Chapter 22: Chapter 22

Lydia’s P.O.V

If I could laugh at the scene in front of me then I would have, but alas, you can’t have everything in life.

Lyric and Nate were eyeing each other as if they were big bad wolves sizing up their prey and while Lyric actually looked menacing, Nate looked too adorable to act the big bad wolf.

Thankfully Stephen wasn’t on the scene as he had gone out with mom and Ivy to get some last minute things in order and my dad was at work, as usual, otherwise the scene would’ve been much worse. Nathan had been the one to greet us as we reached home and now he probably thinks I’ve brought home a boyfriend from college. However, the misconception that Lyric had about Nate became clear the next instant.

“A bit young to be getting married, aren’t you?” Lyric asked with his eyebrows raised.

“I’m 19.” Nate said with a sickly sweet smile. “But I’m not the one getting married, our older brother is.”

“No offense, kiddo.” Lyric shrugged. “But you look like you could be in middle school.”

“Who the fu-“

“Alright gentlemen, if the introductions are over, I’d like to get some sleep. I’m tired.” I interfered before any actual fight broke out and I kinda wanted Lyric and my family to like each other…which was super weird.

“Oh, and Nate this is Ly-David Donovan, a friend from college and this is my younger brother, Nathan McKenzie.” I introduced them before I went to grab my bags from the trunk.

“Hi.” Lyric shook Nate’s hand as Nate gave him a narrow eyed glare.

I shrugged to myself. It’s not like Lyric was my boyfriend so Nate really didn’t have to give him the glares but it felt nice to know that even my adorable baby brother has my back.

I went to take the bags out but Nate stopped me. “I’ll send someone to grab them for you and take it up to your room.” He told me while giving me a tight hug before turning to Lyric. “Come on David, I’ll show you to your room.”

It was a very pointed suggestion and again, I would’ve laughed if I could. When I looked at Lyric, even he couldn’t help the smile that was forming but he hid it under a cough when Nate turned to look at him.

Deciding I was way too tired to sit here and watch the testosterone display, I told Nate to escort Lyric to one of the nicer guest rooms and I headed to my old room to get some shut eye.

A wave of nostalgia hit me as I entered my room. It was exactly as I’d left it, peach coloured walls and beautiful floral drapes. My king sized bed was pushed up against a wall, the comforters and sheets the same shade as the walls and the wall opposite to the bed held the closet and the vanity. A small study table to one side and an empty bedside table, those were the remaining furniture in my room. I was glad that the room was kept all clean and tidy, which is why all I did was take off my shoes and earrings and plopped down on my bed and let sleep wash over me.

****

“Lydia…Lydia…”

I woke up to my name being called by my mom. Opening my eyes, the first thing I saw were bright blue eyes the exact shade as mine, staring back at me from a heart shaped face. Her hair was cut short to her shoulders and styled appropriately but I noticed the few white strands amidst the black. My mom looked tired, probably overworking herself because of Stephen’s wedding, but there was also radiance to her skin that made her look even more beautiful. She looked happy.

“Mom…” I sat up groggily, wiping the sleep from my eyes.

“My baby!” She engulfed me in a bear hug, tight enough to cut off my air supply, but I didn’t care. I was so glad to be back home and with my family. I had no idea how much I had missed my family until I arrived back home.

“How have you been? Have you been eating well? Have you lost weight? You were so thin to begin with!” My mom gushed all at once as she pulled away to examine me.

“Yes, mom.” I told her. “I’ve been doing well and I’m eating just fine.”

“But are you sleeping well?” Mom gushed over her words again, trying to find out as much as she could before she had to head out to take care of the house. “I heard the new apartment is tiny! Do you want your dad to get a new house? How about the neighbors? Is it safe there? How about-”

“Mom, let the girl breathe.” Came a very familiar voice from the doorway.

“Ivy!”

“Hey, girlfriend!” She rushed over to my bed and engulfed me in a bear hug. “I missed you so much!”

“I missed you too!” I told her as we parted.

“You girls keep chatting; I’ll go check on the kitchen staff.” Mom told us before she left.

“How are you doing?” I asked Ivy, pushing the few strands of her dark hair back into place that had escaped her gorgeous curls.

“I’m doing great, sweetie!” Ivy took my hands in hers. “Tell me, how are you doing? I heard you brought your new boyfriend home. Everyone’s ecstatic about it…well, me and mom are but I can’t be so sure about the boys.”

“Lyric’s not my boyfriend.” I told her right away. “And he pretty much invited himself.”

“And you didn’t say no.” Ivy shrugged. “So I can rightfully guess that he did sneak under your skin and you just can’t shake him off. Your relationship seemed to have improved since the last time you called.”

I blinked several times to digest what Ivy just told me…and she was absolutely right.

Every time Lyric showed up at my house uninvited or did something…I could’ve just said no and it would’ve all been over. Lyric wasn’t the kind of man who didn’t take no for an answer…well, most of the times he wasn’t. But he respected women. He wasn’t rude and heartless and a rebel without a cause. Everything he did, he did for a reason and he wasn’t a fan of forcing his decisions on others.

I had been the one to help him the first time I found him injured at the steps of my apartment. I was the one who looked after him and fed him not once but twice. I was the one who told him my secrets after keeping everything in for three years. And I was the one who let him come to a family occasion even though I could’ve just said no.

But I hadn’t said no. Not even once and the thought hadn’t crossed my mind until now that I had been in control of the situation from the start.

“Holy shit!” I looked at Ivy in wonder. “You’re absolutely right!”

“Well, I’m usually right about a lot of things but what was it this time?” Ivy grinned at me, already knowing what I talking about.

“It was me.” I told her. “I let him in. I let him get under my skin.”

“I had a hunch.” Ivy tilted her head to the side. “Now…tell me all the gory details.”