Lily Befriends Adrian
781 Words
Over the next few days, Amelia noticed something she wasn't entirely sure how to feel about.
Lily had become obsessed with Adrian. Not in the way children became obsessed with toys or cartoons.
No. This was much worse.
Every conversation somehow led back to him.
"Adrian says birds like shiny things."
"Adrian says blue jays are very smart."
"Adrian says my drawing looks like modern art."
"What does that even mean, Mommy?"
Amelia sighed as she arranged fresh pastries inside the display case at the café.
"Honestly? I have no idea."
Lily giggled.
The bell above the café door rang.
Several customers entered.
The morning rush began.
Thankfully.
Maybe work would distract her from hearing Adrian's name every five minutes.
Unfortunately, it did not.
Because around noon, Lily came running from the back room.
"Mama!"
Amelia looked up.
"What happened?"
Lily pointed excitedly toward the window.
"It's Adrian!"
Amelia's heart performed a little flip.
Which was absolutely ridiculous.
She immediately looked outside.
And there he was.
Standing across the street.
A pair of sunglasses rested on his face while he carried a paper bag from a nearby grocery store.
As if sensing her gaze, Adrian looked up.
Then smiled. That warm smile again.
The one that seemed specifically designed to make women forget basic common sense.
Amelia quickly looked away.
Far too late.
Because Lily had already spotted everything.
"You like him."
Amelia nearly dropped a tray of cupcakes.
"What?"
"You smiled."
"I smile at everyone."
Lily narrowed her eyes.
"No you don't."
Traitor.
Absolute traitor.
Before Amelia could defend herself, the café door opened.
And Adrian walked in.
The entire room seemed to notice.
Several customers turned.
One elderly woman nearly spilled her tea.
Amelia couldn't even blame them. The man looked absolutely and unfairly attractive.
Today he wore a dark gray sweater that somehow made him even more handsome. He seemed to looked handsome in everything he wore.
Life clearly wasn't fair.
"Good afternoon," Adrian said.
His eyes found Amelia instantly.
And stayed there for a second longer than necessary.
"Hi."
Amelia hated how breathless she sounded.
Lily, however, had no such problems.
"Adrian!"
She launched herself at him.
To Amelia's horror, Adrian caught her effortlessly. As though he had expected it.
The little girl wrapped her arms around his neck.
"I missed you."
Something flickered across Adrian's face.
Something soft.
Something surprisingly emotional.
"I missed you too."
Amelia froze.
The words sounded genuine. Not forced, not polite.
Genuine.
And for some reason that affected her more than it should have.
Perhaps because very few people had ever looked at Lily and seen more than a responsibility.
But Adrian always seemed to see her.
Really see her.
"What can I get you?" Amelia asked.
Adrian glanced at the display case.
"Whatever Lily recommends."
Lily gasped dramatically.
"I've been preparing for this moment."
Adrian laughed.
Amelia rolled her eyes.
Ten minutes later, Lily had somehow convinced Adrian to try three different cupcakes, two cookies, and a slice of strawberry cake.
The little traitor sat beside him proudly while explaining the superiority of every dessert.
"You should listen carefully," she advised.
"I'm taking notes."
"Good."
Amelia watched them from behind the counter.
And something strange happened.
Her chest tightened.
Not painfully.
Warmly.
Adrian wasn't pretending.
He genuinely enjoyed spending time with Lily.
He listened to her stories, answered her endless questions, laughed at her jokes and never once looked annoyed.
For a brief moment, Amelia imagined what life would have been like if Lily had grown up with a father like that.
A father who showed up.
A father who cared.
A father who stayed.
The thought hurt more than she expected. A lump formed in her throat.
As though sensing her mood, Adrian looked up.
Their eyes met.
For a second, neither looked away.
Then Lily suddenly climbed onto her chair.
"Adrian!"
"Yes?"
"When you're old, can you live next door forever?"
Amelia nearly died.
Customers openly eavesdropped.
One woman looked delighted.
Another looked ready to start taking wedding notes.
Adrian smiled.
"I don't know about forever."
Lily pouted.
"Why not?"
Because princes don't get forever, Adrian thought.
Because kingdoms eventually come looking.
Because secrets never stay hidden.
But he couldn't tell her any of that.
So instead he said, “Because forever is a very long time."
Lily considered this carefully.
Then nodded.
"Okay."
A pause.
"You can stay until forever starts."
The café erupted with laughter.
Even Amelia couldn't stop smiling.
And as Adrian looked between mother and daughter, he realized something dangerous.
For the first time since leaving the palace... he felt at home.
And that suddenly terrified him more than any royal responsibility he’d ever had.
- Writer
