Diane said a frosty goodbye to me and left with Sam in tow. Our eyes met as she dragged him to the door, and I gave him my best sympathetic look. Heaven help the poor man when the two of them got outside.
Looking around, I saw no sign of Lilith. I called her name, and upon receiving no response, peered into the bathroom. She was huddled next to the towel cabinets, her knees drawn to her chest. I started to ask if she was all right, but the words died in my mouth as I caught her frosty glare. This wasn't good.
I tried again. "Lilith, I--"
She stood up, brushed herself off, and strode past me out of the bathroom, without giving me a second glance.
By the time I got upstairs, she was already in the shower. I normally would have stripped off my clothes and gone to ask her if she wanted any company, but it hardly seemed appropriate at this point in time. I had screwed up royally, and something told me it would take a lot to get her forgiveness.
I changed into my pajamas and sat back on my bed, although I had a feeling I'd be spending tonight on the couch. Lilith emerged from the bathroom in a bathrobe, rubbing her hair with a towel. She glanced in my direction, then stepped into her closet without a word.
"You're still mad, aren't you?"
The door opened and she stuck her head out. When I looked at her, I could see that her eyes were red and puffy. "Wouldn't you say I had a right to be?"
"Lilith, I'm sorry," I pleaded. "That was thoughtless and immature of me."
"Don't you get it?" She threw her towel to the floor. "You really think I'm upset about that stupid stunt you and Sam pulled?"
"I know it was dumb," I stammered, not sure of what she wanted me to say. "I didn't mean to upset you."
"I'm not mad about that!" She exclaimed in exasperation. "I'm upset because I thought we'd been honest with each other, and you never bothered to tell me that you and Diane were engaged."
"Lilith, it was two years ago," I pleaded. "It was before I even knew you."
"I know that, Frasier." She shook her head. "I'm just hurt that you didn't trust me enough to think I'd understand."
"I was afraid I'd lose you if I told you," I confessed. "I knew you were uncomfortable with the idea of me still seeing Diane at the bar. I just wanted to spare you any more of that." I took a deep breath. "But I was wrong, and I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry too." She picked up the towel, folded it, and placed it neatly on a chair. "It's just that this is all so new to me. I've never been in a serious relationship before."
"I think we both have a lot of learning left to do," I assured her. "But I really think we have something good together."
She came over and sat beside me. I put an arm around her, and she snuggled against my shoulder. "I think so too."
