I looked around and took in each building. Lucas was right. My father did own several businesses around here. It had been a while since I had been in this neighborhood. I fixed up a few of these buildings for him. The salon studio and restaurant were both on this block. They were the first redesigns Violet and I ever did.
The drive home was quiet. When the adrenaline ran off and I calmed down from it, I felt tired, drained, and I missed Roman.
As soon as we pulled up to the house, Emilio and Dante were standing on the porch waiting for us. By the look on their faces, I knew they were the ones Lucas had been texting.
I said goodnight to everyone and kissed Lucas before I headed upstairs. They all three watched me walk up the stairs. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Emilio motion for Lucas and Dante to head downstairs. I watched both of them turn and head that way.
***
“Lily, will you hurry up?” Dante called from downstairs. “I swear for someone who is about to get a surprise, you’re moving awfully slow!”
“One more minute!” I called, hoping he heard me. It had been a week since our encounter with Nikolas and things had been crazy. Since I had finished the last four projects, I was waiting for my next job. I had been in a haze all week since the guys kept me cooped up in the house.
This morning Dante had barged into my room and told me to hurry up and get dressed and that they, whoever they were, had a surprise for me today. I had been trying to hurry up and get dressed ever since. I looked in the mirror one last time and fluffed my long brown hair. I skipped down the stairs to find Dante standing there looking at me annoyed.
“What?” I asked. “I’m here, dressed, and I don’t see a surprise.”
“We have to take you to it,” he said.
“We?”
“Ready to go?” Lucas asked as he came out of the kitchen, kissed me, and opened the front door.
Lucas insisted that I sit in the front seat. They never told me where exactly we were going, but I knew we were heading into the city. I wondered what they could have up their sleeves and what surprise was awaiting me. My birthday was still several weeks away. I came up with nothing.
“Where are we going?” I finally asked as we crossed the bridge into New York City.
“You’ll see, but first, Lucas, will you get it please?” Dante asked.
“Get what?” I asked right before I saw something fly over my face and then cover my eyes. “What the hell?” I griped as I tried to remove it. I felt someone slap my hand away. “Lucas, did you just slap my hand?”
“No, it was me,” Dante laughed. I felt the cloth tighten around my head. “And don’t you dare remove that either. If you do, no surprise for you young lady!”
I heard Lucas laugh behind me.
“Fine you two!” I said as I pointed toward my face. “But this better be freaking awesome if I have to have a stupid blindfold.”
I wasn’t blindfolded for too long, maybe another twenty minutes or so, when the car stopped. I had tried to concentrate on twists and turns to see if I could guess where we were, but I was at a loss. I heard both Lucas’s and Dante’s doors open and close, and then I felt mine open. Lucas escorted me through a door and I crept along slowly.
“Lucas, please don’t let me run into anything,” I pleaded. I could feel his breath suddenly on my neck and it sent chills down my body.
“Never,” he whispered into my ear.
My entire being wanted him right now. If I didn’t have a surprise waiting, I would have turned and kissed him, never wanting to stop.
“Okay, you ready?” Dante’s voice broke my thoughts.
“Yes,” I said, getting excited. I had forgotten for a second that I was here for a surprise.
“Okay, on the count of three,” Dante’s voice rang out. My heart started beating out of my chest with excitement.
“One…. two… three!” Lucas lifted the blindfold off.
I looked around confused. I had been here several times over the past month. We were in the office building I had redesigned.
“Umm, what are we doing here?” I asked as Dante and Lucas came around to face me. They both smiled at me like they had a secret only they knew.
“Surprise!” A female voice called behind me before a set of arms wrapped around my waist and squeezed me tight. I screamed, jumped, and turned around all in the same motion.
“Violet!” I screeched as soon as I saw her. I flung my arms around her and hugged her tightly. I hadn’t seen her since I left in January. This was definitely a surprise worth waiting for.
“What are you doing here?” I finally asked, letting her go and taking a good look at her.
“I figured it had been long enough and that you probably wouldn’t make it one more day without seeing my beautiful face.” She took a look around the room. “Lily, you did such a wonderful job. We’re going to be so happy here.”
“It is beautiful. I was so happy when my father let me decorate it…,” Violet’s words finally sunk in. She had said we would be happy here. “What do you mean we are going to be happy here?” I asked, confused.
This was supposed to be a small office building. Violet stepped out into the open space, turned, and grinned at me.
“What she meant to say was welcome to Lily-Vi Interior Design Studio,” my father said as he rounded the corner. My mother and Emilio were on his heels. I was surprised to see him and more surprised with what he had just said.
“This is…,” I looked from my father to everyone else. “This is ours?” My excitement was building with the realization of what my father had just said.
“Liliana,” my father started. “You have done an exceptional job this past year. You completed these last four projects ahead of schedule, quicker than I could ever imagine. All your previous work has reflected your talent and your mother, brothers, and I agreed that it was time for you to have your own business here in New York City.”
He walked over to me and held out his hand, holding the keys to the building. “We’re so proud of you Liliana. However, you may have other clients from now on, but make sure you don’t forget about the people who got you here.” I glanced back and forth between the keys and him.
