Lily's Mistake (2 page)

I miss my dad at the oddest times. It used to be all six of us vacationing here, but now it’s just four of us. Mom decided at the last minute to join her friend in Paris for a whole month. It’s only been a little over a year since my dad’s passing, but I still miss him like mad. I guess this hole in my life will stay there forever and I will never be quite the same.

I bite my lip and start to walk towards the kitchen when Drake speaks, “You’re going alone to a beach party tonight?”

Oh, now he’s talking to me? “No. I have a date. In fact, he’s picking me at four, so that leaves me another hour,” I announce over my shoulder and continue walking towards the kitchen.

I get a mango from the fruit bowl on the granite kitchen counter and grab a knife when Drake joins me, sitting on the counter next to the chopping board.

“Who’s your date?” I can feel his eyes following me.

Why the sudden concern?

Peeling off the mango skin with quick ease, I immediately chop it in half before I respond, “His name’s Ricardo, why?”

“I don’t want you going on dates, Lil. You’re too innocent for those things.” He takes a piece of mango and pops it into his lush mouth.

My eyes are glued to his pink lips. His Adam’s apple bobs and I begin to study his masculine neck. Everything about him is completely masculine, truly sexy. And that hot, handsome face, where do I begin with that? I want him so bad, but he never notices me that way. I guess I’m not pretty or sexy enough for him.

Well, I’m tired of waiting for him to come to his senses, anyway.

Yeah, I’ve been waiting! It’s obvious to anyone with eyes that I adore and love Drake. I’ve declined each guy who asked me out all through high school because there was never a doubt in my mind that I’ll only ever want Drake. To me, no one else comes close. I even had enough balls to throw myself at him during New Year’s Eve, but he pushed me off.

“Stop drinking, Lily. Being a slut doesn’t suit you.” Said by the very man, himself, when he rejected me.

Too bad! Tonight, I will let loose.

Tonight, I’m finally getting rid of my virginity; thank you very much. The chosen man is the hot Brazilian, Ricardo Belmonte!

I shrug. “Not for long, I won’t!” I saunter in my hot pink, bikini clad body towards the open patio doors, sit on one of the cushioned loungers and enjoy the view with my mangoes.

“Hold on, Lily. You can’t be serious, right? You barely know this Ricardo dude! You can’t just do that!” Drake sits across from me only wearing his surfer shorts.

He doesn’t even bother checking out my almost naked body. See what I mean? He’s immune to me. I shrug, hurt. Whatever, life moves on.

I try to train my eyes away from those perfect washboard abs and those metallic grey eyes. Why does he have to be so fucking hot??? His dirty blonde hair even has that sexy out-of-the-bed look. I guess it’s just my luck that I had to grow up with the most handsome guy I have ever laid eyes on. A guy who doesn’t clearly feel the same about me, but I’ve decided to start living. Eighteen is the start of self-discovery and I plan to do just that.

“Whatever, Drake. Is that all?” I take a bite from a mango slice and lick my fingers.
I love me some mangoes,
I think happily.

“No, it’s not ALL. It’s a stupid idea, Lil. You’re not stupid, so don’t do stupid things that you will soon regret.”

I sit up from the lounger and face him. “You’re one to talk! What’s your problem anyway? Now you’re talking to me? You think I haven’t noticed how you’ve tried to ignore me the entire time we’ve been here? I’m not an idiot, Drake. I told you I was sorry about what happened during New Year’s, but for some reason, you still feel weird about it.” I screech. When I glance at him, his eyes are on my breasts, but he immediately drags them away and stares at the sea instead. Sigh.

“This is not about New Year’s, Lil. You know what? Do whatever you want!” He sounds angry as he gets up, leaving for the beach. His well sculpted back and bottom are even gorgeous!

Great! I really need to get over it!

It’s high time Drake Tatum moves out of my mind and hopefully out of my heart.

“You look very beautiful, Lily, mi belleza!” Ricardo purrs. We are at the restaurant we agreed to meet up at. The party is close by and he wants us to grab something to eat before partying it up.

“Gracias, Ricardo.” I kiss his tanned cheek. He leads us inside the restaurant where we are immediately escorted by the hostess to a table overlooking the breathtakingly beautiful Caribbean Sea.

I don’t consider myself in the ‘knockout’ department, but some guys find me appealing. I’m five-seven, have long, dark brown hair, amber/hazel eyes, but I’m quite lacking in the breast department with my B-cups. The only redeemable asset I have is my perky bottom. My lithe, toned body is thanks to my night time swim routine and my dedication to Pilates.

We hit the beach party right around six and the sun is setting beautifully in the backdrop. Spanish raggaeton music is blaring loud on the speakers. I have already had two strawberry margaritas and am loving the carefree beach ambiance.

Ricardo and I go over to the bar and he orders four shots of Patron.

“To mi belleza and to your beautiful vacation in Mexico!” Ricardo holds up his shot glass.

“Cheers, Ricky Ricardo!” I hoot back and take the shots back to back. The Patron burns smoothly as it goes down my throat and into my stomach. “Ahh!” I shiver.

“Come on, time to party!”

Ricardo hugs my hips as we grind to the music. I’m pretty much plastered, but I don’t care much because I’m letting go and finally having fun!

I giggle when Ricardo’s lips find the back of my ear. “You smell good, Belleza.”

“GET YOUR HANDS OFF HER!” Drake yanks me off Ricardo in an instant. I blink a few times. My hazy, drunk-filled state confuses me for a second.

“Drake!”

“Hey! She’s my girl. Go look for a different one to tango with, no? She’s mine!” a drunken Ricky Ricardo says.

