Lily let out a heavy sigh as Chibs and she entered her apartment. All she wanted to do right now was sit back in a hot bubble bath with an ice cold glass of sangria.
She knew that her bath would have to wait for a moment though; at least until she got her houseguest/bodyguard settled in.
She placed her purse and her jacket in the coat closet as she finally spoke to Chibs. "You can take the guest room. Gemma got me a daybed set up in there just in case I needed it. I'll set it up for you with some fresh sheets and as many blankets and pillows as you want."
"Aye thanks lass." Chibs replied studying Lily's apartment.
Lily and Gemma had managed to get the place put together quickly. It was nice; filled with soft colors, blues and greens, and grays.
There were lots of feminine touches through out the living area; white candles, fake flowers, clay pottery, tons of potted plants, and little pink and purple Chinese paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling.
There were plenty of photographs on the walls and in a bookshelf by the closet door; pictures of Gemma and the Sons with Lily.
Chibs frowned realizing that there were barely any photographs of Lily's family with the Unsers.
He made his way over to her sofa spotting a little panda piggy bank. He picked it up shaking it a bit listening to the change jingle.
He placed it back down looking around the room spotting several other little pieces of panda décor through out the room; Lily liked her pandas apparently.
Lily ran her fingers through her hair straightening out the tangles her brain aching from all the strain she'd been under.
She lowered her hands her stomach knotting up as she spoke. "Do you think this whole Mayan crap is going to get messy?...I mean that Julio guy he."
She paused her throat growing tight as she spoke again. "He knows where I work Filip. I pissed him off...punched his old lady, he told me to watch my back."
Chibs made his way over to her placing a gentle hand on her shoulder as he spoke. "I'm not goin to let anything happen to ya love. No one is, Don't ya worry."
She gave him a tight smile resisting the urge to pull him into a hug. She knew that the second she hugged him she would wind up doing something foolish like kissing him like a damn fool.
Lily wanted to kiss Chibs so badly. She wanted to kiss him so long that they both had to develop gills to breathe.
She had a feeling though that kissing him would just create a huge mess. After all what if he didn't kiss her back, what if he rejected her?
She reluctantly pulled away from him her fear of rejection winning out.
Chibs spoke again doing all he could to shove away the fear he felt bubbling up in his gut at the thought of something happening to Lily. "It might be a good idea fer ya to start carryin a gun lass...do ya have one?"
Lily let out a soft laugh shaking her head as she tried to shove back the fear this comment had brought up. "Of course I own a gun Chibs...I own several guns. I mean you have met my godmother right? Gemma shoved a gun into my hand and started teaching me to shoot the second I turned fourteen."
"Aye love. Good point." Chibs remarked chuckling as he imagined Gemma standing behind a teenage Lily a gun in her hands shooting at old bottles and beer cans.
He let out a sigh as he watched Lily make her way to her kitchenette and open her fridge. He spoke up making his way over to the island counter separating the kitchenette from the living area. He leaned against the counter as he spoke. "Ya should start carryin a gun in yer purse...jus in case."
Lily ignored the cold chill that ran down her back as her brain decoded what the just in case meant. "Okay will do...though it's been a while since I've fired a gun...I might be a bit rusty."
"Aye I could practice with ya if ya want. Up at SAMCRO's cabin." Chibs replied having to like the idea.
It would make him feel safer if he practiced shooting with her. He would feel more secure knowing that she could fire a good shot and protect herself.
Lily cleared her throat pulling out a bottle of beer and her trusty bottle of sangria. She handed Chibs the beer before she made her way over to the cabinet pulling out a wine glass.
She poured herself a tall glass of sangria as she spoke up. "I'll order us some pizza in a sec. I'll have to stop by the grocery store after work tomorrow and stock up on some more food...What kind of things do you like?"
"I'm not picky love. I'll eat jus bout anything...trust me Lil I live on the single mans diet ya know; pizza, takeout, and frozen meals." Chibs explained chuckling not helping but to feel a little guilty that she was going to have to alter her life a bit while he was staying with her.
It was for the best though; him staying with her until this was all settled.
The thought of that damn Mayan and that shoplifting shrewd coming at her like that had made Chibs so livid.
Lily was so damn sweet; he thought she was the sweetest woman on the planet. She didn't deserve to be this frightened.
