Page 15 of Reuniting with Lucy

“Sorry, man. My friend can be an asshole.”

“He’s a bully. And if you don’t stand up to him, so are you,” Jack said matter-of-factly.

The friend nodded. “You’re right. Good luck, dude,” he said to the kid on the bench before jogging away to catch up with his friend.

Jack turned to go back to his bench, but a light touch on his arm stopped him. When he looked down, the boy had tears in his eyes.

“That’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for me,” he said. “Thank you.”

“No problem,” Jack said.

“I don’t have cancer,” the kid said meekly. “Iamjust weak.”

“Doesn’t matter. That guy had no right to talk to you like that. Bullies bug me. What’s your name, kid?”

“Kenny. What’s yours?”

“Jack.” He stuck out a hand to shake. “Nice to meet you, Kenny. I’ll let you get back to it.”

“Were you serious about working out together?” Kenny said, standing. “I really could use some help. I’m pretty new at this.”

Jack didn’t remember saying anything about working out together. The kid must have inferred that from Jack calling him a friend and saying they had work to do.

“Uh,” Jack hemmed. “I usually like to do my own thing. Gym time is kind of my me time, ya know?”

“Could I just watch what you do and copy it? With lighter weights, of course.” Kenny chuckled. He had a nerdy laugh and wore short shorts and a Scout camp T-shirt. Easy target for a bully.

“You a Scout?”

“Eagle Scout. Just earned it.”

“Nice,” Jack said.

“So, what d’ya say? I won’t be any trouble. I promise.”

“I guess that would be okay. I like a little space though.”

So much for that warning. Kenny followed him around like a puppy, peppering him with a million questions. Where you from? Why are you in New Bern? How’d you get so ripped? How long did it take to get so ripped? Do you have lots of girlfriends?

He was relentless, but endearing. Jack patiently answered the questions while helping Kenny with his form.

Between all the inquiries, Kenny told Jack his life story. He lived with his mother, who struggled to make ends meet. His dad wasn’t in the picture and never sent them the money he was supposed to. He’d just turned seventeen and wanted to get a job so he wouldn’t have to rely on his mom for spending cash.

He seemed like a good kid. Maybe Jack would ask Lucy if she had any openings at the coffee shop.

CHAPTER NINE

Friday morning, Lucy showed up for work, still thinking about the day before. How Jack had stood up for her while Curtis looked on, sipping his almond milk pumpkin spice latte with stevia—more or less the same drink Jack had ridiculed the jerk over.

The whole situation had moved the needle on her should-I-break-up-with-Curtis meter. She’d been waffling but was quickly coming to the conclusion that she should save them both and break the engagement. She texted her sisters and asked for an emergency lunch meeting. There were all there by eleven thirty.

They got coffee and crammed into her tiny back office. This was a conversation she didn’t need the Three Amigos overhearing. She recounted the story from the day before and explained how her doubts were mounting up.

“I don’t know what to do,” Lucy said.

“I hate to say it,” Kate said. “But I think you know the answer, and you’re avoiding it. At this stage, you shouldn’t have any hesitation. Sure, there are ups and downs in every relationship, but you gotta be one hundred percent sure you want to take that roller coaster ride with one particular person.”

“You’re right. I know you’re right,” Lucy said. “I just don’t know if I can do it.”

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