Page 102 of The Trust We Broke
Lucy smiles at him. “It’s good to be back.”
29
LUCY
Grudge leans broodily against the doorframe, cast in the backlight from the hallway beyond.
“You’re a beautiful woman, Luce,” he says. “Always thought you were a pretty girl, but you’re older, wiser. It looks good on you.”
I touch the corner of my eye. “I have the fixings for wrinkles. Crow’s feet. And there are clearly much younger and prettier options on offer around here.”
“Not from where I’m standing.”
I look around the empty kitchen. “That’s because, from where you’re standing, there isn’t anyone else in here but me.”
His gruff huff tells me my first thoughts about him brooding still stand. “I mean, if you want to argue technicalities, you’re right. But if you want to take that in the spirit I meant it, you’re wrong.”
Glancing at my reflection in the kitchen window, I put my thumbs on my jaw and my fingers on my temples and pull back the skin. “I’ve been debating some tweakments. Might have to get them.”
“Some what?” He pushes off the doorframe and walks toward me slowly.
“Tweakments. You know, treatments that tweak how you look, rather than surgery.”
He shakes his head. “I’m never gonna tell you what you should and shouldn’t do. But I think it would be kind of cool to grow old together knowing that any lines on your face were proof we had a happy life.”
I sigh and look back at him. “That’s a sweet thing to say.”
His boots thud noisily on the kitchen floor as he walks to me, coming to a stop on the other side of the steel counter before placing his palms on it. “Bit rusty in saying sweet things. Not had much reason since you left.”
I close my laptop and look up at him, sensing what he needs. We’re both a little on edge. Things are brewing that neither of us can quite put our fingers on. And while I couldn’t hear what he was talking to Catfish about in the yard, I could see him.
Could see the way he tugged on his hair, ran his hands over his face like he was exhausted. I saw him standing alone, looking up at the sky, when Catfish came inside. And the way he hoofed the beer can with a scowl on his face.
“Are there any other things you’re rusty at that might need a bit of practice?” It’s impossible to miss the flirtatious tone of my voice.
“Like what, Bug?” he asks, leaning over the counter toward me.
I offer him a coy shrug. “I couldn’t possibly imagine.”
My phone rings with the worst possible timing, but Grudge looks at it before I do.
“Who is Henry?” he asks.
“My ex. I’ve told him we’re through, but he doesn’t seem to?—”
Grudge answers it and puts it on speaker so we can both hear.
“Lucy?” Henry says. “Are you there?”
“Henry,” Grudge says. “You the asshole who cheated on Lucy to go fuck some other cunt?”
“Who is this? Who are you?” Henry says. I don’t know how I ever thought I could marry that man. I can see him now, likely loosening his tie, his cheeks going red as he gets annoyed.
“I’m the man who had Lucy first, and I’m the man who’s gonna have her last. And you’re the pathetic excuse of a man who let a grade-A woman slip through those tiny little fingers of yours.”
“Lucy. Are you there?”
Grudge puts his thumb over the pulse in my neck and rubs it smoothly. “Yeah. She’s here. Wanna listen while I fuck her? Maybe you could get a tip or two. Heard you weren’t much in the length, width, and stamina department.”
