5. Family Weekend.
Lily's Pov.
After our deep conversation, Lucas takes Emma to their room and I go to my childhood room. My bag is already there so I take out my shorts and short sleeve pink t-shirt saying 'I blush'.
After quick shower, I look around my room and see nothing has changed here. Lucas and Emma had made sure to keep this room clean and as it is. I look at my green board where I pinned our photos and some school stuff. Some detective works too.
I sit down at my bed and run my fingers through my hairs. I have got to cut some length. It reaches my hips now and I don't have time to handle my hairs. Even Ethan needs a haircut. Maybe we would go to a saloon on Sunday. I will see to it in the morning.
I lay down on bed but sleep is far from my eyes. I try to see Ryan and our relationship in every perspective but don't get it how I can think about being with a person in only five days.
If I have started dating a man, I would have tried to know him first before doing anything else. I put Ryan on that man's place and a smile comes to my face. Maybe I should try to know him first then maybe I would be sure.
And he also said I could make rules. We would have to keep it a secret in company but I would have to keep it secret from others too especially Richard. I also have to keep it a secret from Ryan that his father is my god father.
Richard Anderson has kept his god children secret as he doesn't want them to get in limelight. So he has not even told about them to his sons. Heather has also not been in much contact with us.
I will tell Ryan about it when I think our relationship is somewhere good. It is not that much of a big deal anyway. Emma wouldn't tell anyone about our talk. Sleep takes me it's embrace as I make my decision.
I wake up early next morning with springs in my feet. I shower and get ready before anyone wakes up and make breakfast for everyone. I make pancakes and Ethan comes in the kitchen as he rubs his eyes.
"Pancakes!" Ethan exclaims as he gets wiff of it and sleep immediately leaves his eyes.
"Did you brushed your teeth?" I ask him and he runs towards his parent's room to wake them up.
I lay down everything on table after ten minute and they all come out together. We have breakfast then I help Emma pack up her things for their one day trip to beach and resort.
They would be back late afternoon tomorrow just in the time for baby shower. Ethan and I wave them goodbye as they leave. Emma was on the verge of crying for leaving Ethan behind but I told her that she needs this and I want to spend some quality time with my nephew too.
Ethan is already bathed so we go out to spend the day at different place. I already made plan what to do. First we visit a zoo which takes half of our afternoon then we have lunch of burgers and fries.
After that we go for my last minute shopping. I buy some decorating stuff and little baby girl's things too. I book an appointment in a family saloon for me and Ethan. Emma gave me permission to cut his hairs as it is irritating him.
After his nap, I make some sandwiches and brownies for us. We watch his favourite cartoon movie as we eat our dinner. After I wash the dishes, I take him to my room to sleep. I tell him story and he goes to sleep.
Next day, I let Ethan sleep for a while as I ready the things for baby shower. I only have to decorate as I already ordered cake and other small things like macrons, muffins and pastries from backery.
I also told a nearby cafe to make tea sandwiches, veggies with dip and other things. Ethan wakes up and I get him ready for our 10 o' clock appointment. As the saloon is nearby, we take a little walk to get there.
When we reach saloon, it takes us an hour. First Ethan gets a haircut which makes him look so handsome, I kiss him on the cheeks. As my turn comes, Ethan gets busy with some drawings that a staff gave him.
They suggested to highlight my hairs but I didn't wanted to experiment anything. So I just got haircut. I make sure that my hairs are neither too short nor too long in length. And in the end it reaches to the little lower to the middle of my back with slight curls at the end.
Ethan kisses my hairs after he looks at me. His hairs are dark brown color just like Lucas. We come back to house and start decorating the backyard with floral arrangements. Some of Emma's co-workers helps us too.
Soon our orders arrive just half hour before they would arrive. We arrange everything and Emma's mom, Grace arrives. I get changed into white floor length floral maxi dress and while Grace sees to the guest arriving.
After ten minutes, Emma and Lucas arrive in the driveway and when they open the door, we surprise her. She literally cries when she see the arrangements. After Grace and I help her get changed, the baby shower start in full flow. Ethan ad Lucas take their snacks and go their room to watch some TV while we give gifts to Emma.
Her mom gave her set of newly mother's and baby's care kit. Emma's boss sent a crib through her colleagues and her colleagues together gave her things for nursery. Then my turn came and I go to my room to bring it.
"Tomorrow you and your mother is going for spa. I actually won this, so I thought you need it more than me right now." I say as I give her the coupons.
"What was the need?" Emma starts but shush her.
"And this is your gift?" I say as I give her a big box.
"It is beautiful." Emma says as she opens the gift to see different types of clothes used for baby and mom.
It has things needed for feeding. Nursing pillow, breast pump, burp cloth, nursing bras, breast pads, etc. After that I got gift from Emma which she bought for me in case I arrange a baby shower. She gifts scented candles for bathing. She also gives me wind chimes as I like that a lot.
We play some games till late evening and after snacks they all leave. Emma gets exhausted so she goes straight to bed after changing and I stay back to clean up a bit.
Ethan comes in front of me and looks at me with cute puppy face and I know what he wants. I look around and give him one big piece of cake that is left. He gives me a spoonful of it then goes behind sofa to hide and eat his treat.
"You will spoil him." Grace says as she comes back after getting changed to help me. Lucas is in the garden taking the decoration out.
"Am I? I think I saw two pastries in his hand before you left. And if I am not wrong I put them out of Ethan's reach." I say as I raise my brows at her.
"Fine. We are both spoiling him." Grace says as she chuckles.
"Well you have to say when he makes that face you want to just give anything you have in your hand." I say as I clean up some dishes.
"He is just like his mother in that. Emma used to pout just like that. Kids they grow up so fast." Grace says as she put fresh food in the fridge.
