Tiny's Sweet Obsession

71: Ride or Die

Tiny POV

We drove ten minutes to an apartment complex between the bakery and the clubhouse. I pulled into a parking spot and helped Lily off the bike and out of her helmet. Holding her hand, we walked into the leasing office.

"Hi, glad to see you again!" she beamed, and Lily tensed. It's not what you think, Sunshine.

I glanced at Lily, kissed her head, and gently squeezed her hand before returning my attention to the lady. "Thank you. Is everything ready?" I asked, a bit too curtly.

The woman went to her desk, pulled out a set of keys, and handed them to me, but they weren't for me. I placed them in Lily's hand and watched the shock and confusion wash over her face as she turned them over, weighing them, almost as if she didn't believe it was real. My heart pounded as I waited for Lily to decide if I was the world's worst boyfriend or the best.

Eventually, a small smile appeared, and I could breathe again. Lily stared at me as the front office lady handed me a "welcome home" packet, and we got back in her car and drove around to Lily's new home. Silence stretched between us, but Lily took my hand, and when I hit the garage door, Lily laughed and shook her head.

"What?" I asked, amused. Lily just shook her head, and I pulled into the spot.

We climbed to the second floor and stopped in front of apartment 211. I leaned down to her ear and whispered, "It's yours." Lily shivered. Fucking cute.

Lily stuck the key in the keyhole and turned it, pushing open the door, and I heard a small gasp. It wasn't anything big or special, but I wanted Lily to have a place of her own, where it was away from the chaotic clubhouse and soon-to-be busy coffee shop. A place where she can be free to do and be whatever she wants while, of course, still safe.

Gears and I picked the second floor, knowing any higher could be problematic if there was a fire, and the bottom gives anyone easy access to the apartment. Hawk helped me set up a security system with cameras and an alarm system, and we replaced all the locks. Plus, there was a panic button in each room, just for good measure. Hawk said I was going overboard, but I didn't care, I'd go to any length to keep my girl safe.

I watched Lily walk around the living room, which was on the smaller side due to the larger kitchen I wanted her to have. The kitchen had a small island, which gave her more counter space to work with. She opened all the cupboards and cabinets and found it fully stoked thanks to Whiskey and Kayla.

Next, she disappeared into the bedroom, and I anxiously waited in the living room. When she returned, tears were streaming down her cheeks. I crossed the room and wrapped her in my arms.

Did she hate what the girls, and I, picked out? Did she not want her own place? Am I moving too fast?

After a few minutes, Lily pulled away, and I wiped the last of her tears, searching her pale, blue eyes for answers.

"I'm sorry," she sniffled. "I'm just a little overwhelmed. First the car, then the bakery, and now all of this," she choked out as a new set of tears escaped.

"Hey," I whispered, pulling her against my chest, and I rubbed her back. "I know it's a lot, but there is nothing I or your new family wouldn't do for you."

I scooped Lily into my arms and sat on the couch with her in my lap. After a while, her breathing evened out, and I grabbed the TV remote and turned on her favorite baking show. We watched a few episodes before Lily fell asleep. I turned down the volume and decided I would figure out dinner while she napped.

After searching the kitchen, I texted the old ladies, asking for a simple recipe for chicken and rice, to which they panicked. But after several pinky promises to not burn down the new apartment, or make a mess, they sent me several options, and I settled on sticky chicken and rice. The rice was wetter than the picture showed, but was edible. Ish.

I was fighting with the Instapot, gripping it with all my might to get the lid off, when a tall, gorgeous, sleepy brunette appeared, and I gave her a weak smile. She laughed and shook her head, stepped over to me, and flicked the little knob on the top of the lid to the side, and hot steam sprouted from the lid, causing me to jump back and Lily to laugh.

"I knew that! I was just making sure no one could...um..." I glanced at the stupid pot, thinking of something cool to say.

"Break into it?" she offered, giggling.

Lily grabbed the bowls and I served us dinner before sitting on the couch to finish the episode she started earlier. The rice was definitely crunchy, but Lily said nothing and ate most of it. We spent the rest of the night watching TV and talking until Lily started falling asleep on the couch again.

We got ready for bed, and the thought of leaving Lily alone worried me. But if she wanted me to go, then I would respect it and go. But I wouldn't leave the parking lot.

Blue eyes stared at me as I stood in the bedroom doorway. "Are you coming to bed?" she asked, patting the empty spot next to her. I sighed, relieved, pulled off my shirt, kicked off my shoes, and crawled in next to her, pulling her body into mine.

"Luke?" Lily whispered, and my heart melted hearing my name fall from her lips. 

"Yes, Sunshine," I said, kissing her forehead.

"Promise me you'll stay. Not just tonight, but..." she trailed off and looked up at me.

Pushing a strand of hair behind her ear, I whispered, "I hate to break it to you, but the moment you put on the cut, claiming you as my old lady, that was your promise of forever. It's you and me for the rest of my life. I promise."

Lily buried her head in my chest and sniffled. "But what if I'm not ready for marriage? Or kids like Ginger or Kayla?" she mumbled.

"Sunshine," I said, pulling back. "Look at me, please." She slowly looked up at me and I smiled. "I want to take my time, get to know you, and move at a pace that fits us. We're still young and I am in no rush to get married and have kids. My brothers and their wives moved fast, which is okay, but I'd rather move at a pace that fits us."

"So, you won't be upset if we don't get married for a few years, or don't have kids right away...or maybe ever?" she asked.

I let out a sigh of relief and smiled, while Lily stared at me, surprised. "Look, I love my brothers and their kids, but I am far from ready and I wasn't even sure if I wanted them to begin with. Having Ellie and Callie around has been great, and I love them, but I'm not sure I want that. At least not yet. Call me selfish," I smirked, pulling Lily closer, "but I don't want to share you with anyone for a while."

Lily giggled, "You sound like one of the cheesy rom-com movies you watch with us girls."

"Cheesy or not, it's true. I want you to myself, and if that means we don't have kids now, or ever, that's okay with me. As long as you're happy and feel loved, then that's all I could ever ask for," I smiled.

Lily smuggled into my chest, closed her eyes, and I felt at peace.

This is all I want for the rest of my life. Lily has gone through more than most, yet she goes through life bringing life and light to everyone around her, and I wouldn't want anyone else to be my ride or die.