Lily's POV

The weeks following Finn's birthday party were a blur. The party was amazing until Rachel showed up and kissed Finn. Despite her scheming, Finn had a wonderful time and loved his birthday gifts. The day after his birthday, I could hardly move, a testament to the number of orgasms I had.

Besides that special present, Finn also got me matching earrings to the butterfly necklace he gave me last week. He had given me the necklace as a bribe when I wasn't speaking to him because of the surprise party. I've reminded him that he needs to spend his money wisely – and he's reminded me that spending it on me is wise, I swear he needs to remember he's still a university student.

I filled Kam and Jen in on how much Finn loved his birthday present, and now Jen has dubbed herself the Maestro of Gifts. She has begged Kam to let her get Shawn's presents, insisting they'll be more 'Jen-tastic'—her words, not mine—to which Kam has threatened to block her on socials.

The shrill sound of my ringtone blasts through my room, interrupting my thoughts.

"Hello," I answer, bringing the phone to my ear.

"...is this Ms. Garcia?" the person on the other end asks.

"Yes, this is she," I reply, holding the phone to my ear while struggling to paint my nails.

"My name is Katy, I'm the head of recruitment at Bowman & Laith Partners" she says.

My eyes bulge in surprise—it's the law firm where Joanne's brother works. I had given him my number and sent him my CV, but I didn't think anything would come of it.

"Oh, hi, Katy," I stammer, trying to keep my voice steady. "What can I do for you?"

"Mr Miles, passed on your CV over to me," she says, her tone professional yet warm. "I note you're in your second year at university and we have a space for an internship starting next week."

My heart skips a beat, and I can feel a rush of excitement and anxiety wash over me. "Wow, that's amazing!" I exclaim, trying to sound composed. "I'd love to discuss this further."

"Great! Can you come in tomorrow at 10 AM for an orientation meeting?" Katy asks.

"Yes, absolutely," I reply, my mind already racing with possibilities. "Thank you so much for this opportunity."

After the call ends, I sit back in my chair, feeling a mixture of exhilaration and nervousness. My hands are trembling slightly as I finish painting my nails. I can hardly believe that this opportunity has come my way. An internship at Bowman & Laith Partners!

I open my laptop and initiate a FaceTime call. After a few rings, his face lights up the screen, and I can't contain my excitement.

"Lily are you okay?" he asks, concern evident in his voice.

"Yes, I'm more than okay!" I exclaim. "You won't believe what just happened – I got an internship offer from Bowman & Laith Partners!"

"Christ," he sighs, then laughs. "Baby, you scared the hell out of me." His dark hair is slightly tousled, and he's wearing his favourite grey hoodie.

"Sorry," I pout, admiring my newly painted nails, a deep blue—the colour of Finn's eyes. "I just couldn't contain my excitement." I hold my hand up to the camera to show him. "Check out my nails! They're the same colour as your eyes."

He grins, "They look great, Lily. And I love that colour." His smile widens as he adds, "This is huge, Lily. I'm so proud of you."

"Thanks, Lovebug," I reply, feeling warmth spread through me. "Anyway, have you started packing?" I ask, shifting the conversation.

He sighs, running a hand through his hair. "Not yet. I've been procrastinating a bit."

"You're leaving this Saturday ... it's Wednesday" I remind him, "Pack" I say sternly, and he smirks, his eyebrow raising slightly.

He chuckles, shaking his head. "That's the opposite of motivation, butterfly. How about a reward instead?"

I feel a warm flush spread across my cheeks, my heart beating a little faster. "A reward, huh?" I raise an eyebrow, a mischievous smile playing on my lips. "And what kind of reward are we talking about?"

"How about a little preview of what I'll be missing when I'm away?" he says, his gaze intense.

I bite my lip, feeling a thrill run through me. "Only if you show me some real progress," I reply, my voice teasing yet firm. "No rewards without effort."

"Deal," he says, his grin widening. "But don't be surprised if I end up packing the entire apartment tonight."

"I love you," he says, his voice softening, eyes locking with mine through the screen.

My heart melts a little, and I feel a rush of warmth. "I love you too, lovebug"

He smiles, that charming smile that always makes me weak in the knees. "Alright, I'm off to start packing. But keep your phone close. I might need some... encouragement."

