Forbidden Thirst

6. Good friends.

"Bye, have a great day," I waved to my church friends, their laughter and chatter fading as they dispersed. With my mother already gone, I stood alone on the sidewalk, waiting for a taxi to whisk me home.

A black car with tinted windows caught my attention, a vague sense of unease prickling at the back of my mind. It felt like someone was watching me from within its shadowy interior. Then, Dillon appeared beside me, his attempts to get my attention finally registering through my preoccupied thoughts.

"What do you want?" I turned to him, irritation lacing my voice.

"Lily, I'm so sorry, please forgive me. I didn't mean to leave you alone. Stella suggested that we..." Dillon's words trailed off as I cut him off, my frustration boiling over.

"So all of this is because of Stella? You left me alone, drunk, all by myself with no way of going home, but your girlfriend was so important that you forgot all about me. So why are you here?" My voice was a low whisper, seething with anger and hurt.

"I'm sorry, Lily. If I could go back in time and change everything, I would. Just don't hate me." Dillon's voice was desperate as he fell to his knees, a pitiful plea for forgiveness.

"I don't hate you, but I can't come to terms with what you did just yet," I told him, my voice softening slightly. I would've been elated to see my friend again after so long, but the fact that I had slept with someone and lost my virginity still upset me deeply.

"Can we still be friends?" He questioned, hope flickering in his eyes.

"Yes, we can," I assured him, feeling a mixture of relief and uncertainty.

As he picked me up off the ground and spun me around in circles, I couldn't help but smile, the weight of our argument momentarily lifted.

"Let's go have lunch?" He suggested, breaking the silence.

Nodding my head, we headed off to Starbucks. I ordered a crispy grilled cheese sandwich, craving its comforting warmth, while Dillon opted for a turkey and pesto Panini.

"How did you manage to get home the night before?" He asked, hesitancy evident in his voice, aware of the sensitivity of the question given the circumstances.

"Let's not talk about it," I replied softly, not wanting to dwell on the events of the previous night.

"Okay," he conceded, sensing my reluctance to delve into that painful memory.

"I finally managed to get a job. I now work at Steele Global Bank," I told him happily, a sense of accomplishment swelling within me.

"Yeah, your Mom told me about it after I came by to visit you and you weren't there. Congratulations! I'm happy for you, you deserve it. I just wished I was there to see it," he congratulated warmly, his genuine happiness for me evident in his tone.

"So that means you know I no longer stay with my Mom?" I inquired, wondering what else he might have heard.

"Yeah, I just hope we can still be best friends and catch up often as we used to. Am I, or your family and friends, in no way allowed to visit?" He asked, a hint of disappointment tingeing his words.

"No, they don't allow visitors, unfortunately," I replied, a pang of longing hitting me. It would've been great to have my best friend around every now and then.

"Ohh, well, we'll still catch up like we used to," he reassured me with a smile, his optimism contagious.

A man in black had taken a seat next to us, and I couldn't shake the feeling that he was listening to our conversation, though it might have just been my paranoia. He calmly ordered a cup of cappuccino and buried his nose in a newspaper, his presence casting a subtle shadow over our conversation.

"What about you, what have you been up to these days?" I asked him, eager to shift the focus away from my own troubles.

"I've decided to be a grown man and take over my parents' bakery. I'm now the junior manager for Beckett Deli Café," he explained with a hint of pride in his voice.

"That's great! You're so lucky to become a junior manager; soon you'll be the CEO," I exclaimed, genuinely happy for him.

"Yeah," his response was tinged with a hint of sadness that caught my attention.

"What's the problem? Is it Stella?" I couldn't help but inquire, knowing the complexities of Dillon's relationship with his girlfriend. Stella didn't seem to appreciate Dillon working; she preferred to rely on his parents' money and go out.

"She doesn't like the idea of me getting a job. But what can I do? My parents have cut off all my bank accounts," he sighed, the weight of his situation evident in his voice.

Putting my hands on his shoulders, I tried to offer him some comfort, hoping to ease the weight of his troubles.

