“Hi, Mitch,” she said with her own smile and mentally chastised her unbidden reaction. God, she looks even better than when I saw her two years ago.
If Mitch was surprised to see her there, she didn't show it. She looked over at May, her smile warm but her eyes showing concern. She set the vase of flowers down on the small table next to the door.
Despite her earlier self-admonishment, Lilly took a few seconds to study Mitch. Her hair still sported a short, messy cut she’d seen on her a few years ago and she looked freshly showered. She had on a pair of worn jeans and a dark gray v-neck t-shirt. She still looked beautiful and handsome, and Lilly felt a sharp twinge in her heart.
"Mitchy, come here!" May said with a happy cry, holding her hand out to her.
"I just got word you were here. How are you holding up?" Mitch asked as she hugged May gently and then took the chair opposite Lilly on the other side of the bed.
"Fair to middlin' I suppose," she sighed but then smiled at Mitch. "Lilly was sweet enough to get on a plane the very next day from Atlanta after Mark called her," she said and then she got quiet for a moment. "I didn't mean to cause such a fuss, but I had some stuff I wanted to talk to her about in person and now seemed as good a time as any.” May looked at her with a warm smile before turning her attention back to Mitch.
"So how was your shift? Beth said you just got back from it, right?"
Lilly smiled to herself, pleased her aunt was still keeping tabs on Mitch. She wondered if Mitch was still estranged from her family.
"A couple of days ago. It was good. Got in all of our scheduled burns. Put out an easy one outside of Dulce Corner," Mitch said with a shrug.
"May said you made Captain?" asked Lilly. She knew Mitch was in it for the long haul and was pleased she'd moved up quite a bit in the last few years. It caused a bittersweet pang in her heart, but she was proud of Mitch.
"Yep. After I finally finished my degree, I went into the management program. I made Captain last year over Fish too. He's still mad." Mitch laughed.
Lilly smiled knowing that wasn't really true. She knew Fish was Mitch's best friend and he always rooted for her in the predominantly male job.
"And how about you? Still with that fitness company?" Mitch asked and Lilly’s eyebrows shot up a bit. How did Mitch know about that?
"Not for a while now. I actually started a consulting firm with a couple of other women. Just turned a profit last year finally," she said with a proud smile and then a pointed look at May who was trying her best to appear innocent.
"Wow, that is impressive. Can't say I'm surprised though. I figured you'd be great at whatever you decided to do," Mitch said with a genuine smile.
Their eyes held for a few long seconds across May’s bed and Lilly had a hard time not tearing up. She was truly taken aback, not only because Mitch had been apparently keeping tabs on her, but at her statement too. Where had this belief in her been ten years ago? Lilly wondered as she felt a weight press down on her chest for a moment.
Before she had more time to ponder these revelations, May yawned loudly. "Well, sweet things, this ole' gal is pretty beat with all these visits today." May looked between her and Mitch, then waved a dismissive hand. "Why don't you two catch up a bit over dinner. I've got Beth's turkey pot pie waiting for me and I don't want to share," she said with a playful scowl.
Mitch looked at Lilly, seemingly waiting for her to take the lead. Lilly stood and kissed her aunt's forehead, caressing her cheek for a second and smiling down at her. "I'll be back first thing in the morning, okay?"
May nodded and then reached out to Mitch. "It was so sweet of you to bring the flowers. I'll see you soon too?"
Mitch smiled and leaned down to hug May. "You bet, May," she said as she pulled away.
When Mitch straightened, May eyed them both and smiled. "Mitch, you should take Lilly to that new Thai restaurant. She hasn't been home since it opened."
Lilly looked at Mitch who was rubbing the back of her neck. She'd seen it a hundred times before and Mitch usually did it when she got nervous or put on the spot. Some things never change.
"I could go for some Thai if you have time," Lilly said, hoping to lessen Mitch’s apparent unease. Or maybe she doesn’t want to and is hesitant to say that in front of May.
"I have time," Mitch smiled, cutting off Lilly's thoughts and Lilly felt an instant, small spark of anticipation as well as some nerves herself. She watched Mitch turn to May. "Have a good rest, May."
"I will, honey. Have a good dinner."
May winked at Lilly. She shook her head and squinted her eyes playfully at her aunt as Mitch made her way to the door. May had mentioned the Thai restaurant on purpose it seemed. She gave her aunt one more kiss to the forehead, this time bending to whisper into her ear, “Subtle as a brick, Aunty.”
Chapter 4
"We don't have to go out to dinner if you don't want to," Mitch said as they approached the exit. Mitch opened the door and gestured for Lilly to go ahead of her, giving Lilly a second to think about Mitch’s words. Her stomach dropped in disappointment at the thought of Mitch not wanting to share a meal with her.
"Would you rather not?" she asked, trying to sound casual.
Mitch paused outside the door and dropped her head with a small sigh. "I feel like I'm walking on eggshells." She kicked at an imaginary pebble and couldn’t meet Lilly’s eyes. It was so unlike the confident, cocky Mitch she knew. Or at least used to know.
"I'm sorry," Lilly said as she felt her disappointment grow. She didn’t know what to expect or how she’d feel seeing Mitch again, but now that she had, she wanted to spend a bit more time with her.
"No need to apologize," Mitch said finally looking up at Lilly, "Obviously it feels strange for both of us."
“I guess you’re right. We haven’t had a proper conversation in years,” Lilly said. But she wanted to now.
"Hey, we're just two ex-girlfriends catching up over dinner. Completely within the realm of lesbian S.O.P." Mitch said with a crooked smile.
"I suppose you are right," Lilly said with an amused, and relieved, chuckle as she followed closely behind Mitch to her beloved Bronco. "I hope you don't mind that I look like I just got off the couch after a long Netflix binge, though.”
"Remember where you are, darlin'," Mitch drawled. "There ain't nothin' too casual for this podunk town."
She laughed as Mitch pulled the Bronco's door open for her.
"But honestly, you always look good, Lilly.”
Lilly side-eyed her with a crooked smile. "I see you haven’t lost your charm." Lilly accused good-naturedly. She climbed in and caught Mitch's eyes that were dancing with mirth. She felt her heart skipped a beat and was surprised Mitch could still elicit that kind of response in her. There are some things time doesn't change, no matter how much we want it to.
When both were settled, Lilly asked, "Is this restaurant really good?"
"It is. Aunt May wasn't lying. I eat there at least twice a week when I'm not on shift," Mitch said as she started the truck.