I laugh. "You better show me some serious progress, or no encouragement for you."

"Trust me, you'll see," he teases back. 

*****

The next day, I stand in front of the sleek, modern office building of Bowman & Laith Partners, my heart racing with anticipation. I take a deep breath, smoothing down my outfit, and step inside. The receptionist greets me with a friendly smile and directs me to a conference room. 

I feel the butterflies in my stomach intensify as I wait, i just know I shouldn't have eaten that burrito earlier.

Katy soon enters the room with a warm smile. "Ms. Garcia, thank you for coming in. Please, have a seat."

"Thank you," I say, taking a seat, my hands clasped tightly in my lap to steady my nerves.

Katy outlines the internship program, detailing the various tasks and projects I'll be involved in.

"The internship starts next week and will last for two weeks," she explains. "We want to give you a comprehensive overview of our operations and get you involved in some hands-on projects."

"That sounds fantastic," I say, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. "I can't wait to get started."

"We're looking forward to working with you, Ms. Garcia," Katy says, standing up. "See you next week."

"Thank you, Katy," I respond, shaking her hand before leaving the conference room.

As I walk out of the building, I feel my phone buzz in my pocket. It's a text from Finn

Lovebug: Coming over tonight, I miss you already x

A smile spreads across my face as I read his message. Just as I'm about to reply, I turn the corner and nearly bump into someone. Looking up, I'm startled to see Nate standing in front of me.

"Lily?" he says, his expression mirroring my surprise.

"Hi," I reply, feeling the awkwardness stretch between us as I fiddle with my fingers.

For a few seconds, neither of us knows what to say, but we both attempt to break the silence simultaneously.

"So-"

"Are you-"

Our words collide, and we both laugh a little, easing the tension. It's been months since I last saw Nate; the last time was at the coffee shop after he found out I had cheated.

"Would you like to grab a coffee?" he asks, scratching the back of his neck nervously.

"Yeah, sure"

We leave the building and walk into a nearby café. As we wait in line, our breaths visible in the cool autumn air. Nate steps up to the counter first.

"One caramel latte, extra caramel, and whipped cream," he orders, flashing me a weak smile before turning back to the barista. "And one Americano."

We wait a few minutes, the air filled with the rich scent of coffee beans. When our orders are called, we find a booth by the window. I savour the warmth of the coffee in my hands, watching the steam rise and curl in the chilly air.

"Thanks," I say, smiling at him. "I thought you never wanted to talk to me again."

He laughs softly and shakes his head. "I was hurt, and you tried speaking to me while the wound was still fresh."

"Yeah," I murmur, taking a sip of my drink. "I'm really sorry, Nate. For everything."

A gust of the cool autumn breeze filters in through the open door, causing him to shiver slightly. He cups his hands around his drink, seeking warmth.

"I know," he says, his voice gentle. "How about we leave everything in the past?" he offers, looking at me earnestly.

"Deal," I agree, a genuine smile spreading across my face. "So... what brought you to Bowman and Laith?"

A slight blush colours his cheeks as he takes another sip of his drink. "My girlfriend works there," he admits, and I crack a small smile.

"Girlfriend?" I tease, raising an eyebrow with a playful smirk.

Nate chuckles and starts explaining, detailing how he met her during the summer break. His face lights up as he recounts their story, and I can see he's genuinely happy. It's been too long since we've had a proper conversation.

Suddenly, my phone rings, interrupting our moment. I flash Nate an apologetic grin and dive into my bag, rummaging through it until my fingers brush my phone – It's Finn calling.

"Hey, love," he coos softly, "I'm on my way to yours now. See you in twenty."

"You could have texted that," I laugh, my heart fluttering at the sound of his voice.

"I know, but I wanted to hear your voice," he replies, and I can almost hear him smiling.

"Alright, see you soon. Love you"

"Love you too, butterfly," he responds before ending the call.

I turn back to Nate, shaking my head and chuckling after Finn's call.

"So that's what a genuine smile looks like on your face," he remarks, a teasing glint in his eye.

I laugh, feeling my cheeks warm even more. "Yeah, I guess Finn brings that out of me," I admit, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

The realization struck me, "Oh I didn't ..." I start before getting cut off by Nate.

