily, no-one seems to have realised that he’s breached his bail. The relief is somewhat marred by Harry’s absence, which hits Lilly very hard. As always, she tries to put up a front, acting as though nothing is amiss. I see the moments when she’s lost in her own thoughts, the air of grief that surrounds her. I know Harry will come back, he would never abandon her.
Other than Harry’s absence, everything is good, quiet almost. It’s strange. Lilly is changing. The cool, hardened woman I first met is giving way to a more relaxed person. She smiles more, laughs more freely and speaks without constantly checking herself. She’s free.
It’s Wednesday lunchtime, and she’s come to have a lunch ‘meeting’, which really means, I kind of mention any stuff that she may be able to pass off as work, should her boss ask. Essentially I just get some of her time, and she gets paid to work. Win, win.
She hands me a sandwich wrapped in brown paper. There’s this little sandwich shop called Doorsteps around the corner from the office. They do the best sandwiches. She always grabs me one if she’s coming over here. You have to love a woman who provides a good sandwich. Her lips quirk as she digs in the plastic bag and pulls out another one and hands it to me.
“You see this is why I love you.”
She smirks. “Because I bring you sandwiches?”
I shrug. “Among other things. None of which I can recall right now.” She rolls her eyes and I smile. “As much as I appreciate your food offerings, are you trying to make me fat?” I cock an eyebrow.
“No, I’m pre-empting the fact that you will eat that sandwich and then stare at me until I give you mine.” She tilts her head to the side.
“I would do no such thing.” I smile innocently at her.
“You are worse than a scrounging dog. But you’d best not get fat. I’m only with you for your body babe, oh and your face. Without all this…” She gestures the length of my body. “You have nothing.” She flashes me a wry smile.
“You keep telling yourself that sugar.” I gesture to my crotch. “We both know you just want what’s in my pants.” I wiggle my eyebrows at her and she laughs, throwing her head back.
“Okay, stop, before you start doing a show and tell.”
“Later.” I wave her off. “Anyway, I was thinking that we should do something this weekend.” I say as I unwrap the god of all sandwiches.
“Like what?” She eyes me suspiciously.
“Not a show and tell.” I sigh.