He thought of the way she'd practically collapsed into his arms back at the Snapshot Hut, her voice so tiny and childlike. Thank God You're here.
Nothing would happen to her Chibs assured himself. As long as he lived and breathed no one would hurt a hair on Lily Unser's head.
"So you're saying you can't cook?" Lily teased laughing as she took a sip of her sangria the fruity wine calming her instantly.
She had to admit that having Chibs here with her eased a bit of her fears.
She just felt like as long as he was around she would be safe.
She couldn't explain just why she felt this way. After all she'd known Chibs for less than a month now, but she trusted him.
Chibs just had that kind of energy about him; a sense of strength, as though he would do anything to protect his loved ones.
Chibs laughed along with her shaking his head as he opened his beer and took a swig. "I can cook love. I've been on me own long enough to have sorta figured out a few things."
She shook her head taking another sip of her sangria as she fished out the phone book and began to search for a decent pizza place. "So does that mean I can get a few meals out of you?"
"Anytime Lily." Chibs replied giving her a grin as he drank his beer.
She smiled as she flipped through her phone book. "I'm holding you to that promise."
She spoke again as she finally found a decent pizza place nearby.
Lily had almost forgotten that one of the problems in living in a little town was that there were no chain stores; like Pizza Hut for instance.
"I'm a pretty decent cook. Bobby got me into the kitchen when I was a kid more than once. I'd like to say that he taught me well."
Chibs nodded his head curious to know more about her childhood. It was fascinating to him still thinking of how odd she was; the sheriff's kid who just so happened to be very close to an outlaw biker gang.
It was almost comical to think about, it seemed like something straight out of some zany movie.
"Yah spent a lot of time with the Sons growin up?" He asked wanting to know more about her past, more than she'd already to him.
He wanted to know everything there was to know about her; her likes and dislikes, her fears and dreams, her favorite things and memories.
He wanted to soak up every bit of information Lily threw at him.
Lily nodded her head giving him a crooked smile. "Yeah Gemma babysat me while my dad and Della worked...Kate was in the daycare Della picked out, but Gemma wouldn't have any part of me going to some daycare or after-school care crap."
She paused chuckling a bit as she spoke again. "Gemma said it was lazy letting other people look after your kids. So after she talked my dad's ear off about it and complained enough he finally assigned Gem as my full time babysitter."
Lily paused again her nose crinkling a little as she giggled again before speaking. "Which doesn't make much sense really when you think about it...I mean wasn't Gemma babysitting me just her doing what she said was lazy...looking after someone elses' kid."
Chibs grinned still loving the way her nose crinkled when she laughed. It was the one way he could tell that her laughter was genuine. "Gemma and ya seem close though...She acts like yer hers."
"Yeah...she's always been like that...sort of a mom to me. She took care of me from the day my mom dropped me off on my dad's doorstep." Lily remarked shrugging her shoulders as she took another sip of her drink.
"Dropped ya off?" Chibs asked frowning at the statement.
Lily shook her head knowing that she was far past being bitter about the entire tale. After all why be angry with a woman she'd never known. "Yeah...she was some free-spirit hippie dippy type you know? She wasn't ready to be a mom...didn't want a little obligation hanging on her bellbottoms. So she dropped me off with my dad when I was about a few weeks old and took off. God knows where she is."
She bit the inside of her cheek knowing that even if she wanted to deny being bitter about her mother; one could hear the truth in her voice.
It was clear there was pain there. She had mommy issues she guessed.
She cleared her throat speaking again trying to hide the pain she always felt when it came to talking about just how she'd wound up with her father. "It all turned out for the best I guess...Gemma's been good to me. She took care of me; bought me school clothes, taught me to ride a bike, helped with my homework, and threw me birthday parties. I'm thankful for Gemma. I mean I think without her I would have never made it through life with Della and Kate."
Chibs' smile fell as well both at the mention of Della and Kate and the mention of her biological mother.
He spoke up unable to stop himself from asking. "Have ya heard from em...since Saturday?"
"No...not really. Yesterday was the first day I've talked to my dad since the wedding. I'm used to him hiding from conflict...He's never been good with drama...I'm sort of glad he hasn't brought any of it up." Lily confessed taking another sip of her sangria.
