JPOV
I looked at my little bear cowboy that sat proudly on my bedside table, thinking of the person who had given it to me. I had been calling Lily over and over, trying to get her to call me or even see me after that night. Something was obviously wrong, what caused her to freak out like that? But there was no answer at her house or on her cell. Was she avoiding me? I decided to be proactive and go to her work.
I walked in expecting to see my girl on shift, but Victoria was there instead. "Is Lily here?" I asked as soon as I got to the counter. She looked up briefly. Her eyes lit up; obviously she had forgotten my rejection from months ago.
She smiled at me."Why do you need Lily, when I'm here?" I growled under my breath and tried to reign in my impatience.
"Do you know where she is or not?" I practically shouted at the infuriating redhead.
"Geez! No I don't. Look she hasn't turned up to work for a couple of days. Leaving us completely unprepared – I even had to take an extra shift. I mean I do have a life you know? She hasn't even called in sick. They are sooo gonna fire her. But you know, now that she's not here, why settle for her when you've got my company? I get off work in five, we could go out somewhere?" She fluttered her eyelashes at me.
I was gobsmacked. My patience wearing thin I growled at her; "Look obviously you haven't got the message from my constant rejections. I have absolutely NO interest in you whatsoever. Why would I want a slut like you, who flirts with everything with a dick when I have the most beautiful and caring girl in the world? Not to mention the fact that you obviously care so little for your workmates that it actually astounds me, you are NOT my type."
Her mouth was wide open in astonishment as I turned on my heel and ran out the door.
When I got out onto the street I realised how bad this situation must be. There must be something seriously wrong, to not even phone in at work? She loved that place; she would never jeopardize her job like that. Ever. I leapt into my car driving like a maniac to get to her house.
I pulled into her drive, hardly caring whether I even turned the engine off or not. I knocked on the door as hard as I could, pounding to be let in. None of the curtains even twitched. I looked in all the windows trying to get a glimpse of her, hell, of anyone. I didn't even know who she lived with. I didn't have any of her friends' numbers. What the hell was I supposed to do?
Then I saw it.
Behind the couch of the den I could just about see the bottom of a leg and a foot lying completely still. Shit! That could be Lily. Hell it probably was.
I frantically looked around her porch for a spare key. I lifted all the pots I could and ran my hand across the top of the door frame like I saw them do in movies. My eyes finally found a small turtle ornament. I lifted it up to find it had a false bottom. It was a hide a key.
I got the key and with shaking hands unlocked the door.
Please, please god let her be okay.
I ran into the den and stopped dead at what I saw.
It was Lily.
Lily bruised, broken and bleeding.