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    Shadow Lily
    Shadow Lily
    Shadow Lily
    Ebook136 pages1 hour

    Shadow Lily

    By GJ Walker-Smith

    5/5

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    About this ebook

    Book 6.5 in the #1 bestselling Wishes Series

    'If you spend too long in a small town, you’ll eventually fade away. And on the eve of my twenty-fifth birthday, I realised that I was practically invisible.'

    After spending a lifetime following her domineering sister’s glitzy ways, Lily Tate is finally ready to step out on her own.
    Breaking away from Jasmine is difficult, but ditching the ugly reputation she’s gained after years of sketchy behaviour is even harder.
    Thankfully, she’s not going it alone.
    After turning her back on her old life, Lily gains a brand new support system – namely a reluctant new best friend and a boy who might be important.
    With their encouragement, there’s every chance that the real Lily Tate might step forward.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherGJ Walker-Smith
    Release dateJul 14, 2016
    ISBN9780994376053
    Shadow Lily
    Author

    GJ Walker-Smith

    Wife, mother, writer, wanderer. Lives near the beach in Western Australia. Author of YA novels The Wishes Series. Saving Wishes (book 1) iBooks Best Of 2013 Breakout Book Of The Year AU & NZ.

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      Book preview

      Shadow Lily - GJ Walker-Smith

      Shadow Lily

      by G.J. Walker-Smith

      © 2016 G.J. Walker-Smith

      Other Books by G.J. Walker-Smith

      Saving Wishes (Book One, The Wishes Series)

      Second Hearts (Book Two, The Wishes Series)

      Sand Jewels (Book 2.5, The Wishes Series)

      Storm Shells (Book Three, The Wishes Series)

      Secret North (Book Four, The Wishes Series)

      Silver Dawn (Book 4.5, The Wishes Series)

      Star Promise (Book Five, The Wishes Series)

      Shiloh (Book Six, The Wishes Series)

      Stone Roses (Book Seven, The Wishes Series)

      Contact the author:

      https://www.facebook.com/gjwalkersmith

      mailto:gjwalkersmith@gmail.com

      http://www.gjwalkersmith.com

      All rights reserved. No part of this book may be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the author.

      This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual events, places or people, living or dead, is coincidental.

      Shadow Lily

      By G.J. Walker-Smith

      Dedication

      For everyone who believes

      Table Of Contents

      1. Vitriol

      2. New York Minute

      3. The Magic Wagon

      4. A Shot In The Dark

      5. Rookie Mistake

      6. Cool Kids

      7. Gaelic Blood

      8. Lovely And Thrilled

      9. All Bark And No Bite

      10. Sushi Level Beautiful

      11. Falling Short

      12. Empire Of Dirt

      13. Constructive Editing

      14. Fanfare

      1.VITRIOL

      Lily

      The Best Salon in The Cove is loud, even when there’s no one there. When my sister decided to tone down the lime green décor in favour of something more chic, her husband spent an entire weekend painting the walls a frightful shade of yellow called Disco Lemon.

      Predictably, Jasmine was thrilled with the result. Oh, Wade, she beamed. It’s as if a million sunsets have exploded in here!

      That one statement summed up my sister to a T. She was excessive, over the top and out of touch – and it had taken me far too long to figure it out.

      My formative years were spent idolising her. I’d grown up thinking she was cutting edge and fashion forward, but over time I came to realise she was just as backward as a small town girl could be.

      Years of my life were wasted following Jasmine’s airhead ways, and I used to dress like a glitzed-up hooker because of it. Dyeing my blonde hair brown and ditching the callgirl outfits took care of my fashion crimes, but growing a backbone and completely breaking free of her was taking much longer.

      Smartening myself up was also a part of operation anti-airhead. I started with my vocabulary, making it my mission to learn a new word every day.

      Today’s word was vitriol. According to the app on my phone, it means abusive or venomous language used to express bitter, deep-seated ill will.

      It wasn’t a word I was likely to forget in a hurry, mainly because it came with a visual demonstration. Like a trapped rat, I was caught in Jasmine’s salon on the receiving end of one of the nastiest tantrums I could remember.

      And I’d brought it all on myself.

      You can’t quit working here! she screamed. You need this job!

      She was wrong. What I needed to do was stick to my guns and make her accept that I was done being her salon lackey.

      I’m sure you’ll manage without me, I muttered. All I do is sweep hair and make coffee anyway.

      Well, I’m not doing it! she screeched. That’s always been your job.

      Not anymore. I shrugged. Maybe Wade could help you.

      With a look of pure acid on her face, she looked me up and down. Who’s going to hire you, Lily? she asked. You’re not qualified to do anything else.

      I’m not looking for another job, I told her, standing tall. I’m going to concentrate on my own business.

      What business? she barked. Being an idiot isn’t a business.

