Page 126 of Dangerous Encore
It's alwaysslim your thighsortone your assorlose those saggy arms. Or it's about the wrong haircut or the wrong makeup or having too manywrinkles.
It's alwayssomething.
Maybe her mom is tryingtohelp.
I don'tfuckingcare.
Nobody is saying shit to Lacey that makes her feellessthan.
Not on mywatch.
I study her like my life depends on it. Her voice is catching. Her shoulders are up atherears.
But she's okay. She doesn't need me pulling her out.Notyet.
"Dad says he'd fit right into the neighborhood," her mom says. "With all histattoos."
Lacey's laugh breaks up the tension in her shoulders. She whispers to me, "You're Riverside material." She turns back to the speaker. "Maybe. He's more of an Orange Countyrichboy."
"Oh." Her mom's voice perks. "Hedoeswell?"
"Jesus," she whispers. "Yes. He does well. And I do well. We won't need any help paying for the wedding. And, actually, we need to get going. We have someplans."
"I love you, sweetheart." There's this hint of desperation in her mom's voice. Like she's trying extra hard to convince Lacey she's worth anI loveyoutoo.
"Thanks Mom. I um. I have to go. I'll see you Sunday." She hangs up before her mom canreply.
I wrap my arms around her and pull her body onto mine. "Youokay?"
Shenods.
Then it's time tosaythis.
I run my fingers through her hair. "You're not going tolikethis."
She stares back at me. "Then don'tsayit."
"Ihaveto."
She bites hertongue.
"I don't think you shoulddothis."
