Taming Lily (The Fowler Sisters #3)(66)

Those horrible, reputation-ruining, there’s-absolutely-no-mistaking-it’s-me photos.

My family is going to shit their pants if they’re ever made public. Daddy will disown me, Grandma will probably have a heart attack, and disappointing Violet and Rose … I don’t know if I can handle it.

And I have no one to blame but myself.

I scream into my palms as loud as I can but I don’t feel any better. My head is pounding, my hands are shaking, and if Max appeared in front of me right at this very instant, I would probably kick him in the face before I rammed my knee into his balls.

The violent thought doesn’t satisfy me one bit.

My cell phone rings, startling me, and I drop my hands to check the screen to see who’s calling.

Rose.

Dread churning in my stomach, I answer with a tentative hello, praying the shit hasn’t already hit the fan. Could it happen that fast? With the speed of information these days, yeah, it probably could. My naked ass could be up on a Times Square billboard for all I know.

“What are you doing?” Rose asks cheerily, like nothing’s wrong.

Which means nothing is wrong, right?

“Nothing much,” I say, my voice tentative. “Just … messing around on my computer.”

“Not changing anyone’s grades up, huh?” Rose laughs. She knows what I used to do; she’s heard all the old stories. “You don’t do that sort of thing anymore, right?”

“Actually …” I swallow hard, not sure how much I should confess. Or if I should confess anything in the first place.

“Lily, you’re not up to any trouble, are you?” Rose’s voice changes in an instant, full of worry and concern.

“No,” I say quickly—too quickly. “Why? Is something going on?” My entire body goes stiff waiting for her reply.

“No, I just … I don’t know.” Rose’s voice lowers, as if she’s telling me a deep, dark secret. “Caden says I’ve been jumping to conclusions lately and that’s unlike me. He feels like he’s always on the defensive when we talk, even about stuff like the weather. I told him I have no idea what he’s referring to.”

Now it’s my turn to worry. What if Rose’s handsome, charming devil of a husband is up to no good? “Is he acting suspicious?”

“No, no, no. He’s like, perfect. Almost too overprotective, but I have no business complaining about that, right? He loves me.” Rose sighs. “That’s the weird thing. It’s all me. I’m the one who’s acting freaky. I know exactly what Caden’s talking about, but half the time I pretend I don’t have a clue.”

My sister is making little sense. “Are you okay, Rosie? Seriously. You’re not acting right.”

“I know, tell me all about it. I blame the baby. The little monster is making me crazy,” Rose whispers. “I love my future little booger, but listen to me! I sound like I’m insane.”

She does. I can’t explain it, but I feel like she’s talking in circles and I can’t keep up. Though I’m thankful for the conversation because it takes the heat off me and focuses on crazy, pregnant Rose.

“The real reason I called is I wanted to go out to breakfast.” Rose pauses. “And I want you to go with me.”

“Okay.” I draw the word out, feeling unsettled. “When?”

“Now? Are you dressed? I’m already in a cab, headed toward your building.”

I glance down at myself. I’m wearing skimpy little sleep shorts and a tank top. My hair is a mess and I’d bet I have raccoon eyes since I slept in my makeup from yesterday.

If Grandma knew, she would have an absolute fit.

“I’ll need a few minutes,” I tell her. “Do you want to meet somewhere?”

“Yes, that little bakery down the street from your building.” Rose sighs. “They have the best cupcakes.”

“Are you talking about Piece of Cake?” They have good coffee at least. “And a cupcake for breakfast? Gross.”

“I’m craving frosting. Don’t judge.”

Double gross. Being pregnant is making my sister weird. “Give me twenty minutes.”

“Perfect, see you there.”

“OH. MY. GOD.” Rose sinks her teeth into the biggest cupcake I’ve ever seen, topped with a thick layer of pink frosting. She’s chewing slowly, like she’s savoring every bite, and she closes her eyes, a little moan falling from her lips that makes me vaguely uncomfortable.

As if she’s finding some sort of weird erotic pleasure from eating the cupcake.

“That good, huh?” I squirm in my seat, look anywhere but at my dreamy-eyed sister as she licks her fingers and then wipes them with a napkin.

“Thank God you showed up when you did. I was about to buy a dozen of these suckers to go and head back home.” Rose stares at her cupcake like she’s going to attack it. I seriously hope she reconsiders. “How’s your muffin?”

I bought a blueberry muffin but I’m not hungry. I pick at it, pinch a crumble off the top and then let it drop on my plate. “I’m not that hungry.”

“Hmm.” She eyes my plate hungrily, then returns her attention to hers, swooping her finger into the frosting. “What’s bugging you, Lily?”