Accepting You

Chapter 33 - Don't Make Me Jealous

"Your shampoo smells nice," Lily comments as she walks into Lizzie's room as she dries her hair with a towel.

"I'd hope so," Lizzie laughs from the bed, looking up from her book.

After their eventful night, they decided to shower and get ready for bed. It's still early – not even 10:00pm – but they figured even if they weren't sleeping, they could relax together for the rest of the night.

Lizzie pats beside her as an invitation and Lily happily skips over and belly flops onto the bed making Lizzie shout in surprise.

"You're going to give me a heart attack," Lizzie frowns.

"So comfy," Lily says with her face buried into the pillow as her voice comes out muffled and unintelligible.

"Don't ignore me," Lizzie scolds but she sticks a hand underneath Lily's shirt that has already riled up and starts running her hand up and down her back, lightly scratching her skin.

Lily sighs with comfort. She could fall asleep right then and there but she doesn't. She wants to enjoy the peace with her girlfriend as long as she can. These seemingly meaningless moments that don't seem special on the outside are moments that she cherishes the most. More than going on dates, which she still loves to do, but it's the moments where they are themselves and aren't judged by prying eyes that she relishes in.

Lily looks up at Lizzie who has gone back to reading her book. The look of concentration and amusement as her eyes skim each word is a look Lily wanted to memorize. Her green eyes are bright with curiosity, wanting to know what happens next. Lizzie has her inner cheek between her teeth, gnawing at it gently as she reads with anticipation. It must be getting to be an exciting part.

"What's happening?" Lily asks.

"Hm?" Lizzie hums, not quite wanting to stop reading as she continues to run her hand along Lily's back.

"Your book – it seems interesting," Lily comments. "What's it about?"

"It's about. . ." Lizzie starts, putting down the book. "A woman finding herself in these little adventures. She meets a man and they fall in love. She reminds me of you actually. Maybe that's why I like her so much."

"Me?" Lily asks. She rolls over so she lays sideways on the bed and rests her head on Lizzie's lap, looking up at her beautiful girlfriend. "What's she like?"

"She's very outgoing and stubborn," Lizzie says, smiling down at the younger woman as she runs her hand through Lily's baby hairs. "She's a little hot headed and plus her stubbornness, she gets herself into trouble. Her love interest steps in to save her plenty of times and though she refuses his help, he's patient enough to wait."

"He sounds like you," Lily comments.

"The protagonist ends up giving in and they fall in love," Lizzie continues. "But it's not a good ending."

"You've read it before?"

"No – but everyone knows the ending," Lizzie replies.

"Then I'll stop there," Lily says with a slight shrug of a shoulder. "The story ends happily for me."

"Just because you stop there, it doesn't mean the ending doesn't happen."

"But it means the characters get a happy ending somewhere with someone."

"Too optimistic," Lizzie adds. "The protagonist thinks everything will work out in the end – that her adventures always end up well."

"I like this character," Lily states. "And it's not just because you said she reminds you of me. I'm rooting for her."