The Neighbor Favor(80)

Oliver grinned. “See, that’s why I’d like to go and give my proper assessment. And I thought maybe since you share a name with the restaurant, you might like to go too.” Then he winced. “That was worded weirdly. What I mean to say is, Would you like to have dinner with me tonight?”

“Oh.” Lily blinked. She shouldn’t have been surprised, but so much had happened in the last couple days, she’d forgotten that they’d agreed to reschedule their date.

Oliver was looking at her, patiently waiting for her response. He was friendly. He was direct. He made sense. This was a normal way to start dating someone. There were no yearlong emails or secrets or confusing feelings.

So much else in her life was currently up in the air. She didn’t know where her next job would be or where she would live after she left Violet’s. If she was going to date, she wanted it to be simple. Uncomplicated.

She took a deep breath and asked Oliver what time she should meet him in the lobby.



* * *



? ? ?

Lillie’s victorian establishment was crowded during happy hour, but after about thirty minutes, Lily and Oliver were seated at a booth near the kitchen. Oliver was delighted by the red velvet couches and Victorian era–inspired paintings on the walls. Lily was relieved that he found the decor to be good fun and not corny.

They’d both ordered burgers and fries, and Oliver spent a lot of time telling Lily about the training he was doing for his upcoming 5K race. It was fascinating, really. She’d never been an athlete herself, so hearing about how Oliver was so dedicated to getting his body into shape was inspiring.

She told him about her desire to work in children’s publishing, and Oliver asked all the right questions: What were her favorite children’s books growing up, and if she could work with any famous children’s author, who would she choose?

It was a perfectly fine date. Lovely even.

But Lily couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing. And it wasn’t Oliver’s fault at all. She kept picturing the way Tomcat had smacked around his new feather toy that morning, and then she thought of the way Nick had gently carried Tomcat in his arms the entire way to the hospital a couple weeks ago.

She knew that there was no room for Oliver. Someone else had already burrowed his way into her heart first.

Oliver excused himself to use the bathroom, and when he returned, Lily knew she had to tell him the truth. She wasn’t going to continue wasting his time.

“All right, I’ll admit the situation in the loo is a bit weird,” Oliver said as he sat down again. “I don’t think I need a portrait of Prince Albert watching me the whole time.”

Lily laughed, but then quickly sobered. “Oliver, I want to be honest with you.”

“Okay,” Oliver said, becoming serious.

“I think you are so funny and kind, and if I’d met you this time last year, I’d probably be crazy about you. But the truth is that I can’t stop thinking about someone else, and you deserve to be involved with someone who is completely available in all ways. Plus, Dani likes you.”

Oliver raised an eyebrow. “Does she, really?”

Lily nodded. “She wants you to bring her to London.”

He laughed and, sporting a thoughtful expression, leaned back in his chair. “Is the person you can’t stop thinking about the guy from the bar the other night? The tall one?”

“Yes,” Lily admitted.

“I felt like there might have been something between you two, but I wasn’t sure.”

“I’m really sorry.”

Oliver smiled a little. “You don’t have to apologize. It is what it is. And now you know way more information about the life of a runner than you probably need to.”

Lily smiled too. “And now you know more about the differences between The Princess Diaries book and the movie adaptation.”

“Can I ask you a question, though?” he said, and Lily nodded. “Why did you decide to come out tonight with me? Why aren’t you with him?”

“Our situation is messy, and I don’t know if it’s worth trying to fix.”

“If moving across an ocean has taught me anything, it’s that sometimes things in life are messy, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t worth it.”

She knew that Oliver was right, but that didn’t make her feel any less afraid of trying to move forward with Nick.

“Would it be weird to ask if we could still be friends?” she said.

Oliver winced. “I’d rather not.”

“Oh, of course,” Lily said quickly. “I totally understand—”

He burst out laughing. “I’m joking! Of course we can still be mates. You’re one of the now six people that I know in this city. I can’t cut you off already.”

He was grinning, and Lily sighed in relief.

“Thanks, Oliver,” she said. “Really.”

“So,” he said. “What can you tell me about Dani?”



* * *



? ? ?

Later, after she and Oliver parted ways, Lily walked home. It was a beautiful New York City night. Hot, but not grossly humid. And as she passed block after block on her way toward her and Violet’s apartment, she decided to accept the truth. When it came to Nick, she was a lost cause. Despite everything, she wanted to be with him.