Crossing hearts

Chapter 16

As they settled into the car, a heavy silence enveloped them. Lily stared out the window, lost in her thoughts, when Zane broke the quiet. "Are you okay?" he asked softly, glancing at her with concern etched on his face.

Lily sighed, turning to him. "I don't want to deal with anyone right now. I just want to be alone."

Zane reached out, his hand gently brushing against hers. "Come with me to my house. You might feel better there."

She hesitated for a moment, feeling the weight of her emotions. But something in Zane's gaze drew her in, and she found herself nodding. "Okay."

As they arrived at his home, Lily felt a mix of apprehension and curiosity. They stepped inside, and she gave a gentle smile to the maid, who returned her greeting with warmth. Together, they made their way upstairs, the atmosphere heavy with unspoken tension.

Once inside Zane's room, he closed the door behind them and turned to her, his expression softening. "Lily, can I ask you something?"

"Yeah, go ahead," she replied, trying to steady her racing heart.

"Did you break up with Colin because of me?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

She felt a knot tighten in her stomach. "I don't know," she admitted, her voice wavering. "But one thing I'm sure of is that I don't feel the same way about you as I do about Colin. With you, it's different. I'm drawn to you."

Zane's brow furrowed. "But you should be with Colin. He's good for you."

Lily snapped at him, her emotions boiling over. "What are you talking about? Stop seeing yourself as less than what you are! You're so much more than that."

He looked away, visibly hurt by her words. "Just because you don't know me..."

"Then tell me about you, Zane," she insisted, stepping closer, her heart aching for him.

He took a deep breath, his walls crumbling. "For starters, I killed my father."

Lily froze, the weight of his confession crashing over her. She had heard the rumors but hearing it from him felt like a gut punch. "What do you mean?" she urged, her voice trembling.

Zane's eyes filled with tears, the pain spilling over as he began to share his truth. "He was abusive. He'd hit me every other day, drunk and angry. One day, he came at me with a knife, and I... I didn't know what to do. In self-defense, I... I ended up stabbing him."

Lily's heart shattered for him. "Oh, Zane..." she whispered, stepping closer.

He continued, his voice breaking. "I remember standing there, blood everywhere, knife in my hand, and him lying dead on the floor. I didn't mean to! I was just a kid trying to survive!"

Without thinking, Lily wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly as tears streamed down his face. "It's not your fault, Zane. You were just trying to protect yourself," she reassured him, her heart aching for the burden he carried.

He buried his face in her shoulder, allowing himself to feel vulnerable for the first time. "I don't know how to live with this," he admitted, his voice muffled against her.

"You're not alone anymore," Lily promised, feeling the weight of their shared pain. "I'm here for you, no matter what."

Zane took a deep breath, still feeling the weight of their shared confessions hanging in the air. He looked at Lily, a mixture of gratitude and vulnerability in his gaze. "Can I just stay like this for a little while?" he asked softly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Lily smiled gently, brushing a stray hair from his forehead. "Of course. For however long you want," she replied, her heart swelling at the intimacy of the moment.

Zane nestled closer into her arms, resting his head against her shoulder. The warmth of her body felt like a safe haven, a refuge from the chaos that often surrounded them. As they sat together, the world outside faded into the background, leaving only the sound of their synchronized breathing.

Minutes turned into an eternity as they lingered in this comforting embrace. The silence was filled with unspoken words, a bond growing stronger between them with each passing second.

Eventually, Zane's eyelids grew heavy, the exhaustion from their emotional conversation settling in. He let out a soft sigh, his body relaxing completely against her. Lily watched as his breathing deepened, a peaceful expression washing over his features.

With a tender smile, she stroked his hair lightly, feeling an overwhelming sense of affection. "Sleep, Zane," she murmured, her voice soothing. "You deserve it."

And just like that, they drifted off together, wrapped in each other's warmth, both feeling safe and protected in a world that had often been anything but.