I groaned when my phone vibrated for the second or third time. Rolling onto my side, I was surprised to find Lily next to me.

After our talk and the marathon sex that had followed, I’d passed the fuck out. But she was up all night. Pacing. Fiddling with her phone. Picking through the leftovers on the tray of midnight snacks we’d ordered. If my mama was to be believed, I could sleep through a tornado. But not last night. Every time the bed dipped, I was wide awake, reaching for my girl. It was like I couldn’t rest comfortably without her. Weird.

When I couldn’t put it off any longer I sat up and scrubbed a hand over my face. With the blackout drapes pulled tight, the room was dark. Eerily quiet. But the glowing numbers on the alarm clock read 11:25.

Grabbing my phone, I shot the guys a group text on my way to the bathroom to jump into the shower.

Meet you out front at 1:30

When I finished getting ready, Lily was in the same position, curled on her side in a ball. She looked so peaceful, I couldn’t wake her. Snatching my boots from the floor, I headed to the living room before I changed my mind.

Since I still had a lot of time to kill, I flopped onto the couch with my laptop to check my messages. And that’s when I saw the email from Abigail. Lily must’ve used my computer to check her webmail. And for a split second I was relieved. I thought maybe Marcus had told his wife about the confrontation with Brad, and Abigail was writing to offer some kind of support.

But no.

I scanned the first line and my heart sank.

Lillian,

After the spectacle you made of yourself at the ballet, it has become apparent that your father and I have made some grave mistakes. Your dalliance with that musician is nothing more than a cry for help. Help that we are prepared to offer.

I would be remiss if I did not point out that I feel you have chosen a career path that is an utter waste of time and completely without merit. I am a supporter of the arts. After all, it was I who sought out the art-centered therapy to help you with your handicap when you were just a child. Not that it did much good. I couldn’t help but notice during our brief interaction that your speech impediment is more pronounced than ever. Are you taking steps to rectify the situation, Lillian, or have you chosen to embrace your disability and give up?

As I understand it, there is $24,800 that is due and payable before you will be eligible to graduate. It is unfortunate that your indiscretion with your musician friend cost you your job at the Mansion. Their $10,000 employee contribution would have gone a long way toward reducing your debt at the university. I dare say that your job as a barmaid will not go far in helping you meet your goal.

Your father and I have generously agreed to wipe this debt from your record. In addition, we will purchase a car for your graduation as a gesture of good will. I will use all my resources to persuade the museum or gallery of your choice to hire you.

As for the terms, they are simple. You will move back home, enter an intensive program for your speech impediment, and above all, you will cease all contact with Cameron Noble. You know as well as I that he will do nothing more than use you, possibly passing you off to one of his friends when he is through. And while you may be fine with that, I simply won’t allow you to ruin your reputation, and our good name.

Should you choose not to accept the help I offer, the degree you worked so hard to pursue will slip from your grasp.

In the end, Lillian, you’ll come to realize that I’m doing this for your own good. Someday, when you have children of your own, you’ll thank me.

Stunned, I slumped against the cushions. Marcus had said that he wanted Lily to be happy. Obviously, we had different ideas about what happiness meant. Locking Lily up and forcing her to live by their rules would never bring her any joy.

Is this what her life had been like?

The band around my heart pulled tight, and I knew it was Lily, calling to me without words. I wasn’t an artist, not like her, but I could paint a portrait with my music. And sinking onto the floor beside the bed, with only Lily’s soft breath for inspiration, that’s exactly what I did.