Page 20 of Up All Night
"I have."
"Well, he says that I'm that.For him.Isn't that ridiculous?"
My face scrunches."No.Why?"
Her eyes are fixed on the door.Her lips are pursed."I was horrible to him.We met in high school.I wanted the bad boy, the party animal, the jock.Clark was the guy that cleaned up during parties and made sure that everyone got home okay.We called him a geek.A dork.He was totally in love with me."
"Why did he look you up?"
"He's a doctor.Never married.Just like me.He's just as handsome as he was back then.Barely aged a day."
Her diverting my question is unnerving.This is so out of character for Lucy.She is a straight up, get to the point sort of person."So, why didn't you go out to lunch with him?"
She shrugs and leaves her shoulders up as she answers slowly."I figure what's the point, right?What have I got to offer him?I'm over forty, I'm as busy as hell with work, and I'm saggy, baggy and draggy in all the places that I used to be taught, tight and, well, much younger."
"Well, he came looking for you, Lucy.Why didn't you indulge him?It was just lunch."
Her head shakes slowly.She's so deflated."I just don't feel like it would be right.I'm not into dating, I'm not fun at all, unless he wants to sit at home and watch Netflix series or worse, wait around while I show clients properties and do paperwork.And when I do have time for him, this body, Lark, has not seen sex in so long I forgot what it was like."
I laugh out loud.It's been a long time for me, too.In fact, it's been at least two years, and until I met Stone, I figured that that part of me was dead.I'm also putting my career first and setting all other things aside.But it was so good.Like, so good, I can't believe how good it was.The worst part is that I can't tell her.Or, maybe I can.A wise person once told me that I can tell someone a story without telling the whole story."You know, Lucy, we're not that different."
She raises a brow and her eyes are dancing, like she's up for the challenge."Oh?"
"Despite how young and spry you may think I am, I thought much the same about myself.And I, too, put my career first.But I can tell you from experience, that just when you think a part of you is dead, meeting the right person at the right time, well, it can make all the difference."
"You're feeding me a line just to make me feel better."
My face falls."I'm dead serious, Lucy.Come on.I know that we haven't known each other that long, but I've never lied to you.I know that you're smart enough to tell the difference."
I pause for emphasis.
"You should give Clark a chance.Hell, for all you know, all he's looking for is companionship.Someone to take to the movies once a week.Someone to have dinner with on Saturday nights.But you'll never know unless you give him a chance."
Her look changes.She looks like she's a million miles away, yet there's still a smile on her face.It's like she's thinking about back in the day."Maybe there's a grain of truth there."
"Did he leave you his number?"
She scoffs kindly."Yes.He said in case I change my mind."Sadly, she pulls it out of the garbage can under her desk.It's still intact.At least she didn't crumple it up.
"Call him.Go out for dinner."
"I can't tonight.I got word from the region about that property Stone is interested in."
"And that will take five minutes?"I test.
With a huff, she smiles."Alright, fine.I'll call him.But you keep this between us, okay?The last thing that I need is to be the topic around the water coolers."
"I promise.Your secret is safe with me."
"Well?Did he take it?"Stone answers with.
"Is that how you answer your phone?"I scoff, good-naturedly.
"Fine.How was Lucy?"
"Good.All is well on the home front."
"Yeah, she called me a couple of hours ago.It's going to be a while before the clearance is processed through the region.I might as well sit tight."
