3
Lily wasn't always proud of her temper. She was known to make no mistake of her displeasure in most situations, and she was often the first to yell, the first to raise a hand, the first to chase. Frankly, she was a regular firecracker.
But… Will was so hard to understand. Lily knelt to the grass and fondled the smooth petals of the toy flower. She was comfortable with her emotions and expressing them. She had thought Will the same, but he showed his so differently. He was always so composed, making him difficult to read. His anger was more subdued. And instead of sparking her own temper, she found his anger made her… sad. He took the fight right out of her. It wasn't fair.
She plucked up the flower and added it to her armful of a bouquet. Lily knew she needed to apologize, and a few of his favorite wildflowers might help her earnestness. Besides, the trek to gather them all had helped collect her thoughts. She was ready to face him.
Their argument went over in her mind as she scaled the ramp up to his yacht, and she felt sillier with each passing step. She had gone overboard – no pun intended. His words weren't always easy to understand… but Lily knew he'd always be there. She shouldn't let the little things get to her.
She hesitated for a brief second before she poked her head into their shared room. She entered, the bouquet falling with her limp arm to her side in her disappointment. He was not there.
Lily hummed in annoyance as she plopped onto the bed, crossing her legs and setting the flowers beside her. She was sure he would wind up back here. Perhaps she didn't know him as well as she thought…
Her eye caught a glimmer, and she pounced at her pillow with the sprightliness of a lioness. She held aloft the ruby left for her there in the center of her palm, watching as it shimmered in the lowlight and catching her breath. She held it to her heart and hugged it tight. He was always thinking of her. That's what mattered. Lily couldn't wait to tell him she thought of him always as well.
A footfall in the hall turned her head, and she dashed to meet him at the door. He was sorry, too.