Beth smiled and hurried back to the bikes. “Sorry I took so long.” Getting on behind Razer, she noticed Shade had cut his lip, but the drone of the other bikers leaving distracted her from asking if there had been trouble, Beth reminded herself to ask Razer later. Another hour ride and they pulled up in front of Lily’s dorm. The men patiently waited outside as Beth went inside to surprise Lily.
It took several knocks before Lily opened her door, only answered after Beth called her name.
“Beth.” Lily threw herself into her sister’s arms.
“Lily, what’s going on?” Concerned, Beth drew her sister inside her room and sat her sister down in the only chair in the small room.
“Nothing.” Giving a lie to her words, she burst into tears.
“Don’t tell me nothing is wrong. I want the truth Lily,” Beth said firmly.
“I just don’t fit in here, Beth. All the girls hate me, and the boys just stare, it creeps me out. I wanted to come home, but you said I couldn’t.”
Beth felt terrible. Because she had tried to protect Lily from whomever was trying to kill her, she had wanted Lily to stay at college until it was safe, but she could see that had been the wrong move. She should have come down and spent the weekend with her. Lily had to have stability in her life, if anything changed, it frightened her. Beth’s father’s rules had stymied Beth’s emotional growth, but the same rules had been a lifesaver for Lily, giving her the feeling of being protected and loved.
Beth had carefully been working on loosening the control Lily needed while at the same time trying to encourage her to spread her wings. Instead, it had made Lily feel lost and alone in a new environment. She wasn’t flourishing, she was retreating.
“Well, I am here today. We are going to go out to lunch and do a little shopping.”
Lily’s bright smile rewarded her efforts.
“Let me get my purse.” Lily threw herself in Beth arms, this time with a beautiful smile. “I am so happy you came to see me. I have missed you so much.” As Lily let Beth go, she grabbed her purse from the desk. Beth took her sister’s hand.
“I didn’t exactly come alone. A couple of friends brought me.”
“Evie?” Lily liked Evie, developing a guarded friendship.
“No, Razer and Shade. You remember the men who gave us a ride home when you were released from the hospital?”
“Why would they bring you?”
“Well, I am kind of seeing Razer. I really like him Lily and I want you to like him also. I swear they won’t do anything to make you uncomfortable or I wouldn’t have let them come.” Lily trusted her sister, even the thought of being near the two men made her sick. Beth never asked anything of her in return for taking care of her. If Beth wanted her to get to know her friends, then it was important that she try.
“Then I am sure I will like him too.” Lily squeezed her sister’s hand in return.
“Good.”
When the women walked outside hand in hand, Razer and Shade could only stare. Still just as awestruck by their beauty as they had the first time they had seen them together. One was so light and golden, her smile as bright as the sun. Her loving nature was obvious as she held her sister’s nervous hand. The other, a dark enigma, that only let her guard down when she looked at her sister. The students walking by stopped, appreciating the beauty walking among them. The female students on the other hand were not as appreciative.
“Bet you a six pack those bitches hate her guts,” Shade muttered.
Shade let his gaze catch several of the men and women and they all soon hurried on their way, smart enough to know they were out of their league.
Beth smiled at Razer and Shade.
“Lily, you remember Razer and Shade.”
“Hello.”
“I told Lily we could go eat lunch. Maybe a little shopping if it won’t put you guys out.”
“Not at all. You girls climb on the bikes.”
Beth climbed on the back of Razer’s bike, but started to get back off, noticing Lily had not moved. Razer’s hand on her thigh stopped her.
“Stay put.”
“Come here, Lily.” Shade ordered.
Lily’s body tautened and she threw a wild look at her sister. Before Beth could do anything, Shade threw his extra helmet at her.
“Get on the bike. I’m hungry, move that sweet ass or I’ll put you on the bike myself.”
Lily got on the bike, putting on the helmet as Shade started the bike. They pulled out with a roar of motors. The restaurant was small with a family atmosphere, they sat talking until the waitress started throwing them dirty looks.
Afterwards, they drove to the small strip mall, the sisters wandered around arm in arm window-shopping, occasionally going inside one of the small stores. Razer and Shade sat on their bikes, keeping a close eye on the women. They came out of one shop with several bags laughing, then when they saw the guys they stopped.
“What wrong?”Razer asked.
“How are we going to get the bags to campus?” Razer and Shade split the bags between them, loading the bags of clothes into their saddlebags. One bag dropped and a waterfall of colorful underwear fell to the pavement.