“Lily’s always been mine.”

“Mierda!” Ricardo cusses before he leaves for the bar.

“Hey!” I call out to him, but Drake drags me away from the party and stomps up the shoreline that leads to the villa. It’s half a mile away and I’ll be damned if I’m walking that far drunk.

“What the FUCK Drake! I’m going back to the party!” I try to detach my arm from his tight hold, but he holds me closer.

“Let me go, Drake!”

“Don’t fight me off Lily. You’re drunk!” We stop walking as he glares at me with those steel eyes. Shit, the moonlight makes him look like a dark, hot… sexy panther.

Earth to Lily, hello?
I swallow.
Get a grip Lil, seriously!

“What are you doing, Drake?” I whisper to him, searching the depths of his ice grey eyes.

“We’ll talk about it once we get to the villa,” he says, turning on his heel and starting to walk again.

I look back at the party and realize that we’ve been walking for quite some time now. In the distance, the beach is alight with the full moon. I stop to take in the scene and try to calm my hammering heart. Why is Drake acting out of character? He’s never acted this way.

Maybe he realizes he loves me after all? Fat chance… but what if that is it?

“Drake, stop.”

“What?” he asks over his shoulder, but doesn’t stop to gaze at the beautiful moonlit sea.

I’m unsure of how to broach the subject, but it’s now or never. It’s just him and me out here tonight. Surely he’s not going to push me away?

“Why are you acting like a jealous boyfriend? I thought you said you weren’t interested…” I bite my lip as I see him stomp towards me. His chiseled body looks even more appealing with the moonlight highlighting the planes of his body and his eyes are a smoldering, liquid silver.

My body starts to tremor just looking at the handsome creature before me. His face is masked with something I can’t quite figure out, it’s intense and forbidding. We stand there for a good minute, staring at each other. Wondering what the fuck is going on. “Drake…”

“You shouldn’t want a man like me, Lil. I’m not good enough for you.” Drake sounds serious; however, I’m having none of it.

No… You’re even better… I’ve never met anyone like you. The rest of the men lack brilliance when compared to you…

“Why would you say that? You’re the only one I want.” I move closer, feeling brazen when he doesn’t move away. I stand on my tiptoes and lick his lips. He tastes of salt and something masculine. My heart is beating erratically; I feel exhilarated and faint at the same time from being so close to him. “I want you… I want you to be the one to take my virginity away.”

I feel Drake’s chest heave before he rasps out, “I don’t think you get what I’m trying to tell you here…”

Yes, I’m not dense, but I want you so much, Drake Tatum. I’ve loved you for so long. Tonight, I will have you… even for a little while.

“I do, but would you rather I do it with someone else then, like Ricardo, perhaps?” I know I’m playing with fire… but I’m desperate. I want Drake to see me as a woman. A woman he can be with and desire—not the little girl with frilly dresses that would follow him around.

“Don’t even go there, Lil,” he resigns, heavily huffing and continues on, “OKAY, if this is what you want, then meet me on the veranda in fifteen minutes. Go get ready because there will be no backing out once you come to me. Think it through, okay?”

What else was there to think through? It’s what I’ve wanted; what I’ve waited for.

Present

Drake shows me the world that night as he takes me underneath the stars on the patio bed.

The next day I realize that world has two sides.  One world of ceaseless ecstasy and one full of crumbled, guttered and wretched pain from having your love thrown back at you.

Yes, Drake Tatum irrevocably broke my heart and I will never, ever forget it.

“I will be upstairs, Dear,” Patricia Tatum says.

It’s a quarter before nine and she is being kind enough to guide me on my first day of work in Tatum Worldwide, Inc. I suppose she needed to make sure that I will really go through with her plans.

“Okay, I’m coming into the parking lot now. Be up soon,” I respond before cutting off the call.

I’m a nervous wreck. I’ve been up since five this morning and already had two cups of coffee. I skipped on breakfast because I didn’t think I could keep anything down, but who could blame me? I haven’t seen Drake in eight years—eight long years after that fiasco in Mexico. I did wait around for him, even going overboard by trying to visit him at Colombia, but he emailed me stating that he was with someone and wouldn’t appreciate my intrusion. After his rebuff, I finally realized what little I meant to him; if I ever meant anything to him at all.

I’m dressed in a fitted black skirt suit and my favorite black pumps. I need to look professional and still pull-off the slick and sexy look. Heck, yes! Given the circumstances, I will not go in there looking drab and dowdy, my pride won’t allow it.

Once inside the large marbled building, I immediately seek the reception desk. They have already been informed about me and have my security pass ready.

I smirk when I see my picture was actually taken two years ago. I’m sure she got that from my mother. Patricia Tatum really is adamant about booting the woman in her son’s life. I guess the mother-in-laws really are the ones to watch out for, right?

Following what I’ve been instructed to do, I dart towards a separate private elevator. My security card is cleared for all levels; however, this elevator goes straight to the top floor. I’ve been informed that the top floor houses only Drake’s and Hugh’s offices.

As I step out, I can see that the offices are decorated in all glass and white walls; everything looks crisp and pristine. The black marbled floor is so shiny, I’m sure I could use it as a mirror.

“Miss Lily Alexander? Hello, I’m Suzy Summers, the floor receptionist.” A smiling petite blonde rushes towards me and holds out a hand.

“Hello, Suzy. How do you do?” I smile back, taking her outstretched hand and shaking it.

“I’m awesome. Mrs. Hugh is in Mr. Drake’s office. She’s been waiting for you. You can go through those large doors on the left and Mindy, his secretary, will be there to assist you further.” I graciously thank her and head towards the direction she gave me.