The Sweetest Thing (Book 1) ✓

19 - A plan

Emily 

"Oh, my God! You scare the hell out of me!" My heart was racing from this unexpected call from Dax.

"What were you doing, Cupcake!?" Why are you so skittish?"

"Dax, you can't just call people from nowhere!"

"Umm, I'm pretty sure that's how calling works. It just happens. From nowhere. Just like that. What were you doing to get so scared?"

"I was just browsing some stuff on my phone when it started to ring in my hand! And just so you know, most of the time, after a SWAT call, you just texted me, so excuse me if I wasn't expecting a call. It's not something you usually do."

"I guess I should change that. Can't have you jumping scared every time your phone rings."

"I didn't jump!" I totally did, but he didn't have to know it.

"You so did!"

"I did not!"

"C'mon, Cupcake. I know you. You definitely did. And you'll definitely fight me to the end of time and won't admit it, but that's not the point here."

I hate how well he knew me. Well, hate is a little bit dramatic. Honestly, it's kind of refreshing that you don't have to explain yourself all the time. Which is kind of strange. I mean, we have barely known each other for two weeks, and he already knows how I'll react to stuff. It's super strange how well we just clicked together, like we have known each other for years. There wasn't anything such as: "I wonder what he is thinking. Does he like this or that? What is he doing? With whom is he?" He tells me everything like it is. No sugarcoating, no half-told truths. Complete frankness. And I do the same to him.

"I don't know what you are talking about." Well, most of the time. In this case – I'll lie till my death. It's a matter of principles.

"Sure, you don't."

"Can you please go to the main topic here? You two act like little teenagers bickering over some random shit." I heard one of his teammates yell through the phone.

"Fuck off, dude, I'll talk whatever I want. Now back off, I don't need you this close to me. You're giving me some strange kind of vibes."

"Strange how? Like you get turned on? Does your dick get excited for me? Ow, Dax, I thought you were hot for Lily, didn't know you were so into me..." There were some muffled voices after that comment, then the phone hit the ground. The only thing that I could understand was that people were running. Maybe Dax was after the one who made the comment. The thought of Dax being interested in me made me all giddy and warm inside. I don't know if it was true or the boys were just messing around, but... I really, really, really hoped that he liked me, just a little bit. The thought that a guy like him, so strong, and handsome, and kind, and sexy, and funny, and sexy...where was I going with this?

"Hey, Cupcake, you there?" Shit! He was so bad for my concentration. I didn't even hear when he got the phone back.

"Um, yeah, you were the one who just...disappeared."

"Yeah, sorry about that. Needed to show Cleo some stuff." Oooookay, if you say so... "So, I was calling you for a reason."

"Really? And what is it?" He was never calling me. He was texting me every time he was at work, to check on me, to check on his sister, see if I was bored to death at his place... but calls – never. So, it was very strange hearing his voice on the phone. Made my wild imagination just go for all kinds of dirty scenarios.

"Yeah. I was wondering how's your back?" Really? That's why he is calling? For my back? Like he wasn't going to find out when he got home.

"Real smooth. Mr. Conversation. You're interested in her back. What a lame line. You can do better. Please tell me you can do better, or I'll have to step up and save Lily from this misery." I wasn't sure who the other guy was, but it was probably Cleo. He was the only one on the team who was talking all the time.

"For fuck's sake, Cleo, would you shut up, so Dax can ask his girl already. You two are acting like teenage girls with all the bickering and running around." And that, for sure, was Luke. I could easily identify his voice. Wait, what did he say? His girl?

"Umm, Dax, what's going on?"

"Shit! Yeah, sorry about that, just ignore everything you heard from them. So, like I said, I was wondering how your back is. Any troubles today?"

"No, no trouble. It's fine. Just a little sore, but I'm used to it. Why?" I still couldn't understand why he was calling me for that.

"Well, if you are feeling alright, do you want to go out tonight? I know a nice place where we can go and... I don't know, talk, eat? I feel bad for keeping you at home all the time, so I think a little time outside will be good for you." Wait, is he asking me on a date? Oh, my God, I can't believe it. I was left speechless. "Hey, Lily, you there?"