She paused trying to lighten up the conversation as she spoke again. "I do wish I'd gotten to punch Kate though."
"Aye I think ya could've taken her. Ya shoulda beat her arse fer making ya wear that orange dress." Chibs replied smiling as well at the thought.
Lily laughed at this comment wishing that she'd gone through with her intentions to punch Kate right in the nose. "I thought you said I looked pretty in that dress."
"Aye I did. Ya can make anythin look good though." He blurted out shifting his eyes to the ground embarrassed by his statement.
He was really failing at this whole just being friends thing; friends didn't flirt.
She gave Chibs a smile her cheeks flushing at his comment. She tried to hide her blush by rising the her glass to her lips as she spoke changing the subject. "So we'll have pizza and movie night...I think I could use a fun night."
He returned her grin thankful to see that her mood had lightened since this afternoon.
Chibs just hoped that her mood would stay light.
He had been worried about her; with her dad's illness and that mess of a wedding.
This whole situation with Julio just made everything so much more stressful on Lily.
Lily spoke again as she finally hung up her cell having made the call for a large pepperoni pizza. "Are you going to Luann's birthday party tomorrow night?...I still need to get her a gift...I might have to go shopping after work...I promise I won't take forever with it. I know how you men hate shopping."
"Aye...I'm goin. Don't know bout a gift though. I usually jus give her cash or I jus stop at the liquor store and get her a good bottle of wine." Chibs remarked knowing that for once he was looking forward to one of Luann's birthday bashes at Gemma's and Clay's house.
And why not look forward to it; for once he'd have a gorgeous girl on his arm that wasn't just some croweater.
He silently promised himself that he'd do whatever it took to ensure that Lily Unser stayed by his side.
He sighed wondering what would have happened had he kissed Lily the way he'd wanted to that night after the wedding.
Would they be together now; Lily and him?
He liked the idea there was no denying that. Lily was a wonderful girl.
He liked being around her; she made him feel good; happy.
Chibs wouldn't mind Lily being his old lady.
The thought frightened him a bit though.
He hadn't been in a real relationship since Fiona.
A part of him wasn't even sure how to properly date a girl. Back when Fiona and he had met they'd been teenagers still; it had all started out as puppy love and before he'd known it they were engaged and married.
It had been a long engagement and soon after they'd married Fiona had become pregnant with Kerrianne.
He had been happy with that world; his little family in Belfast, the IRA, his motorcycle, and the boxing matches he'd attend at the SAMBEL clubhouse.
Then Jimmy O' had wrecked it all and everything had gone to hell.
After losing Fiona and Kerrianne Chibs had pretty much given up on life; what did he have to live for after all?
His face had been scarred, his family was gone, the IRA had turned their backs on him exiling him from the world he'd become so comfortable in.
SAMBEL had saved his life giving him a new home and a purpose.
Still though he'd been alone really; sure he'd had his brothers and the company of any sweetbutt he took a liking to, but at the end of the day he had been all alone.
He had come to Charming and though the scenery had changed the situation had remained the same.
Gemma had tried to encourage him to find himself an old lady. She had even tried to set him up on a date or two when a pretty girl she thought was cute would wander into the garage.
He'd always refused Gemma's prying into his love life though; not that he'd really had much of one outside of screwing the croweaters.
He'd not gone out on a date nor even thought of dating a girl in almost a decade.
Then Lily had come along and his world had been turned upside down.
For the first time in so damn long he could actually picture himself dating a girl, having an old lady, having a real life; a life with Lily.
Still though Lily's life was fucking complicated though so much less complicated than his own. The main thing that worried him was the fact that her dad was the damn sheriff.
If he came even an inch close to romancing Lily then Unser would have his head on a platter and Chibs knew it.
But as he watched Lily twist her hair around a finger Chibs knew that he didn't care if Unser would make his life hell for wanting Lily.
He liked Lily and that was that. She was funny and sweet and tough and all the things he liked in a woman.
Chibs wasn't going to let anyone sway him away from her, not Tig, not Unser, not Della, not Kate, no one.
He just had to figure out how to make his move.
Lily let out a heavy sigh as she stared up at Dale. She twisted the straps to her purse her hands tense as she tried to comprehend what Dale had just told her.
She spoke up her voice a bit shrill. "What do you mean?"
