Accepting You

Chapter 41 - She's Taken

It's a simple text. No formalities, no affection.

It's a woman's name and phone number.

"What do you think it is?" Lily asks Hailee as they walk into Lily's apartment. Lily tried not to think about it during the ride back and during dinner but she couldn't keep it in any longer.

"Maybe she's playing matchmaker and she's setting you up on a date," Hailee jokes, which earns a jab to the stomach. "Ow! Okay, dark humor is too soon. Noted."

"I'm going to google the name," Lily mutters and heads over to her desk where her laptop sat. She types in the name 'Nikki Way.'

Hailee comes up behind her and peers over Lily's shoulder. "So, who is she?"

"Looks like a booking manager," Lily says as she reads a little bit about the woman. "Oh, she's from Lizzie's agency."

"Isn't that a good thing?" Hailee asks. "You mentioned you might go freelance and manage yourself."

"I guess. . ." Lily says. She spins in the chair and faces Hailee, "But isn't that insulting? She assumed I wouldn't resign with Joseph and she's giving me this person's contact?"

Hailee shrugs. "I'm sure she's just looking out for you."

Lily stands with a huff. "She's ridiculous. First she has the audacity to think I don't love her –"

"Well you never told her that you did."

"-- and now she doesn't even believe that I can handle my own career," Lily rants without missing a beat, completely ignoring Hailee's statement.

"Okay look –" Hailee says, putting two hands on Lily's shoulders to stop her spiraling. "I know she's looking out for you. I texted her."

"What –" Lily starts, unable to wrap her head around the fact that her best friend and her girlfriend were on texting terms.

"She just wants to help so take it," Hailee says gently. "You think about it while I shower."

"You're staying over?" Lily questions.

"Someone has to take care of your somber ass," Hailee smirks. She slaps Lily's butt before turning and heading down the hallway. "I brought clothes yesterday so don't worry about it, but clean up the spare room. I'm not sleeping on the couch again," Hailee calls back.

Lily grumbles to herself about not needing to be looked after like a little kid but she couldn't deny that it would be nice to have a friend to keep her company. Having someone to talk to or just sit with eased her mind and prevented her from digging herself into a hole in her mind.

While Hailee washed up, Lily cleaned up the guest room. She pulled the dusty sheets and replaced it with clean ones. Lily kept her apartment tidy so there wasn't much that needed to be moved.

Once Hailee finished, Lily washed up and they sat on the couch together while 'Friends' played in the background. They sat cross-legged facing each other while Hailee tended to Lily's hands.

"They don't hurt that much," Lily tries to convince her friend. The little cuts that dug into her palms from the shattered pieces of ceramic weren't that deep. Though they stung, they were already healing and closing up. A big part of it was due to the tightly wrapped bandage that Hailee did on both hands the night prior.

"You still need to take care of it," Hailee mutters under her breath.

Lily rolls her eyes at her friend's motherly concern and turns her attention to the television.

Hailee had discarded the old wrappings and started applying ointment to the cuts. Blowing on the little cuts, which was a relieving and cooling feeling, Hailee made sure each cut she saw is tended to. Once that is done, she starts bandaging up Lily's hands again.