“Are you serious?” I squealed and hugged him tighter than I ever had before.
“Wait and you’re staying too?” I said, turning to face Violet.
“Yup,” she said. “You’re permanently stuck with me!”
I was ecstatic! I couldn’t believe this was happening. I quickly gave myself a pinch just to make sure this wasn’t a dream.
“Now you know why I asked for your personal touch,” my father said as I took the keys from his hand. “You can open the doors as soon as you’re ready.” He bent over and gave me a kiss on the forehead.
“Thank you Papà,” I said as tears started forming. “This is more than I could have asked for. Thank you for giving me my passion back. I hope I can continue to make you proud.” I was overwhelmed by this.
My father had never done anything like this before, at least not for me. For the first time ever, I felt appreciated by him.
Lucas came over and embraced me in a hug and then softly kissed my lips.
“Did you know about this?” I asked him.
“The whole time,” he said.
“You could have told me,” I said.
“Nah. I’m good at keeping secrets, and I don’t think everyone would be too happy if I told you. They’ve had this surprise party planned for a while.”
“So, are you two official yet?” Violet asked as she joined our conversation.
“Yes,” I said, smiling from ear to ear. Violet squealed as she hugged both of us.
“You can both thank me now,” she stated.
“For what?” I asked.
“Hello! I’m the one who hooked you guys up!” she said offended.
“Thank you, Violet,” Lucas and I both said in unison.
Chapter 23
The
first week in the office was amazing. I had managed to move all my work from the house to the building. Violet had a truck deliver everything we had in storage from our old business in Toronto. By the time we officially ended our first week of work, we had the entire building ready for new clients on Monday.
The lobby area looked amazing too. It would be our customer’s first impression of how professional and skilled we were. The entire office was decorated in blacks, pinks, whites, and purples. Our clients would be greeted by a mock living room, which posed as our waiting area, with black leather couches and a rod iron glass coffee table that was topped with binders full of before and after pictures of our previous projects.
Just past that was a round island where clients could fill out the appropriate information.
Past that area were two offices, mine and Violet’s, and behind that was a curtain that led to the back of the building that contained our boards, drawing tables, and the color wall that had paint samples plastered to it. This was the no-client zone. Lucas claimed that area as his designated sleep zone, so we made sure we had a couch for him to lie on.
That night I thought about how everything had changed. Since Violet’s arrival, things at home had become a lot better. Emilio and I were on speaking terms, but it hadn’t developed into a full blown conversation. It was a step, though.
Dante’s mood even changed, and I could tell he was happy that she was here. I hadn’t realized how somber he had been until Violet came.
For a while, I thought about everything that had happened in the past week. It got to the point where I couldn’t sleep, so I decided to go and get a drink, thinking maybe it would help. I headed down the hallway trying to be quiet, hoping I wouldn’t wake anyone, and then I heard voices coming from Dante’s room. I slowly crept up to the door and started eavesdropping.
“What happened to not telling anyone we were together?” Violet asked. “I thought we had to keep it a secret.”
“Violet, I don’t care anymore. The only thing I care about is you. Living in this house with Lily and Emilio has been excruciating. It’s hard watching them try to communicate and in the end, all they do is argue. I don’t want that to be us. I can deal with everything as long as I have you beside me. I just want you to understand that there may be things I can’t tell you and I need you to trust me. It’s for the best. If you can do that, then say you’re in this with me?”
I held my breath as I waited for her answer.
“I'm with you.”
I could hear the excitement in her voice. It was quiet for a moment before Dante spoke again.
“As soon as I tell Emilio, we will tell Lily,” Dante said. “I want him to know first.”
“That’s not fair,” Violet complained. “Do you know how hard this will be to keep from her? She is my best friend.”
“It won’t be long, I promise. I love you, Violet.”
“I love you too,” Violet responded.
I turned and crept back toward my room. I was sure I had a bottle of water somewhere. I would drink out of the sink if it meant I didn’t intrude on their private moment. I couldn’t have them find me eavesdropping. I was beyond excited for Dante and Violet! They were finally going to be together.
It was hard though to hear that Dante found it excruciating to live with me and Emilio. I guess it would be hard when your friend and your sister haven’t really been speaking and they happen to be the only two roommates you have. I felt awful.
Just as Dante predicted though, I was confused. Violet said she could accept the secrets. Maybe that was why Emilio and I could never be together, because I was determined to know the truth. Unlike Violet, I could never just live with only half the story.
Even though I was still determined to figure out the truth, I wouldn’t let it change my already made up mind. Lucas and I were together and nothing was going to change that.
I only waited two days before I confessed to Dante and Violet that I had overheard their conversation. I assured them that Emilio and I were over and that wasn’t going to change. Lucas and I were in it for the long run. I was with him whole heartedly.
They still asked me a million times if I was okay with them being together. I told them, honestly, I didn’t know what took them so damn long.
***
The next couple of weeks after that had been crazy. We had the grand opening and business was better than ever. Of course, my father had a few projects for us to do, but we also had several new clients and were excited to be working with them.
