Chapter 47 THE PLANK!
Lilian — POV
By the time the driver dropped me off, I felt like my bones were filled with sand.
He didn’t even say a word.
He just slowed the car, stopped in front of the house, and opened the door. No “goodnight.” No “take care.” Just a stiff nod like I was cargo that had finally reached its destination.
I stepped out, heels barely touching the pavement before the car pulled away. The red taillights disappeared down the street, leaving me standing there under the dim porch light, my body aching in places I didn’t even know could ache.. ”ugh jeez”
I dragged myself inside and locked the door behind me.
The silence hit immediately.
It wrapped around me, thick and heavy, like the house itself was holding its breath. I kicked off my shoes.
I didn’t even bother straightening them, and trudged upstairs. Every step felt like work. My side throbbed again a dull reminder of Jonah’s stupid plank and the elders’ even stupider sense of power.
I didn’t call Seraphine or even bother to text her, am too weak for that shit.
I didn’t do anything except fall face-first onto my bed.
“Ugh… I love you,” I groaned into my mattress as the soft fabric swallowed me whole.
For a moment .. just a moment..I let myself breathe.
Then I heard my name being screamed by an idiot I forgot I kept at home, “LILIAN!”
My eyes flew open.
I jolted upright so fast my head spun, heart slamming against my ribs like it had somewhere urgent to be. Jonah's voice came from downstairs, loud and insistent like something bad was about to happen.
“LILIAN!”
I groaned and dragged a hand down my face, blinking hard. My vision was cloudy, like sleep hadn’t fully let go of me yet. I swung my legs over the side of the bed and stood, stretching instinctively.
My back cracked loud.
“Fuck,” I muttered, rolling my shoulders as a dull soreness spread down my spine.
I shuffled into the bathroom and turned on the tap, splashing cold water onto my face. It helped a little not much. My reflection stared back at me, my eyes looked tired, my skin was soo pale, jaw tight like I was biting back a hundred things at once.
“LILIAN!”
I groaned again, louder this time. “The fuck… hold on, I’m coming, jeez. It’s not like I’m gonna disappear or some shit.”
I wiped my face with a towel, ran my fingers through my hair, and headed downstairs, each step heavier than the last.
The smell hit me before I even reached the living room.. it was the combination of multiple shit, Fries.. Chicken wings… Grease..
I turned the corner and there he was.
Jonah.
Sitting comfortably on the couch like he paid rent, legs sprawled, a tray of fries and chicken wings balanced on his lap, chewing happily like this was the best morning of his life.
This motherfucker was eating breakfast without me.
“Jonah!” I snapped.
He turned, a grin stretching across his face like he hadn’t just committed a crime. “Heyyy,” he said cheerfully. “Lilian. What’s up?”
I raised a brow at him, unimpressed. For a second, I just stared. Then I shook my head, grabbed a handful of fries and a wing straight off his tray, and dropped onto the couch beside him.
“Mm,” I muttered after a bite, it tasted good though. “So what’s up, Start talking.”
He paused mid-chew and looked at me like I’d suddenly started speaking another language. “Start talking what?”
I turned slowly, eyes narrowing. “Uh-uh. Don’t try that shit with me. Why the heck did you wake me up?”
His brow lifted innocently. “Oh That.” He shrugged. “I woke up and didn’t see you around, so I thought it’d be nice to check if you were home.”
I twisted my mouth to the side, biting back a comment that would’ve definitely started a fight.
Jonah, I told myself silently, I’m letting this slide just this one time.
I pointed a finger at him. “Play with me one last time and I swear I’m doing payback.”
He burst out laughing, not a chuckle or a snort, a full-on, shoulders-shaking laugh.
And just like that, I knew exactly what he was laughing about.
The plank, the way it hit me when I opened the door.
The way I’d yelped and almost took the whole damn door down with me.
“You think that shit is funny?” I snapped, heat rushing to my face.
He laughed harder, snorting like a damn pig. Tears actually gathered in his eyes.
That did it.
Anger flared sharp and sudden, burning away the leftover exhaustion. I grabbed more fries and wings, stood up abruptly, and turned to leave the couch.
“Hey, hey.. ” Jonah reached out and caught my wrist, holding me back. “Aw, come on. I’m sorry.”
I yanked my hand free. “Fuck off. You leech.”
He laughed again, softer this time, still smiling like he wasn’t seconds away from being murdered.