Lily Hates Me: A Love Story — Chapter 12

After school, I went to my dad's shop to help him with his work. He owned a small fishing supplies store by our house. It wasn't much but it earned us money to pay bills and food. Unless he blew it on alcohol first.

I worked on restocking the shelf for a few hours then did some inventory. The doorbell rang indicating we had a customer.

A good looking man about 45 ish came inside the store and looked around.

"Can I help you find something sir?" Dad asked.

"Just need some good baits for catching trouts." he smiled.

His smile looked very familiar. Have I met him before?

"Well don't just stand there, help him find what he is looking for!" Dad barked at me.

I stood up and went to grab the box of baits and handed it to the man. He took it from me and smiled again. He had kind blue eyes which also looked very familiar.

"Thank you young man. You go to school around here?" he asked.

"Yes sir," I replied politely. "Greenville High."

"Oh? My two kids also attend school there. You probably know them. Ryan and Lily? I'm Matthew Williams." he said and shook my hand.

Fuck...this is their father? I hope Ryan didn't tell him about how much I tormented him.

"Yes sir.. I know your daughter...and your son," I quickly added.

He smiled. "They are great kids. My pride and joy. I'm sure your father feels the same way about you."

I highly doubt that.

"Yes...Lily is very sweet." I said quietly.

His eyes turned gentle at the mention of her name. "Yes, she is a very special person. She has been taking care of Ryan ever since he was little. I really appreciate her help considering the state he is in."

The state he is in? What was wrong with the twerp?

"What's wrong with Ryan?" I asked.

Lily's dad's eyes went dark. "He was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was little. It's a serious condition where your body won't accept insulin so he has to be on special medication and diet," he explained. "Lily has been taking good care of him, by watching his diet and making him take medicines, stuff like that. He also has a very bad stuttering problem so he has extreme self-esteem issues."

No wonder Lily was so protective over him, I thought. I felt a pang of guilt for giving that kid so much grief. I felt like a complete shithead.

"I'm sorry to hear that." I said quietly.

"Look at me just rambling off about my sob story." Lily's dad said. "I better go, you take care."

I got back to work after he left. Million thoughts running through my head. I made a mental note to be nicer to Ryan. We were all just fighting our demons and trying to survive. I wasn't completely heartless.

I craved Lily's touch all of a sudden. I know she said she didn't like me but I didn't believe her. When she looked at me I didn't see hatred, I saw tenderness.

After I left work, I decided to text her.

"Hey beautiful, wanna go somewhere and grab something to eat?" I texted.

I heard a ding on my phone, indicating I got a reply.

"No way! Not after what you just pulled at the cafeteria today." she said.

I smiled at my phone. She was still butthurt about my antique this morning which made it even funnier.

"Oh don't be a meanie, come out with me. I'm starving! I am so hungry I might just die. You don't want to be responsible for my death do you?" I texted back.

She sent me back a rolling eyes emoji.

"Pleeaasee!? I'll be a good boy I promise," I tried harder. Five minutes past but there was no reply. Then I heard the ding again.

"Fine," her text said and my smile got bigger.

I could care less about food. I just wanted to be alone with her again. My feelings were all over the place.

I drove to her house to pick her up. The same old woman opened the door. She gave me the same look of disgust, but this time, she opened the door wider and stepped aside.

"Come in, Lily is not ready yet." she said and I stepped in.

She started to leave but paused when I spoke.

"I'm Jacob, nice to meet you."

She scoffed. "I know who you are and I also know you are a no-good punk. I don't know why Lily is wasting her time on you."

I felt anger rising inside of me. How dare she judge me without even knowing me.

"I don't know what your problem is lady, but you don't know a thing about me." I said in a low voice.

"I know your type and I know you are not good enough for my Lily. I've raised that child since she was 2 years old and her heart is too pure to waste it on a thug like you," she said and glared at me.

I contained myself. I didn't want to lash out on an old woman.

"I don't care about your opinion. I only care about what Lily thinks of me. She is the only one I care about." I told her.

She stared at me with her eyes full of judgement but didn't say anything else when she saw Lily coming down the stairs.

She was wearing a red knitted sleeveless top with a pair of white shorts. Her hair was tied up into a messy bun. She looked adorable.

"Hey Valencia, I see you met Jacob." she chirped.

"Yes, we met." Valencia said, her cold eyes already changed into a loving motherly gaze.

"Valencia was just telling me how you dove into a bucket of lard in your underwear when you were a kid and she had to call the rescue team," I said with a straight face.

"No she didn't! Because that never happened you idiot." she giggled.

"She did too...she also told me how you love the smell of dirty socks you disgusting pig you." I smirked.

"Oh my God you are so weird! Val, make him stop." Lily giggled again, her eyes lit up and I felt my heart thump harder against my chest. I looked at Valencia who was observing us intently, her eyes didn't reflect the same hatred towards me as it did a few minutes ago.

"You kids have fun." She said and turned to me. "Take care of her," her eyes were much more gentle this time.

I nodded and took Lily's hand.