"It's okay," he smiles. "You're happy and that's all that matters, right?"

I smile and nod before getting up. "Speaking of Finn, I actually have to get going. He's on his way over, and I need to tidy up a bit."

"Of course," Nate says, standing up as well. He holds my gaze for a moment, the ghost of a smile lingering on his lips. "It was good to see you, really."

"You too, Nate," I reply, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside me—relief and nostalgia mostly. "I'm glad we had this talk."

We gather our things and make our way out of the café. The chill of the autumn air hits us as soon as we step outside. Nate shoves his hands into his pockets and glances at me one last time.

"Take care, alright?" he says, his voice carrying a note of genuine concern.

"You too," I respond, offering a warm smile. We part ways at the corner, and I watch him walk away, his figure gradually blending into the crowd.

As I head home, my thoughts drift back to our conversation, it felt like a chapter was finally closing. The sun is beginning to set, casting a warm golden glow over the city.

By the time I reach my apartment, I kick off my shoes and head straight to my bedroom. I change into something comfier: a soft t-shirt and a pair of basketball shorts, quickly straighten the cushions on the couch, pick up a few stray items, and make sure everything is in its place. Just as I finish, there's a knock on the door.

I open the door to find Finn standing there, his eyes lighting up the moment they meet mine. A wide, genuine smile spreads across his face.

"Hey, butterfly," he greets, his voice warm and soothing. He pulls me into a tight embrace, and I can feel the strength of his arms around me. His scent—a perfect blend of fresh air and cologne—fills my senses, instantly making me feel at home.

"Hi, lovebug," I respond, my voice soft and full of affection. I return his hug just as tightly, relishing the feeling of his body against mine.

Before I can say anything more, Finn effortlessly lifts me off the ground and I instinctively wrap my legs around his waist, clinging to him.

"Finn," I giggle, a mixture of surprise and delight bubbling up inside me and his smile broadens.

"Just trying to get my fix before I leave," he jokes, carrying me over to the couch. He sits down with me still straddling him, his hands resting comfortably on my hips.

"You make it sound like I'm a drug," I reply with a playful smirk, and he leans in slowly, closing the distance between our lips. My hands find their way to the back of his neck, fingers threading through his hair.

We both pull apart, slightly breathless. I can feel the heat rising to my cheeks, my heart pounding in my chest.

Finn dips his head a sniff of my neck, like a coke addict, "You're my personal crack," he murmurs, his breath warm against my skin. "I can't seem to get enough."

I laugh softly, "You're so cheesy," I tease, gently ruffling his hair. He laughs, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

"So how was your interview?" he asks. I try to move to the couch, but he holds me firmly on his lap, his arms wrapping around me.

"Having withdrawals already?" I joke, raising an eyebrow.

He nods, a playful grin on his face. "Absolutely. Can't get enough of you." And I let out a light laugh.

The thought of going out for coffee with Nate without telling Finn gnaws at me. I know I need to bring it up. "It was alright," I say, leaning in and resting my head on his chest. "I start next week."

"That's amazing," he says

"But..." I mumble, pulling back slightly to look into his eyes.

"But what?" he asks, concern flickering in his gaze.

"I ran into Nate," I confess, feeling his body tense up slightly beneath me.

"Oh?" Finn's eyebrows raise in surprise, his expression guarded.

"Yeah, we went out for coffee and talked," I admit, bracing myself for his reaction.

"About?"

"About what happened. About us," I say, searching his face for any sign of anger or hurt. "We cleared the air. It felt like the right thing to do."

He takes a deep breath, his eyes softening as he processes my words.

"You're not leaving me ... right?" he jokes, but there's a hint of vulnerability in his question. I laugh and peck his lips reassuringly.

"Not even if hell freezes over," I say.

"Good," he admits, relief washing over his face as he pulls me closer. Without warning, he stands up and scoops me into his arms, carrying me towards the bedroom.

"What are you doing?" I laugh, wrapping my arms around his neck.

"A month without my personal crack," he teases. "I need to get as much of you as I can." He laughs, and the sound fills the room. 

I know I'm going to miss him terribly when he's gone.