Dale let out a sigh one of his plump hands running through his thinning hair. "I'm sorry Lily...I'm just...I'm afraid. I have a fucking family for Christs sake Lilian. My kids are always up here running around and visiting...I can't have an unsafe environment here."
Lily took a deep breath doing everything she possibly could to keep her temper under control. He was firing her.
He was really fucking firing her for the mess that had happened the day before.
Dale spoke again a frown developing along his seemingly always flushed face. "I'm really sorry Lilian. You're a good kid. I meant what I said when I said you have some real talent."
"If I'm so great then why are you firing me?" Lily blurted out her temper peeking up for a brief moment.
She took a deep breath her throat growing tight as she tried to calm her rage. She gave Dale a tight smile trying to defuse this mess. "Please Dale. I really enjoy working here. I need this job."
Chibs moved forward just as enraged by this entire situation. Lily shouldn't be getting fired for shit that wasn't even her fault.
"I'm sorry Lilian...like I said I just don't feel safe given what happened here yesterday." Dale replied his eyes growing wide as he took in Chibs glaring at him as though a single harsh look from him could make Dale drop dead.
"What happened yesterday is she did her job. She caught a shoplifter. She couldn't have helped to do anythin to stop shite from getting outta hand." Chibs exclaimed unable to stand back and watch Lily lose her job over something so preposterous.
It wasn't fair Dale firing her over something so ridiculous. She had just been doing her job.
It wasn't her fault things had gotten so out of hand.
He spoke up again trying to smooth over this all and find a way for Lily to keep her job. "If yer afraid of the Mayans ya know SAMCRO would be willin to help ya out any way we can. Charming is our town Dale. We aint goin to let some prick scare up people in our town."
Dale frowned shaking his head as he replied to this offer. "No. I appreciate the offer, but I just don't want this situation to get any more out of hand than it already has."
Dale paused giving Lily and apologetic smile as he spoke again. "I am sorry that this has to happen Lily. You have been a great employee. I'd be willing to give a recommendation to any of your future employers."
Lily tightened her jaw tempted to tell Dale to shove his recommendations up his ass, but she held it in knowing that he was just doing what was natural to him.
He was frightened and he was trying to protect himself and his family.
"Okay...I-I understand." She remarked her throat tight as she tried to fight back her tears.
She felt like such a failure; losing her job because of her own stupidity.
Chibs sent Dale another glare before he followed Lily out of the Snapshot Hut.
He spoke up as Lily reached for the door handle to her Jeep. "Are ya alrigh love?"
"I guess so...I...this just sucks Filip. I didn't love that job but it was going to pay my rent and keep food on my table. I needed the job." Lily admitted wiping her eyes with the sleeve of her jacket.
She didn't want to cry, not in front of Chibs, not again. Hadn't she cried enough in front of him these past few weeks?
Chibs placed a hand on her shoulder giving it a gentle rub as he spoke up wanting to stop the tears leaking out of the corners of her eyes. "I know yer goin to find somethin else love...until then I bet Gemma will let ya work a few hours at the garage."
Lily let out a tight laugh shaking her head as she spoke up. "Shit...Gem is going to skin Dale alive once she finds out I was fired."
Chibs nodded his head dropping his hand from her shoulder and chuckling. "Aye...I bet ya she will. Maybe we can stop her from goin too crazy."
"I don't think anyone is fully capable of stopping Gemma." Lily pointed out dreading the party tonight if it meant telling Gemma the bad news.
Chibs didn't think about what he was doing as he pressed a kiss to Lily's cheek before speaking. "Good point."
He pulled away from her hoping that the little showing of affection wouldn't spook Lily.
He spoke again clearing his throat trying to shake off what he'd just done. "Let's get outta here Lily. I'll buy ya some lunch."
Lily watched him walk off towards his bike a bit stunned by what he'd just done.
She reached up pressing her fingertips to her cheek her face growing pink.
Lily could get used to that.
Lily wasn't shocked that she was embraced by Luann practically the second she'd walked through the front door of the Morrow-Teller residence.
Chibs watched the little exchange a soft smile on his face. He couldn't stop himself from admiring Lily's body in the black jeans and matching black tank top she'd chosen to wear tonight.
Even with the leopard print cardigan she'd topped the look off with one could still see her curves.