      Jasmine might not have been cutting edge, but she was still cutting. When things didn’t go her way she resorted to nasty insults, and I was hopeless at fighting back. Perhaps that’s why I reduced my lifelong dream to dirt by explaining it badly. I’m going to make clothes for dogs.

      Jasmine let out a humourless, condescending laugh. That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. You’re an idiot.

      I have it all worked out, I said, ignoring her. Pawesome Designs will be a huge success.

      Jasmine grabbed a dustpan and broom off the counter and thrust it at me. Sewing outfits for Nancy doesn’t suddenly make you a designer, Lil. She pointed at the pile of hair clippings on the floor. Stick with what you do best.

      Designing clothes for pets is what I did best. Nancy, our Pomeranian pooch, had been cursed with a bad case of eczema since puppyhood. Her incessant itching left ugly bald spots that no ointment or pill could cure. Crafting a few cute outfits was designed to pretty her up and give her a confidence boost, but over time, I realised the boost in confidence was all mine.

      Nancy had an outfit for every occasion – and I designed and handmade all of them. I wasn’t Lily Tate, salon lackey. I was a pet couturier, and I was damned good at it.

      It’s a sound business idea, Jasmine. I thumped the dustpan down on the counter. I have more than enough clients to keep me going.

      That was a lie. To date, Nancy was my only customer, and she wasn’t great when it came to paying for my services.

      Jasmine flicked her hair off her shoulder, looking as superior as ever. So you think you’re some kind of bigshot now?

      No, I muttered.

      I was a small shot, but I was on my way.

      If you’re going to be an entrepreneur, Lil, you should at least know how to spell it.

      Little did she know, her nastiness was extremely helpful. It made standing my ground a whole lot easier. I slung my handbag over my shoulder and headed for the door. You’re a bitch, Jasmine, I told her. B-I-T-C-H.

      ***

      My sister can hold a grudge forever, and when Wade turned up at my door a few days after our run-in, I knew I’d been banished long term.

      I’m here to discuss the custody arrangements of Nancy. He gave the lead in his hand a tug, making the poor old dog stumble forward. I’m the mediator.

      The only things more ridiculous than the Lycra bike pants he was wearing were the words he spoke. My sister and I had been successfully sharing Nancy for the past ten years without incident.

      I unhooked the lead from her collar and scooped Nancy off the floor. Nothing has changed, I insisted. I’ll drop her off at your place on Sunday.

      "You’ve changed," he accused.

      I playfully slapped his beefy arm. Aw, thanks, Wade.

      It’s not a good thing, Lil. He slowly shook his head. Family is supposed to stick together – one for one and all for all.

      Jasmine’s decision to marry a man with a single digit IQ was immensely helpful when it came to bolstering my self-esteem. After spending a lifetime wearing an invisible dunce hat, Wade Davis waltzed in and took the crown from me.

      To most, the attraction wasn’t obvious. He was easily confused, often got his words mixed up, and had biceps like tree trunks. But I knew exactly what my sister saw in him; Wade loved her unconditionally, which was far more than she deserved most of the time. He’d also do anything for her, which is why he’d turned up on my doorstep to do her bidding.

      I think you should go down to the salon and ask Jas for your job back, he suggested. Just tell her you’re sorry and move on.

      If I live to be a hundred, that will never happen, I said, inching the door closed. And you can tell her that.

      Wade stepped forward, wedging his foot in the way. You need a real job, Lil, he insisted. Selling dog clothes isn’t a real job.

      I couldn’t take offense. Wade was little more than Jasmine’s parrot. If anything, I should’ve been praising him for remembering his lines.

      Look, I don’t need to defend myself to you. I pushed him in the chest sending him stumbling back onto the porch. Go home and tell your wife that you have nothing to report.

      It wasn’t the first time I’d slammed a door in his face, but it was definitely the most rewarding – right up until he delivered a parting shot that made me second guess everything.

      You’re on your own, Lil, he called. Jasmine is done with you. I hope you’re happy.

      There was nothing to be happy about. Walking out on my job at the salon was an act of mutiny, and my sister was likely to destroy me because of it.

      Nancy wasn’t the only thing we shared. Trailing in Jasmine’s wake meant that we also had the same friends, and on her word alone they’d drop me in a flash. Truthfully, it would be no great loss. They were carbon copies of her; catty and judgemental, which was everything I was trying to turn my back on.

      The bigger worry was the influence she had over my parents. In their eyes, my brother Mitchell was an unambitious beach bum, and I was a dim scatter-brain. We were no-hopers, but Jasmine could do no wrong. She was special and acted accordingly.

      Our dad did his best to stay impartial, but Mum didn’t even try to hide the obvious favouritism. I shuddered to think what she’d say when she heard about our falling out. I knew she’d take my sister’s side, which meant I’d left

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