Finding Lily

Chapter Nine

I woke up feeling surprisingly relaxed and well-rested. Jeremiah hadn't made it to my room as he had promised, or maybe he did, but I was already out like a light. The exhaustion from catching up on my chores left me too drained to even think about showering. Instead, I lay there, wrapped in the warmth of my bed, the soft morning light filtering through the curtains.

I stretched my arms overhead, letting out a contented sigh.  I reluctantly peeled myself out of bed and headed to the bathroom. The refreshing water cascaded over me, washing away any sleepiness from my body and readying myself for a busy day ahead. Jeremiah's absence this morning weighed on my mind. It was unlike him to break a promise, but then again, he might have been just as tired as I was last night. I made a mental note to check on him later.

I had to get myself ready for the day ahead, attempting to apply some light makeup that I hoped wouldn't turn me into a complete stranger in the mirror. Anything that didn't make me look sickly was a win in my book. As I tried to perfect the balance between looking presentable and not overdoing it, I couldn't help but think that makeup was just modern-day wizardry for our faces.

Remembering Mr. Wilson's advice about wearing comfortable shoes, I opted for a pair of trusty sneakers. Standing for long hours, especially during the dinner rush and Happy Hour, was no joke. I knew my feet would thank me later for this choice.

I checked my watch to ensure I wouldn't be late for my first shift. With one last glance at my outfit, I sighed and decided it was as good as it would get for the day. Taking a deep breath, I reached for my phone, texting Jeremiah to meet me at the restaurant for our part-time job.

I was taken aback as I opened my door to find Oliver standing at my bedroom door. In his hands, he held a plate with a sandwich neatly arranged on it. The surprise must have shown on my face because he flashed me a charming smile.

"Hey," Oliver greeted, his gray eyes twinkling with amusement. "I thought I'd bring you some breakfast. Consider it a friendly welcome to the day."

I was momentarily stunned, both by his unexpected presence and the kind gesture. "Oh, wow, thanks, Oliver," I stammered, taking the plate from him. "That's really thoughtful of you."

"Rose actually put me up to this," Oliver confessed with a sheepish smile. "Practically shoved it to me but I'm not complaining. "

I chuckled, shaking my head at the thought of Rose's matchmaking antics. "Well, she certainly has a way of being persuasive."

Oliver laughed in agreement. "That she does."

There was a moment of silence as I fidgeted with my shirt and balanced the plate in my hand. Oliver let out a small laugh. "You seem a bit nervous," he observed, his gray eyes studying me with curiosity. 

I nodded, a small smile playing on my lips. "Well, it's not every day that I start my morning with an unexpected breakfast delivery."

Oliver flashed a playful grin, his gray eyes gleaming with mischief. "Ah, you're saying you'd prefer a more traditional breakfast-in-bed scenario?"

My cheeks turned a shade of pink, and I bit my lip, feeling a rush of shyness. "Oh, um, I mean... It's not like I expect it or anything."

"Ahem." 

My cheeks flushed even more as Jeremiah cleared his throat, holding a single flower in his hand. He shot a sly grin at Oliver. "Well, well, what do we have here? Lily, looks like you've got yourself a breakfast delivery service, huh?"

Oliver didn't miss a beat, shooting back with a smirk, "And I see you're offering some budget-friendly floral arrangements. How charming."

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at their banter. "Boys, can we save the insults for later? I've got a job to do."