We had been working hard and pushing some late nights. Lucas stayed with us every night and took us home. He made me laugh with his perimeter checks, but he took it seriously and if it made him feel better, then more power to him.
Lucas had suggested that we all go out and have a good time this weekend. Everyone had been working so hard that he insisted we needed a break and that we needed to celebrate my birthday. I denied his request, but he insisted.
***
“Lily,” Violet called from the bathroom. “Will you bring me my makeup bag?”
“Yeah, one second,” I called back. It was already Saturday night and we were all getting ready to head out for the evening to celebrate my birthday as well as all the hard work everyone had done over the last few weeks. “Here you go,” I said as I handed her the bag. “Have you seen the hair gel?”
“No, I haven’t. Is it in your room?” she asked.
“No,” I stated. “I just looked in there. I can’t find it anywhere. Maybe Emilio took it?” Violet nodded and I took off toward Emilio’s room. I knocked on the slightly opened door.
“Come in,” Emilio said as I pushed it the rest of the way open.
He was standing at his dresser with his back facing me in nothing but a towel around his hips. I stood there for a moment looking at him. I couldn’t pry my eyes away from him, even if I wanted to.
His muscles tightened in his back as he turned his head to see who had entered. When I saw his gray eyes staring back at me, I couldn’t remember why I had come in here in the first place.
“I’m sorry,” I started to apologize. “I didn’t know you were getting dressed.”
“It’s okay Lily,” he laughed. “It’s not like you haven’t seen me this way before.”
“Well,” I cleared my throat. “I just came over to see if I could borrow some hair gel. I can’t find mine or Violet’s.”
“It’s in the bathroom.” He nodded his head and I made my way in. It was sitting on the countertop. I squirted some in my hand, brushed it through my hair with my fingers, and then scrunched it into curls.
“Thanks,” I said as I walked back into his room. He was on his bed tying his shoes. He had changed into a pair of jeans, but was still shirtless, and there it was, his tattoo.
I forgot that I had made a mental note to ask him about it back at Christmas time. Now the lily had a storm cloud over it and more raindrops were added. I was more curious now than before.
“You got a new tattoo,” I said nonchalantly as I walked closer to him.
“Umm, yeah,” he said reaching for his shirt. “I got it a while back.”
He looked nervous as he started to put on his shirt. I grabbed it out of his hand and put it behind my back as I jumped back from him.
“Give that back,” he said as he rose to his feet giving me a full view of his chest.
My eyes widened at the tattoo’s beauty. He lurched toward me trying to grab the shirt. His door was opened, so I moved as fast as I could toward it and chunked the shirt out the door. I watched it as it went over the banister.
“Why did you do that?” Emilio scowled at me as I turned back toward him.
“Because,” I said as I turned and walked back up to him, “you were going to cover it up, and I still have questions.” I paused for a moment, not knowing what to ask first.
“It’s a storm,” I said as I touched his left shoulder. His body stiffened under my touch.
<
br /> The new part of the tattoo covered his left shoulder to the middle of his chest. It was a storm cloud with lightning bolts flashing through it. It looked like a picture was painted on his chest. It was breathtaking.
“What does it mean?” I asked. “And what does the lily mean?”
The weeping lily was just as eye catching as it was the first time. The storm was raging over it and the raindrops ran down his chest.
“You added more raindrops too,” I said as I took a mental count of them. I looked up at Emilio who still hadn’t spoken a word yet. His eyes were looking above me, somewhere else.
“Emilio?” I said as I looked into his eyes. “Did you hear me?”
“Yes,” he said as he shook his head, rubbing the back of his neck. He walked over to the bed and sat down. He was nervous, very nervous.
“Why are you so nervous?” I asked taking a seat beside him.
“How do you know I’m nervous?”
“Because I know you, and I know how you act when you’re nervous, so stop thinking whatever you are and just tell me. What are you afraid of?”
“I'm not afraid,” he sighed. “I just don’t know how you’re going to react.”
I wasn’t prepared for that.
How I would react?
“Well, why don’t you tell me and we will see?”
He took a deep breath and placed his elbows on his knees, burying his face in his hands.
“I got the lily when I moved to New York after my father died.” He looked up and stared at the wall. “I knew how hurt you were when I left you, so I decided that the weeping lily was a good fit. I had left you begging and crying for me not to go. The raindrops are…,” He paused for a moment as he looked up at me and then he pointed to the first raindrop and then another. “The raindrops are for every time I have hurt you or caused you pain. The day I left, the day I told you I didn’t love you anymore, the day you begged me to come home and return to you. The most recent ones are for the night at the club when you got hurt, Halloween, and Christmas, and when I said those awful things to you that night.”
I just looked at him in shock. There were twenty raindrops pouring from the lily.
Emilio didn’t even wait for me to respond before he started again.
“The storm, the storm is me. I’m always hurting you and hovering over you, keeping the storm stationary, never letting the light touch you. It’s not fair to you. I realized it that night you told me that you were sorry. I knew in that moment that you had moved on, and I couldn’t take it. When I left that night, I went and had the storm added.”