Gemma smirked spotting the way Chibs was watching Lily. She couldn't get why the two couldn't just see that they were both crazy about one another.
She had already taken the liberty of filling in Luann on her plans for Chibs and Lily and Gemma had to hope that her best friend joining her in on the matchmaking plans would be enough to encourage Lily to make a move.
Luann pressed a few kisses to Lily's cheeks a grin on her face she spoke. "You've grown so much."
"I've only been gone for five years Auntie Luann." Lily remarked shaking her head a bit never having gotten accustomed to people's compliments.
It just went back to having grown up around Della and Kate; Lily's self esteem wasn't the best.
Chibs finally tore his eyes away from Lily as he placed the gift Lily and he'd bought into Gemma's hands. "Here it's fer Luann...it's from Lil and I."
Luann and Gemma both exchanged a knowing glance at this comment, but neither woman said a thing.
Gemma pressed a kiss to Chibs' cheek as she spoke up. "Thanks baby. You go ahead and head out back most of the guys are already here."
Chibs gave Lily a final glance knowing that she would be in safe hands. Still a part of him wanted to stick around for when it was time for Lily to spill the beans about her being fired.
He reluctantly wandered off heading out to the backyard knowing that if shit got too crazy Lily would know where to find him.
Lily wasn't shocked as Gemma spoke up the second they reached her kitchen. "So Chibs and you are buying joint gifts now?"
Lily shook her head popping a cherry tomato into her mouth as she took a knife prepared to help prepare the dinner for the evening.
Feeding SAMCRO and guests was always a huge production; filled with lots of food, lots of booze, and lots of chaos in the best sense of the word."
"He's been with me all day Gem. He was with me when I went shopping for a gift...I noticed he was a bit flustered trying to find something for Luann so I just suggested that we buy something together. It's not a big deal." Lily exclaimed having the feeling that she was in for a night full of questioning about her lovelife from Gemma.
"Gemma said he's been staying with you." Luann piped up as she took a sip from her glass of wine.
Lily shook her head sighing knowing that she was in for double trouble. Apparently Luann had been brought in on the plans to set Chibs and her up. "Shit just got out of hand with work yesterday...shit with a shoplifter. Chibs is just staying with me till everything calms down. It's nothing really. We're just friends."
Luann smirked quick to speak. "Trust me hon the way he was staring at you in the entryway went way beyond friendship. He was looking at your ass like he wanted to bite right into it like a chocolate bar."
Lily shook her head not shocked that Luann would be so blunt. "He's a guy Lu. Of course he's going to stare at my ass. He probably stares at every woman who crosses his path. That's just how men are."
Luann and Gemma exchanged another glance Gemma rolling her eyes a little knowing that if she had a quarter for every time Lily made an excuse about how Chibs looked at her, then she'd be a rich woman.
Luann spoke again shaking her head as she took another sip of her wine. "You would be so cute together, you and Chibs. He's always been such a sweetheart...a bit hard to understand when he speaks, but sweet. He'd be perfect for you."
"That's what I've been saying, but she won't listen." Gemma pointed out pouring herself a glass of wine as well.
Lily shook her head an exasperated sigh escaping her throat. "You two are plotting against me aren't you?"
"We just want you happy baby." Gemma replied letting out a huff.
"Yeah you make it sound like we're doing something sinister honey." Luann provided a grin on her face.
Lily shook her head again chopping at the salad ingredients a bit more rapidly. "Chibs and I are just friends. He's a nice guy, and moving past friendship would just ruin things."
"How do you know that?" Gemma asked a frown on her face. She was getting sick of these little excuses of Lily's.
Part of her was tempted to lock Chibs and Lily up in a closet together until they became a couple.
"It's just how it is. Friends and lovers aren't in the same category. You don't mix the two because it will only equal disaster. I don't want to get together with him and have things fall apart. I don't want to ruin things between us and lose him completely." Lily explained her throat growing tight as she continued to chop.
She placed the knife down knowing that if she kept it up she'd chop a finger off.
She let out a heavy sigh changing the subject. "I lost my job today...Dale freaked out over what happened yesterday and let me go."
"That cowardly son of a bitch." Gemma exclaimed slamming her wine glass down on the counter so hard that it was a miracle it didn't break.
