Lily's Forever After (Book 2)- By: Tina Marie
Chapter 2 - Girl’s Night
Lily had been through a whirlwind of emotions since finding the lump in her breast. Life, which once held so much promise, had suddenly felt bleak and uncertain. But today, for the first time in what felt like forever, she had hope—real, tangible hope. Her brother Eric had delivered news that lifted the heavy cloud of fear hanging over her. There were doctors who could help her, specialists who were confident in her recovery.
Excitement bubbled up in her as she picked up the phone to call her best friend, Becca.
“Hello? Lily, what’s up?” Becca answered, her voice bright and familiar.
“Hey, guess what?” Lily could hardly contain her excitement.
“What?”
“No, guess.”
Becca sighed, already knowing how persistent Lily could be. “I don’t know, just tell me!”
Lily grinned, thrilled to finally share her news. “Eric told me he knows some really good doctors who can help me—like, really help me! I don’t have to worry anymore, Becca. I’m going to be okay!”
There was a beat of silence before Becca responded, her voice trembling with emotion. “Really, Lils? You’re not joking? I’ve been so scared for you…”
“I’m serious,” Lily confirmed. “It’s really happening.”
“That’s amazing! I’m so happy for you, Lil!” Becca’s relief was palpable through the phone.
“Do you want to celebrate with me tonight?” Lily asked, unable to hide the smile in her voice. “Let’s go out. I feel like dancing.”
“Absolutely! Where do you want to go?”
“How about Laxx Nightclub? And could you text Ryan and invite him for me? I’m going to hurry and get ready.”
“Of course! I’ll let him know, and we can all meet there.”
“Perfect! See you in an hour. Bye!”
After hanging up, Lily rushed to the bathroom to shower. As she stood in front of the mirror afterward, wrapping a towel around herself, she gazed at her reflection. For the first time in weeks, there was a spark of hope in her eyes.
“No more worrying,” she whispered to herself. “Tonight is all about fun.”
She dressed in a cute black skirt, knee-high stockings, and heels, pairing them with a sleek top she had recently bought. After styling her hair and applying makeup, she spritzed on a floral perfume and added her favorite pink lipstick. One final glance in the mirror confirmed what she already felt—tonight was her night.
When she arrived outside Laxx, she scanned the crowd, searching for her friends. It didn’t take long before she spotted Ryan waving at her.
“Lily, over here!” he called out, grinning from ear to ear.
“Hey, Ryan! Where’s Becca?”
“She’s not here yet, but she should be any minute,” he replied, glancing around.
Lily’s eyes darted through the throngs of people outside the club. "Oh, wait! There she is!" she exclaimed, spotting Becca weaving her way through the crowd.
“Hey, guys! It’s packed tonight!” Becca said breathlessly when she reached them.
Lily nodded. “Yeah, let’s get in line before it gets even busier.”
Once inside the club, the vibrant energy of the place hit them. The music pulsed through the room, the lights flickering in rhythm with the beats. They found a table near the bar, ordered drinks, and settled into the infectious atmosphere of the night.
Lily couldn’t help but smile as she took it all in. “The DJ’s killing it tonight.”
“He really is,” Becca agreed, nodding to the beat.
“Let’s dance after we get our drinks,” Ryan suggested, already tapping his foot.
Lily smiled, feeling lighter than she had in a long time. But as they chatted and laughed, her gaze drifted across the room and landed on someone familiar. Tim. He was leaning in close to a tall brunette, his body language unmistakably flirtatious.
A sharp pang hit Lily’s chest.
Becca noticed immediately. “Lils, what’s wrong?”
Ryan followed her line of sight and groaned. “Tim. Of course.”
Becca frowned. “Ugh. Does he ever get tired of flirting with every girl in the room?”
Ryan turned to Lily, his voice gentle but firm. “Lily, I don’t know why you still have feelings for him.”
Lily’s heart sank as she watched Tim laugh at something the brunette whispered in his ear. “I don’t know either,” she admitted softly. “You can’t help who you love, right?”
Ryan shook his head. “You deserve someone who only loves you, Lils.”
“Yeah,” Becca chimed in. “Not someone who flirts with every girl he sees.”
Lily forced a smile, though her heart ached. “I know. You’re right.”
Just then, the brunette placed her hand on Tim’s chest, leaning in closer. They laughed together before slipping away into the crowd, Tim’s arm wrapped around her waist. Lily’s heart clenched.
He’ll never notice me. I’ll always be just his best friend’s little sister.
Becca grabbed Lily’s hand. “Come on, let’s dance. We came here to have fun.”
Ryan nodded, standing up and taking her other hand. “Let’s go.”
The three friends moved onto the dance floor, and soon, the music helped Lily lose herself in the moment. The rhythm, the flashing lights, the carefree energy—it all swept her up, pushing aside the painful thoughts of Tim. But just as she was starting to feel free again, a strong hand grabbed hers, pulling her body away from her friends and into the arms of a stranger.
“Hey, pretty,” a man whispered in her ear, holding her too close for comfort. “I saw you dancing and couldn’t resist. Let’s have some fun tonight.”
Lily tensed. “No, thank you,” she said quickly, trying to pull away. “I’m here with friends, and they’ll be looking for me.”
The man tightened his grip, his smile unsettling. “Where do you think you’re going? I’m not done with you yet.”
Panic surged through Lily. She struggled, trying to break free. “Please let me go!”
Suddenly, a fist collided with the man’s face. Lily gasped as a familiar hand grabbed hers, pulling her swiftly through the crowd.
“Wait… who—” she started, looking up, her heart pounding, only to freeze when she saw who had saved her.
Tim!
Other Chapters
- Chapter 1 - Bad News Can Be Good News
- Chapter 2 - Girl’s Night
- Chapter 3 - Tim’s Anger
- Chapter 4 - Hope and Unexpected Encounters
- Chapter 5 - A Glimmer of Hope
- Chapter 6 - Realizations in the Waiting Room
- Chapter 7 - A Heart Awakened
- Chapter 8 - A Love Finally Realized
- Chapter 9 - Shattered Trust
- Chapter 10 - Panic!
- Chapter 11 - A Vow of Protection
- Chapter 12 - A Taste of Revenge
- Chapter 13 - The Unspoken Rivalry
- Chapter 14 - Nights of Fire
- Chapter 15 - Shadows at Sunset
- Chapter 16 - Shattered Shadows
- Chapter 17 - Rescue at Dusk
- Chapter 18 - Beneath the Bubbles
- Chapter 19 - A Promise in the Sand
- Chapter 20 - A Promise of Forever
- Chapter 21 - The Secrets We Keep
- Chapter 22 - A Wish Fulfilled