"Oh, yeah, um, yeah, I'm here. Sorry, just...umm. I'm a little surprised, that's all." I still couldn't comprehend that Dax Hall was asking me, the boring, homeless girl on a date.

"Well, no need to be surprised. I think you really need some time away from that house, so, get yourself ready, I'm going to pick you up in an hour. See you soon." And just like that he was gone. I was left speechless. I stood for a few minutes trying to understand what just happened.

"Oh, my, I am going on a date with Dax. I am really going on a date with Dax. What should I wear?" I went to his room in search for something appropriate. He never told me where we were going. The high heels were off limits for sure, I was still having trouble staying up for a long time, so I needed comfy shoes. Which means no dresses. In the end, I ended up picking some dark jeans, which made my booty look very good in them, and a yellow shirt. Black flat boots were finishing my look. I decided to let my hair be free this time for a change, it was making my face pop up from all those red waves around it.

I was just putting on lipstick when I heard a loud noise from Caitie's room.

"Shit!" I was running before I could even try to guess what that sound was. I burst into her room, just to see her phone on the ground.

"Hey, what's happening? Are you okay?" She was upset, and I had no idea what caused it. In the past couple of days, Caitie had been getting better, staying up most of the day, eating all the stuff I made for her, just...trying her best to get back in line. We didn't talk much, or like, at all. She was staying in her room most of the time, and I was staying in Dax's. I was going out only to cook something or to clean a bit. I know that he said that I could be wherever I wanted, but it was strange to walk around the house when his sister was there. I felt like an intruder, so I mostly stayed in his room, reading a book or thinking of new recipes that I could try to make.

"This shithead is trying to mess up with me! We had a deal! Why, the hell, is he not doing as I told him! I..." I still didn't know what she was talking about or how to react.

"Um, who are you talking about, Caitie?"

"Jeremy, that little piece of, of..." she was shaking from the anger. I tried to get closer to her, but wasn't sure if she'd be OK with me touching her, so I just stayed at arm's length. I guess whoever this Jeremy was, he called her, and what he told her wasn't very good.

"Hey, hey, just, just breathe...whatever it is, I'm sure we can figure it out. Dax is coming soon, so he can help you with whatever the problem is. I'm sure it will be fine."

"No! It won't be fine. Noting will be fine! My whole life will go to hell. Fuck! It already is there, so I'm not sure how deep down it can go, but..."

"Hey, stop that right now. There's no need to talk like that. I'm sure whatever the problem is, whatever this Jeremy told you, we can figure it out, right? No need to get yourself so worked up. Just. Why don't you sit here and try to tell me what is going on?" I wasn't sure if she'd listen to me, but to my surprise, she took a deep breath and sat on her bed. "So, what's going on?"

"Jeremy just called, and he..."

"Okay, hold on, first of all, who is Jeremy?" It's not like I knew her life and her friends. I honestly didn't know anything about her, except for the stuff Dax told me in the beginning.

"He is a friend...or at least I thought he was. He was something like my landlord. He had a place where I was staying and paying him a little bit for rent. We made a deal that he'd keep my stuff there. I paid him in advance, so he wouldn't worry, but I guess he found someone to really live there, and he said he made a deal for a higher rent. It was like our deal meant nothing to him. He was just looking for ways to get more money. That's all. And the stuff that I paid him in advance – it's like it didn't exist in his mind. Like, if I don't sleep there, I don't need the place, so he'll just give it to someone else. He told me that I had half an hour to go there and pick up my stuff, or he'd just throw it away. My whole life is in there, I can't just let him throw it away..."

I know what she was talking about. She has a choice, at least. Jeremy gave it to her. I didn't have that luxury; someone took my whole life when he decided to trash my apartment. So, I get it, I totally understood her frustration and feeling of hopelessness. I couldn't let her lose everything. I knew that I had to do something to stop it. I knew that Dax was coming, but it would be too late. She had just half an hour. I don't even know if it was physically possible to get to her place at that time, but it was worth the shot. I decided I'd do anything in my power to help her, and that meant breaking one of the few rules Dax told her.

"Okay. So, how are you feeling? Do you think you can drive to your place?"

***Interesting decision from Lily. What'll be the reaction of Dax? I mean, he put those rules there for a reason...and speaking of rules, what do you think the other rules are?