CHAPTER 17 Lily's POV

I saw William, Andrea, Salvy and Enzo waiting for me in the lobby. My therapist and I extended for an additional 2 hours, I did not expect that they would wait for me. I feel so tired yet so relieved after crying my heart out to her. She said I need to really feel the pain before I can move forward, I need to acknowledge that I was hurt and wounded before I can heal.

Salvy rushed to me and hugged me. "Are you okay my angioletto? Do you need anything?" He whispered to me, he gently cleaned my tear stained face with his handkerchief and kissed my cheeks.

I feel the familiar warmth on my face due to blushing. I gave him a smile and nodded. He patted my head and took my hand. I love the way he holds my hand, his hands are big and rough but it always gives me a sense of belongingness that I was always meant to be on his side.

I rolled my eyes, the trio is having another weird argument. It's Andrea versus William and Enzo.

"You've been arguing for 3 hours. Stop it now or I will have to end it and I assure you, you guys will not like it." Salvy warned, his tone was so authoritative and scary that the three immediately stopped talking and sat straighter on their chairs.

"Let's go. I'm hungry" He said and motioned the three to stand up.

The three hurriedly left us. "See you in the lake Lily" William said while running away. Why did he leave me here? I think Salvy is also mad at me.

Salvy turned his head to me. I flinched, I'm afraid that he would also raise his voice at me.

He gently cups my face and strokes my cheeks using his thumb. "Are you feeling sick? Sleepy? What's wrong? We can go home and just go to the lake some other time." he said in a soft voice, his blue eyes filled with concern.

"I-I thought you we-were mad at me for making you wait" I lowered my head.

"Why will I ever be mad at you my angioletto?" He kissed my forehead. "I chose to wait for you because I was worried. I'm sorry if I scared you earlier, they were bickering non stop and I don't want you to be their mediator and babysitter tonight." He explained.

"S-sorry for thi-thinking too negatively" I whispered.

"Don't apologize my angioletto, I should not have raised my voice in front of you. I'll find another way to scare those three idiots" he winked at me.

I giggled and nodded my head, He held my hand again and we went to the forest near the building.

The lake is hidden by the forest, there is an old path you can follow to go to it. The lake still looks breathtaking. The reflection of the light posts on the water made the lake look like it's glowing.

William saw me and waved his hand. I sat beside William and Salvy sat next to me. Salvy prepared my plate while Andrea and Enzo weirdly looked at me.

"Why are you looking at Lily like that?" William asked and tried to cover my face with a paper plate.

"They are what?" Salvy raised his head and gave the siblings a questioning look.

The two stared at each other and started to laugh. "We were just ahmm fascinated?" Enzo said.

"This is the first time we saw you do something for someone else. We are just wondering if Lily is a Goddess or something." Andrea added.

"She is an angel. MY angioletto." He emphasized the word "My" and continued preparing my plate.

"I have a feeling you will be our future cousin in law. Welcome to the family." Enzo said, he stood up and opened his arms to me, motioning me for a hug.

"Do you want to have a broken nose or wrist?" Salvy asked, in a sickly sweet voice.

Enzo shook his head and immediately went back to his seat.

William and Andrea laughed, Enzo rolled his eyes and opened a can of beer.

Salvy put a plate and a bottle of water in front of me. "Eat my angioletto. You had a long day." he said. I nodded and started eating.

We were all done eating and currently drinking. Andrea and I are drinking wine while the boys are drinking beer.

"Are we going to swim?" Enzo asked.

"Yeah William, are you going to swim?" Andrea said with a smile.

"No, We don't have extra clothes and Lily easily catches a cold." William said.

Andrea looked at me and wiggled her eyebrows.

"But I can just watch, You guys can swim." I told him.

"No need. I'm worried about you." He said with a fake concern.

I rolled my eyes, He just doesn't want to embarrass himself. He is always excited to go to a lake, beach or any body of water not because he likes it but just to flaunt his body. He also can't swim but always lies about it.

"Come on, Just wear your boxers or briefs. The ladies won't mind." Enzo added.

"We both have seen it. It's not that impressive." Andrea shrugs.

"Wait. How? Why? When?" Enzo asked.

"All of us skinny dipped in a beach." she answered while sipping her wine.

Salvy looked at me with disbelief. "You too?" he questioned.

I shook my head. "I dared them to skinny dip and they happily followed it." I clarify.

"Wow, I thought you were just a bunch of nerds and stuck up. Who would have thought you guys can be fun." Enzo said. He patted Andrea and William's shoulders.

"The sea police saw us and we ran for our lives. They thought we were harassing Lily and our poor Lily had to explain it was a dare." William said, wiping a fake tear on his eyes.

I covered my face with my hands. The embarrassment I had that day was too much, I was a stuttering mess, they all thought I was a victim of a crime. Salvy's hand is stroking my back to comfort me.

"What the? Sea police?" Salvy laughed.

"Yes, He is an officer patrolling the beach. Sea police." Andrea answered.

"Y-you guys were mean. I h-had to explain everything alone, why you were na-naked and that I was not being forced to be there" I said and threw grapes at William and Andrea.

They both raised their hands to surrender. "Sorry? But it was your idea. we know that you can get away with anything. Look at you" William points at me. "You look so innocent." he explained.

I rolled my eyes. "Yes yeah, whatever." I point to the lake "Swim, Come on! You can swim right?" I taunt him.

"Yes. I can swim, I just don't want to." He said.

Andrea whispered something to Enzo. Enzo stood up and pulled William's hand. William stood up and Enzo carried William bridal style. William tried to break away but Enzo was too strong. The trio ran to the farther side of the lake and left us behind. We laughed when he heard William's faint screaming, I think he'll be fine.