A Library Romance

Chapter 9: Goodnight

To my surprise, my parents were still up, waiting on me like parents of a teen who was out at prom.

"How was the party, Milo?" my father asks. Lily was hiding behind me, so he hadn't noticed her.

"Oh! You brought Lily! I didn't think you'd be bringing a girl over so late. Were you expecting us to be asleep? Did we ruin your plans?" my mother asks, giggling.

"No mom, you didn't ruin anything, Lily and I aren't officially dating yet," I say.

"We're not?" she asks.

"Well, I thought you wanted to wait, but okay, I guess we are, but no, you didn't ruin anything," I say.

"Then what is she doing here?" My father asks.

"She doesn't have a place to stay. I was hoping you guys would let her stay in the spare room for a while. She's been sleeping at the library and I don't want that to happen anymore," I say.

"That's horrible!" My mother exclaims. "Of course she can stay. I'll prepare the room at once!" She runs off to ready the room, and Lily punches my arm lightly.

"Did you really have to tell them I was sleeping in the library?" she mumbles, face red.

"They can tell when I'm lying, Lily. Besides, it's best to be honest when you're going to be staying here a while," I say.

"Don't worry Lily, we don't mind at all, and you don't have to be ashamed. I'd do the same for my wife, if she had been in the same situation. I'd do it for anyone. No one deserves to be homeless," he says. Lily bites her lip, trying to muster up the courage to speak to him.

"Well, thank you, I really appreciate it," she says. Her voice is soft, but my father smiles with understanding and just gives a curt nod. My mother comes back moments later, carrying one of her old nightgowns.

"I brought this for you to sleep in, but if you feel too awkward to wear it, I'm sure Milo can lend you a pair of sweats," she says.

"This is perfect. Thank you," Lily says, taking the dress delicately like it would fall apart from her touch.

"The bathroom is right down the hall here, so you can get changed, and I've got face soap, if you'd like to wash up before bed," my mother says. Lily nods and scurries off to the bathroom. I can tell she's having a hard time being social with my parents, considering that we're dating (I guess) and because they're allowing her to stay here. But I hope she loosens up around them, because they seem to like her.

"She's a keeper, Milo," my father says. My mother nods in agreement.

"She's darling. I'm so glad we got to meet her so soon. The way you were talking, it felt like it would take ages," my mother says.

"Well, I wasn't aware of her situation until tonight, or it would have been earlier. Tomorrow we'll get her stuff from the library and get her officially moved in," I say.

"You ought to take that girl shopping for some new clothes. It looks like the only place she goes is the D.I," my father says. My mother smacks him.

"Shut up, Phil, that's probably all she can afford. But I agree, I'm sure she doesn't have much, so take her to the mall and spoil her a bit. I'll send you some money tomorrow," my mother says. I shake my head.

"I have a job now, mom. You don't have to give me money for everything," I say.

"Oh believe me, soon I won't. But you've only been there a few weeks, so I know you've only gotten one paycheck, and that should go straight into savings. If you really like this girl, you'd better save up for your own place, so you two can have your privacy," my mother says.

"Mom, you're moving way too fast. We've just barely started dating, and she wouldn't be staying here if it weren't absolutely necessary. We aren't doing anything that we would need privacy for, and I don't know when or if she would be comfortable moving out with me. It ended up badly for her the last time she moved out with someone," I say.

"Nonsense. We aren't getting any younger, son. Every relationship moves at its own pace. Why, I married your father after only three months of being together!" my mother exclaims.

"That's because he was going to war, and that was way back in the day when it was normal to marry so fast into a relationship. This is the twenty-first century, ma. Things are different," I say.

"Regardless, saving to move out is still a good idea. Then, if she decides she wants to be serious, you have the funds to move out when she's ready," my father says.

"I guess so," I say, yawning. Lily comes back out in the nightgown, holding her clothes in her arms. She looks absolutely adorable. It's hard for me not to stare. My mind wanders down the gutter so I force myself to look away towards the guest bedroom.

"Your room is this way," I mumble, leading her to the room. My mother had already put new sheets and a blanket on the bed for her.

"Are you okay?" Lily asks, making me jump.

"Me? Yeah, I'm fine," I say.

"You're just quieter than usual," she says. Shit, of course she notices how weird I'm acting, but that's because I can't get these perverted thoughts out of my head!

"You just look really cute in that nightgown," I say.

"And so you can't figure out how to talk to me?" she asks quizzically.

"Uh, yeah, pretty much," I say. She chuckles.

"You're having dirty thoughts, aren't you?" she asks, causing my face to heat up.

"What? No, of course not," I say.

"Mhm sure," she says, kissing my cheek. "I'm going to bed now."

"I really wasn't, Lily," I say. I know she won't believe me, but it's worth a try.

"Goodnight, Milo," she says. I let out a small sigh.

"Night. I'll see you in the morning," I say. I head up to my room, throwing off my clothes. I'd been sweating the entire time. She can read me too easily, it's not fair. But, I'm proud of her. She's come so far, and to see how much she's grown over such a short time is an incredible feeling. Finally, I feel like I have a purpose. Lily is my purpose.

Before Lily, it felt like I was drifting through life. No job, no college. Sure, I have friends, but they all screw around as much as I do, and frankly, spending time with them felt draining. But then I saw her at the library and though it may have started as an obsession, it turned into more of a clingy attraction.

I wasn't sure how to feel about it at first. I was getting to know her, trying to get in her good graces, but I wondered how it would make me feel about myself. I felt like I was going a little soft. If Lily hadn't been at the party, I would have hit up the hard liquor and the weed, but I felt like I needed to protect her, and it was a good thing, too. How would our relationship have changed if I wasn't sober enough to confront Kolby? Knowing what she's been through with Connor, she would have never forgiven me.

But being where we are now, seeing the happiness radiate through her as she's able to be herself and tease me without fear is the biggest reward. And I even got a job out of it. What more could a guy ask for?