Love In Between(27)

––––––––

As we walked back to the part of the beach where everyone had been playing volleyball, I couldn’t stop thinking about holding Lily. It felt right, and it scared me to think of us being more than just friends. My feelings were growing for her, and holding her the way I did to comfort her, intensified those feelings. Her warm skin against mine felt incredible, and it stirred up emotions that I haven’t had in a long time. We reached our friends as the volleyball game was ending; I saw Sam walk over to Gretchen and kiss her on the lips.

“Break it up, you two, or go get a room.” I smiled.

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t Mr. Matthews and Miss Gilmore. Where did the two of you go off to?” Sam asked with a smirk on his face.

“I showed Lily the cove. She wanted to take some pictures,” I replied.

Sam gave me a strange look, and I knew why; he was surprised because that cove was where I practically lived after the accident. I shrugged my shoulders and walked away. It felt right taking Lily there. I wanted her to get some great pictures.

“Let’s cook some lunch!” I yelled to everyone.

I started the grill, and Sam got out the hot dogs and hamburgers. I put them on and stood there, watching them cook.

“I’m proud of you, man,” Sam said.

“No big deal, bro. Leave it alone.”

He patted me on the back and smiled; then Lucky came walking over and stood next to me while I grilled the food.

“Dude, don’t forget about our gig tonight.”

“I haven’t forgotten.”

“What gig?” Lily asked as she walked up.

Lucky put his arm around her. “Lukey boy didn’t tell you that we have a band, and that we occasionally play at Bernie’s?”

“No, he didn’t tell me,” she replied as she shot me a look.

“To be honest, I really didn’t think about it,” I said in my defense.

“Tell me you’ll be joining us tonight and listening to the lovely Luke sing his heart out?” Lucky smirked.

“You sing?” Lily asked.

Shit, I wanted to kill Lucky. “A little.” I smiled.

“We’ll have to talk about this later; I see Giselle coming,” Lily said as she walked away.

“Hot damn! Another hottie coming my way. Later, man,” Lucky said as went to check out Giselle.

I rolled my eyes and continued to grill the food. Moments later, Lily came up beside me with a plate in her hand. “I thought you might need this,” she said.

“Thanks,” I said as I took it from her and put the hot dogs and hamburgers on it. We walked over to the picnic table, and as I set the plate down next to the other food, the gang started lining up, so I walked back to grill some more. Lily followed me.

“Go eat,” I said.

“I will. I want to wait for you.” She smiled. “I want to know more about this band you have.”

“It’s no big deal. Bernie’s is the bar Maddie works at. I play guitar and sing a couple of songs every once in a while. Sam plays on the keyboard, and Lucky’s the drummer.”

“That’s cool. I’m surprised you never mentioned it.”

“I guess I didn’t think about it,” I said.

“What’s your band’s name?” Lily asked.

I froze because I didn’t want to explain it. I wasn’t ready to open that door and walk down that road with her.

“Well?”

I took in a deep breath. “The band’s called ‘Love In Between’.”

“Cool name. How did you come up with it?”

“You know what, Lily; you really should go eat. Don’t wait for me.”

“Oh, ok,” she said before walking away.

I could tell by the look on her face that I had hurt her feelings, so I turned around and watched her walk back to the table. Now, I felt like shit. Damn it. I didn’t want to hurt her feelings, but I just can’t talk about anything to do with Callie. It still hurts too much.

I finished grilling the second round of hamburgers and hot dogs then walked over to the table. I sat down and stared at Lily as she sat in the sand across from my friend, Jasper, who was playing guitar. They were talking, and then he handed her his guitar. I watched her as she strummed each chord. She looked amazing with a guitar. As I sat there, watching her, Gretchen came over, grabbed a hot dog and sat down next to me.

“She’s pretty amazing with the guitar. She gets it from her father,” Gretchen said.

“I’ve only heard her play a couple of times.”

“Well, I’ll ask her to play later. I know you don’t want to hear this, but I’m saying it anyway. Sam told me about the accident and Callie, and I’m really sorry for your loss. I was there with Lily when she found out about Hunter and Brynn. I saw the look of pain and betrayal on her face, and I was there the whole night, holding her and telling her that everything’s going to be ok. I’ve never seen someone so hurt in my life, that is, until I met you.”

I turned and looked at her. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?” I asked.

“It means that the first time I saw you, I saw the same look on your face that I see on Lily’s every day. She puts up a good front, but deep inside, she’s dying, and not only because of what Hunter did, but because of her family, including her father. I see that in you.”