Page 38 of Lucius

“What about the salon, Sidney? You can’t just walk away, it’s the family business and you’re valuable. Your dad and I put everything into this business.”

“I know, Mom, but it was never supposed to bemylife. I didn’t want to go into the salon business, I never wanted to be a stylist. You’ve never treated me as if my wants and needs matter. It’s always whatyouwant or what’s best for the business.”

“You can’t leave me in the lurch!”

Lucius walked out of the storage room and put his arm around Sidney. She nearly collapsed into him—she hadn’t realized how much she needed his support until he joined her.

“I can help with that,” he said. His voice was deep and smooth, and filled with confidence. “My name is Lucius and Sidney is not only my girlfriend but she’s my forever-girl. I will happily cover the cost of a temporary receptionist until you find someone to replace Sidney.” He handed over an index card that he’d printed the information from the temp agency on. “Someone can start as early as tomorrow afternoon if you call the agency in the morning.”

Sidney’s mom stared at him in silence. Then she snapped, “You’re the hero, now, huh? You think you can throw money at me and it changes anything? You can’t pay to replace my daughter, and this salon is a family issue and not your problemto fix.” Her eyes blazed and she knocked the card out of Lucius’s hand. “You want to run off together? Fine. But if you walk out of that door, Sidney, you can just keep walking.”

Sidney flinched at her mom’s tone. “Mom.”

“No,” her mom said. “You make the choice right now, young lady. You want to leave, then go. But don’t come crying to me when it all falls apart and you have no one and no place to live.”

Sidney blinked at the sting of tears. Lucius gave her shoulder a squeeze. “Let’s go, sweetheart.”

She nodded, not sure she could speak without sobbing. Without another word, they turned and left the salon through the back door. She pushed at the emotions churning in her stomach and pointed to the metal staircase that led to the apartment.

His friends joined them as they climbed the stairs to the apartment she’d lived in for most of her life, and she opened the door.

“Let’s get this over with,” she said.

By the timethey got back to the park, Sidney had broken down a couple times but was feeling better in general.

She’d hoped that the conversation with her mom wouldn’t go south, but it had, and her mom’s harsh words and condemnation had hurt more than she thought they could. She never thought that her mom would cut her out of her life, but it was probably something she should have expected.

Her mom tended to lash out when she was hurt, and she often spoke without worrying how her words would affect others. So Sidney shouldn’t have been surprised by anything her mom said.

But she was still hurt.

She couldn’t believe her mom really wanted to cut her out of her life, and part of her thought that her mom’s words were over the top and she’d reach out at some point to heal the brokenness between them. But how long would that take? And what if she never reached out?

Lucius had been so amazing while they packed up her clothes and things. He’d told her that he was sure her mom would bridge the gap at some point, but Sidney was allowed to make her own choices.

Do you want to live with me, sweetheart? Do you want to be mine and for me to be yours?

Yes, of course! I want it more than anything.

Then this is the right path for us both. She’ll come around in time, I think. And if she doesn’t, she’s the one who shut the door, not you.

Rubbing her chest, she opened the passenger door and hopped down.

Lucius was at her side a heartbeat later, and she leaned against him. “If you keep hugging me, I’m going to cry again. You’re being too sweet.”

He laughed and kissed the top of her head. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. Tell me what you want me to do.”

“Hug me just a little tighter and then tell me a joke.”

“A joke?”

“Yeah, something goofy.”

He gave her a tight squeeze and then said, “What kind of tool does a gorilla use?”

She lifted her head to look at him. “I don’t know.”

“A monkey wrench.”

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