“I understand, Sir.”
As his hand released her jaw, Shade got to his feet, going out the door without another word.
Lily sat there for several minutes, wishing she hadn’t lost her temper. In a matter of minutes, Shade had ripped her icy detachment away, leaving her raw and hurting.
Any woman who wanted his vote needed her head examined.
Chapter 12
Lily had dinner waiting for Beth and Razer when they came through the door. She could tell they weren’t surprised to see her, which wasn’t all that shocking.
They ate dinner with Beth asking about her classes. Lily answered her questions, but she continued to keep the barrier between them; the same barrier she had put up against Razer.
While Beth was trying to be over friendly, Razer made no attempt to hide his anger at her. Lily didn’t blame him, either. It was obvious Beth was hurting. Lily just couldn’t reach out to her yet.
After dinner, Lily got up to clean the table.
“I’ll help.”
“I’ve got it. You go ahead and get ready.”
Beth looked her in the eye while Razer put his arm around her shoulder.
“Go, Beth. There’s no reason to sit around the house, bored to death. Besides, I have a test to study for.”
“I don’t want to go,” Beth said.
Lily sighed, ignoring Razer’s angry glare. This was between Beth and her, and while he was angry, it was up to them to settle the problem.
Lily sat back down at the table, facing the couple, doing what she hadn’t been capable of doing a couple of weeks ago. Her buried emotions allowed her to discuss the situation detachedly.
“Beth, you enjoy being a member of The Last Riders and their lifestyle. That’s your personal business. That’s what I tried to tell Miranda about Kaley. You should never take what I think or feel into consideration when it’s something you want to do.”
“Lily—” Beth protested.
“I am not a child any longer. I have to become more self-sufficient without you, as you are without me.” Her fingertips went to the rubber band on her wrist.
The couple didn’t say anything this time, listening.
“I think it’s best, after your house is built, we sell this house and you keep the money. I have several job applications in and enough money saved up from working this summer that I can rent an apartment.”
“Sweetheart, I’m not selling your home,” Beth said firmly.
“It’s not my home; it’s your home. You worked and paid off our parents’ debt. You’ve paid for this house. It’s yours.”
“It’s ours.”
Lily shook her head, getting to her feet. “I don’t have a home.”
“Are you deliberately trying to hurt her?” Razer snapped.
“I’m not trying to hurt Beth, Razer. I’m trying to set her free.”
Lily went upstairs, leaving the couple staring at each other.
When she came back down later to study, Beth and Razer were still home despite Lily’s protests. She made herself stay downstairs, studying at the kitchen table. She didn’t want them to feel like she was avoiding them.
She had trouble concentrating, thinking about Shade at the clubhouse. She was constantly flipping the band on her wrist when her thoughts would inadvertently go to him.
Finally giving up, she said goodnight and went to bed.
The next morning she was dressed and gone before Razer and Beth could wake. She left a note that said she was going to the church.
She got there early enough that Rachel hadn’t arrived yet. Lily felt guilty seeing that Rachel had made good progress on sorting through the donations without her.
She started going through several boxes, managing to empty several before she heard Rachel coming in the door.
“Well, hello, Lily.”
“Hi, Rachel.” Lily smiled without her usual warmth.
“I’m glad you’re here. I don’t mind the work, but it’s not fun talking to myself.”
“I’m sorry I left you in a lurch. I should have told Pastor Dean and made arrangements for someone to replace me.”
Rachel looked at her curiously. “Beth said you went back to school and she offered to help, but I told her no. She keeps busy enough. Pastor Dean offered to find someone else, but I was too afraid of who he would replace you with.” Rachel shuddered in mock horror.
Lily couldn’t blame her; some of the women from the church would be hard to be around for several hours at a time.
“Well, I’m here today,” Lily said, trying to infuse enthusiasm in her voice.
They worked steadily for the next few hours before going to the diner for lunch. They returned to work again after the short break.
“How’s school going?”
“Good,” Lily replied, opening a box of clothing.
“I thought you had decided to stay home your last semester?”
“I changed my mind,” Lily replied.
“Did you and Beth get in a fight?” Rachel asked in surprise.
“Not exactly.”