Always, Lily

▫️Thirty

LORENZO

Lilith's hands moved in the space around her as she demonstrated something to a customer who had just come in.

She walked him to every piece on sale, explaining what I couldn't hear from where I was standing.

Then she chuckled to something they were saying and I felt the urge to walk over when the male customer leaned closer, laughing along.

"What else can I do?" Alonzo called from the back, slightly distracting me from what was happening.

I didn't reply him, my attention shifting back to my girl who was still talking to the overly friendly man.

I glared at the dark blue coat the man was wearing to the skinny jeans and dark converse on his feet. I didn't like anything about him.

I knew this wasn't the right attitude for someone who had just opened their shop but why was this man staring at my girl?

I hated to admit that I was jealous. Her smile was warm and beautiful and I hated that some men might interpret it differently.

She was ever friendly. I remember obsessing over her smile during the first few weeks after we had met.

I still did.

I didn't want other men falling in love with her smile or anything in general, because I had.

"Smitten." Alonzo whispered as he tapped my shoulder, having come to the front of the store.

I didn't look at him but I could feel the amusement in his words. He didn't bother teasing me for peeking from this corner.

My undivided attention was on Lilith. The creep had finally settled on something to buy so they were a good distance apart.

As she finalized the transaction and had the contents boxed up, I couldn't help but admire her confidence and pose in handling all this.

She had told me that she was new to marketing and business but I found her so remarkable in taking care of the customers, the reason why I was working in the back.

"We need more boxes and tape," Alonzo spoke again and I turned to him. "I haven't finished compiling everything at the back."

He explained while showing me a pile on the corner that he was already done with.

"Lilith and I will handle the rest, thank you for today." I said, patting his shoulder in appreciation.

I knew he'd come to help today because he wasn't able to attend the short ceremony we had had with all our friends two days ago.

"You have plans?" He quickly switched off his phone and turned the other way when he saw me lean in.

"Work." He mumbled inaudibly, taking off his dark green apron. I shook my head at the tremor in his voice wondering, why would he be that tense about work?

"Right...work." I waited for him to turn to me after he'd done changing and when he didn't, I just patted his back one last time and left.

I knew there was someone.

It would take him some time to open up depending on the situation but this time I was glad he was embracing what he was feeling.

"Is everything okay at the back? I didn't hear you talking." Lilith beamed at me when I joined her at the front.

"We're done, Alonzo was just about to leave." My brother walked out just at that moment with his bag.

"Alonzo, thank you for being with us today. I'm grateful for all the work you've done for us." Lilith approached him just before he left.