ak
Chapter 2
Lilly turned the key in the ignition, dropping her into silence. The dark street held a few streetlights, and only one house remained lit. She stared up at the beacon in the darkness and took a steadying breath.
Opening her door, she ignored the swirl of chilly air and leaned back in to grab the small plate of cookies. They represented her first attempt at using the communal kitchen. She carried the paper plate in front of her like a shield, pressing the doorbell before she could chicken out.
The thought of ditching the treats on the doorstep filtered through her thoughts several times in the minute it took him to answer.
“Hello?” He switched on the porch light and glanced at her through the window before opening the door. “Do you need help?”
Lilly blushed. “Professor Doughan, I wanted to apologize to you.”
“To me?” He looked at the plate of cookies she carried. Another blast of chill whipped passed and he pulled back automatically. “What is this about?”
“My mother was the one who pressed charges against you a few weeks ago. She thought—" Lilly cleared her throat. “She thought that you and I were, uh, together, and it’s a long story, but she went to the police and convinced them that you were taking advantage of me. She also implied that I was under age or something to make them arrest you. I’m so sorry.”
She thrust out the atonement cookies, eyes locked on the grain of the porch’s wood.
“You told the police that I was coercing you into sex? Are you a student of mine, I can’t say that I recognize you?”
“No. I didn’t tell the police anything. My mother was the delusional one. I would never do something like that to you.” She felt the heat creeping on again and bit her lip.
He remained silent for a long moment. “So, you thought it was a good idea to show up on my doorstep with cookies in the middle of the night? Because that’s not suspicious?”
Lilly blushed harder. “Well, I waited until your neighbors were asleep.”
“The officer mentioned that you were stalking me. Do I need a restraining order?”
Lilly looked up in horror, catching the solemn expression on his face.
“No. Really, I’m sorry. I’m totally harmless. It’s just infatuation.” She quoted Pamela to avoid thinking about her own words. “I know I have no chance, I’m way out of your league, it’s just a phase, I’m sure.” She finished lamely.
She avoided his piercing gaze. “I think it would be best if you didn’t come by my house again.” The words weren’t harsh, but they still felt like a slap in the face.
Lilly nodded, heart as cold as the November winds that swirled around her. “Yeah, of course. I’m sorry.” He didn’t take the plate of cookies and closed the door softly, not wanting to be rude but obviously done with the conversation.
Slumping back into the driver’s seat, she stared out the windshield for another five minutes fighting back tears enough to see the road on her way home.
* * *
“Okay!” Melanie Streeter stared down at her agenda, then up at the board. Thirteen members created a semi-circle within the meeting room. “Thank you all for coming to our December meeting. I think we’ll call this session to order.“
She worked her way through the approvals and beginning items, then paused. “That brings us to our upcoming events. Jennifer was our chair over the carnival last year. Our net on that was forty thousand. I’d like to see if we can top it this year. Do we have any volunteers to take over as the chair?”
Lilly continued doodling on her agenda while raising her free hand. She’d been part of the carnival for the last two years, and there were only a handful of others with the same experience.
“Perfect.” The woman’s voice purred out the words.
Lilly dropped her hand.
“I’ll let you two get together and decide on how you want to handle it, but I think two chairs will work for this.”
Cursing herself for not looking up sooner, Lilly scanned the room for another volunteer. No one met her gaze. Melanie moved on before she could ask, so Lilly had to content herself with waiting until the end of the meeting before she approached the chairwoman.
“Excuse me, Melanie?”
“Yes?”
“I missed the other person who raised their hand to be chair with me on the carnival event. Do you remember who it was?”
“William.” She shoved her things into her bag and lifted the straps over one shoulder. “He’s got quite a few connections at the university, which will be nice. Maybe we can use the main lawns instead of the side area. That would probably help our numbers right there.” Her smile widened. “I like this idea more and more.”
Lilly’s stomach dropped as the woman moved passed. “William Doughan?”
“Yes.” His voice from behind made her instantly queasy.
She turned to face him. “I’ll quit.”
“No need.” His smile was warm. “Unless you don’t think we can work together.”
Lilly considered this. “Maybe a third member of the executive team would be wise? I bet Christine would be willing–she’s been on the carnival committee for the last two years.”
“That sounds like a good idea. Do you have her contact information?” Professor Doughan’s eyes penetrated hers leaving Lilly feeling exposed.
“I do. I’ll give her a call and we can meet. What’s your schedule like?” Was she seriously talking to the man of her dreams so casually? Lilly fought the giddy butterflies that suddenly erupted within her.
“You don’t already know?” He teased.
He butterflies died. “I’m sorry.”
“No, that was meant as a joke; a bad joke. I sometimes do that.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Uh, weekends are the easiest, but I’m also free in the evenings except for Thursdays.”
“How late is too late? I could meet you after your tax class on Thursday.” She hurried to correct herself. “We could meet you—after you get done with work.”
He eyed her uncertainly. “You really did stalk me, didn’t you?”
Their position away from the rest of the group gave them a little privacy, but she still felt her voice drop as she responded. “Uh, yes, I did, but I haven’t done that for more than a month; ever since you asked me to leave you alone. I’m sorry.”
The awkward moment stretched until he cleared his throat. “So, you’ll contact Christine and let me know when she’s available to meet. Where?”
“The committee meetings are traditionally held in the university library, but they’ll close right after your class ends, so that won’t work if we meet on Thursday.”
“I think there’s a coffee shop right off campus we can meet in.”
“Okay.”
“Can you give me your cell number? That way we can text or call to coordinate this.”
“I don’t have a cellphone.” It was the first time that she regretted her choice to avoid the monthly service costs.
His brow rose, incredulous. “Okay, how can I get ahold of you?”
“Email?” She hurried to scribble it on a piece of paper. “I usually check it a few times a day before and after work. You could leave a message on the machine at my apartment, but there’s no guarantee one of my roommates won’t erase it.”
“I hated living in the dorms.”
Lilly shook her head. “I’m not a student. It’s just more cost effective to live in a communal apartment.”
“How many people do you share with?”
“About ten.”
His frown deepened. “That’s a lot of people. Is it a house?”
“No.” She hedged. “Well, I’ve got to get to work, so thanks for volunteering, and I look forward to working with you.”
Lilly hurried to the door before he could say anything more.
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