Page 20 of Aiden & Lily

Lily snorted under her breath.

She didn’t think anyone in that household would waste the energy trying to do something like that, and she had a strong feeling most of her sisters agreed.

“Now, Lincoln, on the other hand…” Rose mused. “I could totally see him doing something just to make you mad.”

“I don’t like it,” her father insisted. “Whatever this relationship of theirs is, it won’t last. You saw the way she looked at us when we stopped by this morning.”

Rose was quiet for a long moment. Too quiet. Lily half-wondered if her sister had picked up on the fact that they were being spied on.

That sent Lily’s heart into overdrive. She pushed away from the wall and hurried down the hall as quietly as possible. Her father was a strict man. There was no way he’d be happy with her eavesdropping on a private conversation.

She made it to the front door and swung it open, only to come face-to-face with Emerson.

He had his hand lifted, as if he’d been preparing to open the door. His usual effortless, put-together look seemed off today. Instead of adorably mussed, he looked bedraggled.

Did this have to do with Penny? Maybe everything she and Jasmine had guessed was right. Maybe he was heartbroken.

Lily reached out and patted his shoulder. Emerson stiffened. His eyes drifted to her hand, then back to her face.

She smiled sweetly. “Hey, Emerson.”

“Hey, Lils.” He glanced over her shoulder toward the house. “What’s up?”

She tilted her head, and her smile broadened. “It’s going to be okay.”

“What…?”

“You never know. The girl you’re meant to be with is probably right under your nose. Don’t give up. Just keep looking for her.”

Then she slipped past him.

She could feel him staring after her, but she didn’t want to have to explain why she was aware of his disappointment. That would only verify how much of a gossip she and her twin had become.

Besides, she had more exciting plans for today.

She was going to hang out with Christopher.

After their date the other night, she couldn’t wait to spend more time with him. He’d mentioned how much he liked visiting the city and he’d asked if she liked it as well.

It was a little far, and honestly, she didn’t have much of an opinion on the matter. But as long as she was with him, she didn’t care where they were.

She pulled out her phone and opened the last text message he’d sent.

Christopher:Meet me at the main road.

Lily smiled, then paused.

When he’d brought her home after their first date, he’d made sure to drop her off at the house. But today, he’d said it would be easier if she met him at the edge of the property. Besides that, he didn’t want people to see him.

Competing in the local rodeos had put him in enough of a spotlight, and he didn’t want the added attention. She could understand his reasoning.

Mostly.

Still, there was a tiny part of her that wondered why she was the one walking to the road instead of him driving up to the house like he had before. Maybe she was overthinking it. It wasn’t as if she was ready for her father and sisters to descend on Christopher after only two dates, either.

Lily glanced over her shoulder toward the house and sent Jasmine a message informing her that she’d be going out for the afternoon and not to worry. Intentionally vague, so she wouldn’t have to give extra details.

Her message was left as read.