"He's just scared Gem. I don't blame him after what happened yesterday. He has a family to look out for. He doesn't want any danger around his business and apparently I bring danger." Lily remarked her voice holding a bit of self loathing.
She shook her head speaking again. "Don't go on the attack mode please. I don't want to ruin my chances at getting employed any where."
"Fine." Gemma remarked her jaw tightening as she attempted to cool down her rage.
"What are you going to do now?" Luann asked a plan formulating in her head.
Lily shook her head sighing. "I don't know...I thought that I might try my hand at waitressing. I know I suck at it though. I mean the only time I worked a waitress job I wound up spilling an entire tray of drinks on a table of six."
Luann spoke up putting her plan into action. "Come work for me at Cara Cara."
"Doing what?" Lily asked her stomach rolling at the thought; working at a porn studio, what the hell would she do there?
She knew enough to know that her aunt wasn't asking her to do porn.
"Taking photos. I could use a good photographer to take some pictures of the girls for the website I'm trying to boot up. You're a great photographer Lily. I'd pay you better than waitressing." Luann explained knowing that Lily would be perfect for the job she had in mind.
She spoke again giving Lily a smile unable to stop herself from pointing out the obvious. "Though you would be great in front of the camera too."
Lily felt her cheeks turn bright pink as she stared down at the veggies she'd chopped practically to smithereens.
Luann shook her head clearing up that last statement. "Not doing full on porn of course hon...just modeling. I'm starting up a new website aside from the normal stuff Cara Cara usually does. It's going to be all softcore stuff. I want to include some models too, all classy stuff no real porn."
"What would it involve?" Lily dared to ask curiosity taking hold.
"Just pictures hon. You know I'd never push you into anything you're uncomfortable with. Like I said it would just be pictures. You would be alone, just some pinup kind of stuff. Like I said it'll all be classy. I would do everything by your comfort." Luann assured her pausing for a moment taking a quick glance at Gemma thankful that the woman wasn't coming at her with a knife for even suggesting this to Lily.
Gemma was just watching the exchange with a raised eyebrow. She wasn't going to completely shoot down the idea.
She trusted Luann to watch herself with Lily, after all the woman had known Lily since she was a baby, Luann had even changed Lily's diapers a time or two.
"Would it pay well?" Lily asked still curious at the idea.
She could use the money, and she did trust Luann to not push her into anything she was uncomfortable with.
Luann nodded her head a smile on her face as she tore her eyes from Gemma's watchful gaze. "Of course it would. I'd pay you well. I think you would attract a lot of attention. You've got a great body."
Lily bit the inside of her cheek mulling over this idea. She had never imagined herself doing anything like what Luann was suggesting.
She had grown up knowing just what Luann did for a living, well once she'd been old enough to realize just what Luann's job was.
She had never looked down upon Luann. She loved the woman just like an aunt.
Lily had to admit that the thought of what Luann was suggesting was interesting; especially the being paid well part.
She did what she always did in times of conflict. She turned to Gemma speaking the indecision in her voice clear. "What do you think Momma Gemma? Should I do it?"
Gemma let out a sigh knowing that she wasn't quite thrilled with this idea, but she knew that she couldn't hold Lily back. "I think you should do whatever feels right to you baby."
Gemma took a sip of her wine as she spoke again. "As long as you don't move onto doing real porn then I'm fine with it. Just do what feels right to you baby."
"Can I sleep on it and get back to you later?" Lily asked knowing that she would have to think long and hard on this.
"Take however long you want hon. I just thought it would be something you might be interested in. Like I said it's just going to be nude modeling, nothing too risque. I would never put you in a situation you felt uncomfortable with. Trust me hon I had to put up with people shoving me into shit that I hated all the time back when I was still sucking dick on film." Luann explained being true to her word.
She loved Lily like a niece. She had watched the girl grow up right before her eyes. She adored Lily.
If Lily came to work for Luann she would be taken care of no matter rather she was behind or in front of the camera.
Lily twisted the shiny silver ring she'd worn around her index finger debating what she should do.
The money was tempting, but she was anxious about what she might have to do to get the money.
She trusted Luann, but still she couldn't shake her anxieties.
Chibs made his way out into Gemma's backyard having been tasked with the task of finding Lily so she could get a slice of cake.