"I'm sure it'll all be fine soon," I reassured him, hoping my words would bring him some solace.

"Stella and I are over, Lily. I feel so depressed and alone. I don't know what to do," he confessed, his voice heavy with sadness.

"I think you've made the right decision. Maybe Stella is the one who needs to get her priorities straight and see that you're a fantastic guy. Give her some time; hopefully, she'll miss you and come around. And remember, I'm here for you," I encouraged him, trying to instill some hope into his despondent state.

"You think so?" he asked hopefully, seeking affirmation in my words.

"I know so. I mean, what girl wouldn't want to be with you? You're handsome, funny, and intelligent. If she doesn't see what she has, then she's not worth it. You'd be better off with someone who truly loves you for who you are," I offered my unwavering support, wanting him to believe in his own worth.

And then, surprisingly, Dillon kissed me. My best friend kissed me. I didn't know whether to be elated or angry. Secretly, I had harbored feelings for him for a long time, and now this. But, remembering Stella, I pulled away from his kiss, a whirlwind of emotions crashing over me.

"Dillon, this is not right. You're not thinking straight. You guys just broke up, and you don't know if she'll be back. Let's not make any mistakes," I told him firmly, standing up from my seat, my heart racing with uncertainty.

"Wait, Lily, I like you, and I know you like me too. So please, just give us a try. I promise I won't let you down," he pleaded, desperation evident in his voice.

"Dillon, you're conflicted and emotionally unstable. I may not know much about relationships, but you're looking for a rebound chick, and I'm not that girl. I'll be leaving now. Have a great day," I stated firmly before turning away and walking out, my resolve wavering with every step.

I was walking out on my crush, my only hope being that I was making the right decision in doing so.

Quickly hailing a cab, I made my way home before Dillon had a chance to stop me. It was sad seeing him going through such turmoil, but the only thing I could offer him were words of encouragement and my unwavering support.

After finally reaching the elevator, I immediately kicked off my shoes, feeling utterly exhausted. All I wanted to do now was sleep. As the elevator pinged, I was met with the sight of the twins gazing down at me. Their captivating blue eyes, tall stature, disheveled hair begging me to run my hands through them, and muscular frame almost made me blush. They were quite handsome, and for a moment, their presence offered a welcome distraction from the chaos of my thoughts.

They were dressed casually in robes and sweatpants, and I couldn't help but feel a surge of attraction at how effortlessly hot they looked.

I smiled, acknowledging the two, and exchanged a brief greeting before heading off to my room, feeling their eyes lingering on me.

"And where are you coming from?" Hayden's question caught me off guard, his tone a touch sharper than I expected.

"Well, I went to church," I replied, feeling a bit like a child being interrogated for coming back way after my bedtime.

"You look tired," Hunter's unexpected concern softened the atmosphere, and before I could react, he enveloped me in a hug. My eyes widened, and a blush crept up my cheeks at the closeness. His gesture was surprising, and I was momentarily caught off guard by the warmth of his embrace. Everyone seemed to be full of surprises today.

Even though he smelled incredible, and every fiber of my being wanted to linger in his arms, I knew it wasn't right. As I attempted to pull away, Hunter tightened his hold around my waist possessively, sending a rush of heat to my cheeks.

"S-sir..." My voice faltered.

"Lily, we're not at work or getting busy. You don't have to address us as sir. I want you to think of us as your friends when we're not at work. Just relax," Hunter whispered in my ear, his hot, minty breath fanning my cheek in a tantalizing manner as he rubbed my back slowly, his touch soothing.

Taking a sigh of relief, I allowed myself to relax a bit more into his arms. Hunter gently parted our hug before Hayden suddenly enveloped me in his arms, giving me a tight embrace that made me melt. I couldn't help but revel in their scents, feeling a strange sense of comfort in their presence. It was a bit peculiar, but I pushed aside any reservations; all I wanted to do was relax.

Maybe, just maybe, they weren't the bossy billionaires I had expected them to be. Perhaps they were just caring and sweet men after all.