"Yes they do but then you can get grand kids." I say as I wink and she smiles.
"I have to say I am looking forward to seeing my granddaughter. What should I name her?" She says and I look at her.
"Wait a second old lady. You got your chance last time with Ethan. This time I am going to name her." I say as I look at her with hands on my hips.
"Old lady? For your kind information man still asks me out for dates." She says with huff.
"Really? I doubt that." I say and she glares at me.
"You have grown to bold, let me teach some lesson." She says and runs behind me but I dodge her.
Grace and my relationship is very different. At first we were not even talking that much but now we tease each other whenever we meet. She became very good friend of mine over the years.
After Lucas's time out between us, we finish our work then leave other things for maid Lucas has hired for a month. I shower and get changed into night suit.
Tomorrow is going to be difficult. I have so many things to do but most importantly I have to tell Ryan about my decision. I really hope this works out for best and that I am not making any wrong decision but it doesn't feels like wrong decision at all. I have to just take a leap rather than regretting of not doing it or because of fear of falling.
Next day, I wake up and take a quick shower. I get ready in grey jumpsuit and tie my hairs in a professional bun. I pack my bags and pack some macrons and muffins too. I heat up some food for breakfast and fry some eggs for Emma and Ethan.
Grace and Emma would drop Ethan to his preschool and then go for their spa appointment. Later I will pick Ethan up at lunch break and bring him with me as Lucas has meeting with his team at that time.
Lucas and I leave together in his car, so I put my stuff in the back of his car. Later before leaving for my apartment I will take them. Before we reach office, I tell him to stop in front of a cafe.
When we reach the company, I give Bob the main guard and Maggie the receptionist some muffins and macrons. Then I go my way and Lucas goes his way. As I am bit late, I have to make coffee very fast.
I make his coffee and mine too by adding little chocolate in mine and cream too. His coffee is way to strong for me when I lasted tasted it. I don't know how he like it so strong and bitter. I cannot survive without spicy and sweet things.
Maggie calls me to let me know that he is here. I already have scheduled everything ready for him, even the answer for his question but then out of nowhere I remember his smirk in the lift.
Would he consider I am easy to him? I mean would he take me for granted if I said yes too soon? Maybe or maybe not. I have to see this by myself. I should delay giving him straight answer just to know if he is not over confident or if he is serious.
I put his coffee in his cabin as there is nothing to do for an hour right now he must have intentionally made sure not to arrange anything at this time to talk to me. I have to think about something.
He comes in his office and we greet each other casually. Then I tell him about his schedule and go out for some work as I remember that I have to make some call for today's meeting. I rush out before he could ask anything else.
I get busy because of busy schedule as I drink my coffee. I am so concentrated on computer that I don't even notice Ryan standing in front of me. And when I do he looks at me with hunger in his eyes. I gulp the last of my coffee with difficulty.
He forwards his hand and wipes away some of the cream that was spread against my lips with his thumb. He then sucks at the cream on his thumb with sensuous look. For few seconds I hold my breath as he looks at me in warning then goes in the cabin after leaving a note on my desk. I gingerly take the note and read it.
'You have till evening to say no. If I don't get any answer I will consider yes without any rules from your side. So put your terms before that.'
Seriously how could he just do that. I look around to make sure no camera had seen this and I see the camera lights were off then suddenly it blinks and again starts recording. Did he just closed all camera to do this?
He is so smart and so overwhelming. And I am so helpless before him when he does things like that out of nowhere. His whole demeanor changes when he does that and I feel certain pull towards him.
I have to give him reply by evening with my set of rules. I text him to talk about it in the evening. And he text back to say that we will have dinner together and talk. The phone drops from my hand with thud.
First date and I am going like this. I don't know what is the rush. Is he expecting to sleep with me at first date? No I already cleared it up with him. I should act casual like it is my first blind date with me dictating some rules.
I wrote some of them down on my phone just to keep me prepared and ready for it.
Keep it a secret for time being so as not get media attention.
Have to be totally professional during office hours.
Richard and my family should not know about this at all.
At least we should date for more than a month before taking next step.
Have to keep all this rules in my mind.
I breathe with relief after I set rules then get back to work. At lunch time, I go to pick up Ethan and we have lunch of pizza and fries. Then we come back to my office and he spends time beside me in my cubicle while I work.
Ryan comes out and smiles at Ethan. They talk to each other after I introduce them and Ethan talks non stop to him. After a while, he leaves for his appointment with his friends.
After two hours, Lucas takes Ethan with him and I wave him goodbye. Ryan would be late and would come at the time I would be leaving. Then I remember my bags are with Lucas. I go to parking lot where I again see Lucas with Ryan together.
"Let me drop you." Lucas says but I shake my head.
"Where do you live?" Ryan asks me.
"In Queens." I say as Lucas and Ryan's company is in Manhattan.
"I am going that way only I will drop you. And congratulations Lucas." Ryan says.
"Thanks for both. I would be relieved." Lucas says as he helps put my bag in Ryan's convertible.
Ryan opens the passenger seat door for me and after waving at Lucas, I sit inside. Ryan joins me in few seconds then we start to leave. We stay in silence for few minutes then Ryan removes pin from my hairs suddenly. My hairs casscade down my back.
"Did you cut some length of your hairs?" He asks as he looks at me.
"Yes. They were too long." I say as I don't know what else to say. This is so awkward and I am so nervous.
"Where do you want to go for dinner?" Ryan asks.
"Somewhere where no one knows us?" I say.
I look at Ryan to see him thinking then asking, "So what is your decision?"
"I am alerting you that I never dated so I don't know how this goes on. But I have made some ground rules which will give me time to understand these all and you." I say.
"So I guess it is yes then?" Ryan asks as he looks at the road and smiles.
"Yes." I say as I look away.