He had tried hard to keep his eyes off of her during dinner but it hadn't been easy given that Gemma had sat Lily right beside him at the dinner table.
Chibs had noticed that Lily had seemed distant during dinner like she'd had something on her mind.
He had been itching to ask her about it all night, but hadn't found the time.
He finally located Lily out by an old shed a lit cigarette between her lips. He approached her giving her a tired grin. "I didn't know ya smoke lass."
Lily jumped a bit shocked by his sudden appearance. "Yeah I don't do it often."
She cleared her throat sighing. "So what brings you out here?"
"Gemma wanted me to come lookin for ya. It's time for cake." He explained giving her another grin.
Lily nodded her head sighing as she leaned back against the shed her eyes looking up at the night sky.
That was one thing she'd missed while living in Seattle; being able to see the stars. You couldn't see the stars in a big city like Seattle.
She reached back knocking at the shed as she spoke. "Gemma made Clay build me this shed back when I was a teenager. She turned it into a dark room for me. I used to hide out here all the time."
"Aye did ya hide out here to smoke?" He teased always having wondered what the old shed in the backyard held.
He'd peeked into it once out of curiosity and had been shocked to find it empty as can be.
"No I smoked my cigarettes with Gemma. I just liked hiding out here working on my pictures. It was an escape I guess." She explained pausing as she took another drag off her cigarette.
She spoke again shaking her head. "Luann offered me a job...well two jobs. She wants me to take pictures for Cara Cara and she wants me to model...nude."
Chibs coughed a bit choking at this information.
He would be lying if he tried to say that the idea of Lily nude as can be didn't cause a pleasant little stir in his groin.
Lily shook her head sighing. "I don't know...the pay sounds amazing, but...I don't want things to get out of hand...I've never...It kind of creeps me out thinking about people seeing me naked like that."
Chibs sighed suddenly realizing that if she did do this modeling Luann was suggesting then strangers would be looking at his Lily.
He frowned at this thought; Lily wasn't his.
Still though he didn't like the idea of some greasy creep getting off to pictures of Lily.
He cleared his throat wanting to beg her not to take the job, he knew it wasn't his place though.
She wasn't his old lady. She was free to do whatever she wanted and he couldn't say a damn word about it.
Lily took another puff from her cigarette as she spoke up. "I just don't know...Part of me thinks it might be a little liberating though...I mean I don't think there is anything shameful about it...I know that might make some people label me a slut but I don't know."
"Ya aren't a slut Lily." Chibs remarked quick to jump at her defense.
He knew he'd punch out anyone who ever dared to call Lily such a thing.
Lily put out her cigarette blotting out the flame with her converse sneaker. "So do you think I should do it?...I mean it's crazy you know? The whole idea is a little intimidating but I trust Luann not to push me into anything that freaks me out...and it's not that big of a deal really I guess. I'm just going to be nude alone...nothing too weird. I just don't want to jump into it and then regret it later."
She paused shaking her head a bit as she spoke again. "I keep thinking about who is all going to see it though...I mean everyone looks at that kind of stuff rather they admit to it or not...Everyone is going to see me like that. And for the rest of my life I'm going to be the girl who posed nude for Cara Cara...that's a lot to live with you know. I just don't know what to do?"
Chibs swallowed the lump in his throat wanting to blurt out No don't do it, please don't do it.
He knew it wasn't his place though to tell her what to do and what not to do.
Besides he was sure that Lily Unser wasn't the kind of woman who let anyone tell her what not to do. It was one of the things he liked about her; her bullheaded tendencies.
"Ya should do what feels right to ya love. I won't think of ya any different if ya do it. Yer always goin to jus be Lily to me." He explained keeping in his desire to tell her no.
He wasn't lying about the last parts of his comment. He didn't care is she posed nude. She was always going to be the girl he was nuts about no matter what she did.
Even if the entire idea made him feel more than a little jealous he wasn't going to boss her around.
Besides he knew she could really use the money. She had said it herself earlier today when Dale was firing her.
Lily gave Chibs a soft smile his statement easing her nerves. She pressed a kiss to his cheek as she spoke up. "Thanks for talking. I don't know what I'd do without you."
Chibs sighed watching her walk back towards the house.
He resisted the urge to slam his head into the wooden shed.
Why couldn't he just tell her how he really felt?
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