the various chances

chapter ten

Jeremy

Lily was sitting on the chair opposite to my desk, munching on the sandwiches I got. The dread that I almost used that name to call her when she was annoying the shit out of me was covered by the food I was currently stuffing down my mouth.

God! Almost got caught!

While I had waved a 'goodbye' to Jayden I managed to get these sandwiches from a café across the street thinking I had missed my lunch. The team was heading out for their own so the only people left were me and Lily.

I knew that not so easy going little flower would refuse but I had my ways of convincing as well. Surprisingly enough I knew her taste buds, sneakily but yes I knew. That little flower has weird taste buds because who the fuck likes garlic mayo, tastes gross. Lucky for me the stuffing for the food was in my favour, the dips and mayo were additional.

My mom had called me to remind about the saying everyone was going to be there at Romano mansion for a family dinner.

My mom is half Romano, born Robinson but technically a Romano. I had heard these stories from my grandpa Romano about how there was this one time my dad killed a man because of whom he nearly lost mom. These people terrorized men who dare go near the ladies of our family, let alone make them uncomfortable. My dad told me one where my grandpa Xavier Vincet Romano tortured the men who were the reason my grandmother Julia was not with us. Even my uncle Lucas killed a few men who dared had their hands on my aunt Scarlett.

No wonder, Romanos and Langfords were over protective when it came to ladies, runs in the blood.

As for the word lady, the one sitting in front of me, eating her food like the earth doesn't exists. It was amusing, watching her eat; I can't explain myself on why I insisted her to eat together because last I knew I hated human company. Good thing here was that the food was keeping us busy otherwise I had no idea on what topic we could converse because if she'd start one then I wouldn't have resisted myself from asking about her disappearance.

Lily was chewing on her last bite, mouth filled she says, "Good God these were amazing. From where did you get those?" and swallows down her bite. I chuckle, half of mine still pending, "there is this café, a block or two away from here." She nods, "hmm, maybe I'll try other options there."

"yap, you should. They have quite a variety, sandwiches, pastries, muffins" but there was one particular flavour I had on my tongue that no one in the world would be able to replicate, if God were to be with me, maybe I could have the privilege to have those vanilla muffins loaded with M&Ms.

Lily stands up, starts collecting trash. I help her by holding out the bag so she can stuff the mess down all at once, making the cleaning task easier. Her fingers skim over the back of my hand while she takes the bag from my hold. She looked unbothered, maybe she didn't felt it the way I did because fuck this feeling. A spark of electricity runs through my whole body, settling down my spine and making me all jumpy.

"I..." -she stammers "am getting back to work. Do you... umm... need anything?" I shake my head when she nods, "okay, then I'll head back." I nod, watch her bite her lower lip while she adjusts the chair she was previously sitting on, back to its place. "Thank you for the sandwiches. They were awesome."

My lips twitch but I clear my throat and nod, "no problem." This little flower better get going because I can't stand the fact that she screws with my brain and it's sanity. Lily leaves the cabin. I get back to work after a monologue about how I can't be near her let alone encourage myself to be alone with her, reminding myself that I hate her.

Time went faster than I had calculated. Lily was working in her cabin for the rest of the time. I didn't bother her after the long meeting. Yet say the name of the little flower and the flower shall blossom. There come the knock on the door and I knew she'd been on the other side. After my reply Lily walks in, "so, its 6. Any pending tasks for me?"