Chapter 172 Lilian Baker

Chapter 172 Lilian Baker

The next morning, I decided that avoiding Martha was going to be my greatest achievement of the day.

I woke up earlier than usual.

Not because I was eager to get to school. Not because I had suddenly become a morning person. I just didn't want to run into my mother.

After yesterday's argument, I wasn't ready for another conversation. I wasn't ready for her questions, her disappointment, or the tears I had seen in her eyes before I walked away.

So I moved around the house like a mouse. I even checked the hallway twice before stepping outside.

I was closing the door when I heard my name.

"Lily!"

I froze.

Then I turned.

Pat was leaning out of the passenger window of Kim's car, waving enthusiastically.

"Get in!"

I smiled with relief.

"Thank God."

I hurried toward them.

Pat opened the door for me.

"Good morning, runaway girl."

I climbed in.

"Don't start."

Kim looked at me through the rearview mirror. "You really had a bad night."

"You have no idea."

I settled into the seat and sighed.

Last night, I made an arrangement with Kim and Pat because I didn't want to ride with Andrew.

He was another problem I had decided to avoid.

Things between us were already complicated enough. The thought of sitting in the same car with him as if nothing had happened felt impossible.

And after what happened, I wasn't sure I could look at him without remembering his words.

Pat turned around.

"So..."

I already knew what was coming.

"Don't."

"I didn't say anything."

"Your face did."

Kim laughed. "She's right."

Pat shrugged. "We'll leave it for now."

I smiled.

"Thank you."

My phone vibrated.

Lewis.

I stared at his name for a moment before answering.

"Hello?"

"Morning sunshine."

His voice immediately made me smile.

"Morning moonshine."

"Where are you?"

"I'm in the car with Kim and Pat."

There was a brief pause.

"You're not riding with us?"

I hesitated.

I could tell him about the storm… about my conversation with his brother.

But I couldn't.

Whatever was happening between Andrew and me...

It was going to remain a secret, especially from Lewis. He already had enough reasons to believe our fake relationship was complicated. I didn't need to add another layer.

"I just decided to ride with the girls today."

"Okay."

He didn't question it.

That was one thing I appreciated about Lewis. He didn't always push.

"Actually..."

He continued.

"I was thinking."

"That's dangerous."

He laughed.

"Very funny."

"So what were you thinking about?"

"I want you to come to practice today."

"Practice?"

"Yeah."

"I have basketball practice with the team and I want you there."

"Why?"

"Because you're my girlfriend."

I rolled my eyes even though he couldn't see me.

"Don't worry," Lewis continued. "I'm not asking you to do anything crazy. Just come, meet the team, watch us practice, then we can grab something afterward."

I opened my mouth to give him an excuse but Andrew's voice returned to my mind.

"Try looking at Lewis the way you've been looking at me."

I hated that sentence. I hated how much it had stayed with me.

I looked out the window.

Maybe Andrew was right about one thing.

Maybe I had been so focused on what I couldn't have that I hadn't given myself a chance to see what was already in front of me.

Lewis was kind, funny and patient. He had been willing to help me when I needed it. He had never forced me to return his feelings.

Maybe I owed him a genuine chance even if I wasn't ready to call it love.

"Okay."

Lewis went silent.

"Okay?"

I smiled.

"Yes."

"You'll come?"

"I'll come."

"Seriously?"

"Seriously."

His excitement was almost childish.

"Great!"

I laughed.

"You sound like you just won the championship."

"Better."

"Why?"

"Because you'll be there."

I shook my head. "You're ridiculous."

"I know."

“See you soon, moonshine."

The call ended after that.

I stared at my phone with a faint smile on my lips.

Pat raised an eyebrow.

"So..."

"So what?"

"You're so in love," she said with a smile.

Only if she knew what I was going through. Only if she knew the only thing I was in was not love, but a state of dilemma.

When we arrived at school, I expected the usual whispers. What I didn't expect was the attention.

The moment I stepped out of the car, several students turned toward me.

Then I saw Lewis. He was standing near the school entrance, waiting.

The second he saw me, his face lit up.

He walked toward us.

"Good morning."

"Morning."

He smiled at Pat and Kim before looking back at me. Then, without hesitation, he held out his hand.

I looked at it.

For a brief second, I remembered Andrew. Then I remembered what he'd told me.

Look at Lewis the way you look at me.

I slowly placed my hand in Lewis's. His fingers closed around mine. We started walking toward the entrance. And immediately, some students brought out their phones.

"What is happening?"

Lewis laughed.

"We are happening."

"Why are people taking pictures?"

"Because we are the celebrity couple of the school."

Celebrity couple of the school?

A group of students whispered nearby. Another girl smiled and gave us a thumbs-up. The whispers weren't negative this time.

Some people were actually smiling. A few students complimented us. Someone said we looked cute together. Another person said they were happy Lewis had finally gotten the girl he liked.

I looked at him. His smile had become almost impossible to hide.

"What exactly did I miss?" I asked him.

He didn't answer immediately.

I squeezed his hand gently.

Still smiling, he said, “ someone asked about my girlfriend yesterday. And I told them she was resting because she got cramps.”

At first, I thought it was thoughtful. Making up excuses for me has been thoughtful of him. But my mind drifted to cramps.

Please, what kind of cramps?

Wait! What?

My eyes widened as realization dawned on me.

I looked at him again. “What kind of cramps?

He was still smiling.

"Lewis,” I whispered.

"Women cramps,” he whispered back.

Oh my god, what did this boy do?

Actually, what he did had a positive result. But people now think I had menstrual cramps a day before showing up hand in hand with my boyfriend.

Maybe this wasn't so bad.

When we reached the entrance, Lewis squeezed my hand.

"Don't forget."

"Forget what?"

"Practice."

"I might," I teased.

"Lily!"

"I'll see you later," I finally said.

He smiled.

"I'll miss you, sunshine," he said before walking away.

I stood there watching him for a moment.

I knew this relationship was fake. I knew there was a secret I was carrying that could complicate everything. And I knew there was someone else whose confession I was trying desperately to forget.

But that morning, I made a decision.

I would give Lewis a chance.

Not because Andrew told me to. Not because I wanted to make Andrew jealous. Not because I wanted to prove anything.

But because I owed myself the chance to discover what Lewis and I could become if I actually tried harder.