Lucy had already left to work by the time I got back from the lake. I noticed she had finally posted a picture announcing she was back in Phoenix when she was at brunch with Stella. She had her arm wrapped around her best friend and I immediately noticed she was wearing my old lacrosse shirt. I couldn't remember if it was one of my team shirts that has my last name on the back of it, and if it is, she's clearly ready to announce our relationship. Her caption said, "I just missed her so much that I decided I had to move back to Phoenix," but I liked knowing that she subtly showed she's mine.
She texted me saying brunch with Stella went well and that Stella suggested a double date when Fischer gets back from Boston. I'd prefer Fischer date anyone other than Stella, but he's had his sights set on her since I first introduced him to her three years ago. I really should have known Lucy had a thing for me then, because one minute Stella was aggressively hitting on me at the party we were at, and the next minute, she was avoiding me like the plague. I bet she figured out who I was and backed off. Lucy then invited Fischer and me to her birthday shortly after and Stella played hot and cold with him all night, but he managed to leave with her number. Something I wasn't able to get. I also now feel like a massive asshole for hitting on Lucy's best friend if she had had feelings for me then. I'm also pretty sure I hit on Lucy's old dance friend, Bronwyn when she came to visit Lucy from New York. I really am an asshat.
After I get showered up, inspect my back for sun damage and dress for work, I text Lucy that I am on my way to work. She quickly texts back:
I'm gonna need a run down about
what you said at the lake today
What do you mean?
I quickly make my way to the driver's seat and as I am plugging my phone in, I see another text from her.
Hannah said that Ariana said that
you said you and I were dating
I have to reread her text four times before I follow what it says. I quickly reply:
I didn't tell Ariana anything.
She just knew somehow
I see her little typing bubbles and start my car. I give it a few more seconds before rolling down the driveway. I tried my best to avoid Ariana after I was grilled this morning but it was almost impossible when we had to load up to cross the lake again. Me dodging Kylie's willing lips didn't deter her and I found her to be within five feet of me the entire time I was on the beach. I tried to chill with Shawn, Taylor and Pete but every time I turned around, there was a girl I had hooked up with, ghosted, hit on, or was actively dodging. It's going to be hard to live my lake life with my lake crew when I have a girlfriend. It's not going to be as easy as I had thought.
When I feel my phone start buzzing, I assume it's Lucy but then see it's my dad's number flashing on the dashboard.
"Hey Dad, what's up?" I ask, wondering when the last time my dad actually called me was.
"Jack, you busy?"
"I'm heading to work now. I got the closing shift."
"Ah, I didn't know if you had stayed in town for break or not."
"I have too much shit I gotta do for school. I had to stay in town."
"Well look at you, prioritizing school over partying. Never thought I'd see the day." My dad jokes as I pull onto the road that leads to Mag's. "I also never thought I'd see the day where you had a lady living with you. Mom said you asked her if Lucy could move in. Thought that one moved away."
"She did, now she's back. Her place was broken into, so I asked if Lucy could take over the guest room."
"Oh, so it's not a serious thing then?"
"No, it is. We're dating, but she's not moving in because of that. She's just crashing because she needs a place to stay."
"Alright well, we like Lucy, so...be careful there."
"You're not the first person to tell me that today," I mutter as I stop at a red light.
"Well hey, I was calling because we got a prospective client in San Fransisco who is looking for someone to build an eco-friendly house into this hillside. They want the bottom level to be a greenhouse that provides energy and heat the place, yadda yadda. Anyway, this sounds right up your alley so I thought I'd see if you wanted to come along. Join us for the meeting."
"Oh shit, no way. Yeah, that sounds...shit yeah." I tell him, excited for the opportunity. I've been pestering my dad and uncle to start letting me dig into projects now that I am almost done with school. I'm glad he's taking me seriously.
"I'm waiting for them to finalize the dates, but it will probably be in the next few weeks. You may have to miss a day or two of class though," he says, but my teachers may understand why I'm taking the meeting and might even be supportive.
"That's fine."
"Okay well, I'll call you in the next couple days once I get the details. Just thought I'd see if you'd be able to swing it."
"I'll figure it out."
"Alright, also your uncle said you might be in the office to use the printer this week. Let me know what day you're coming in and I can order in lunch."
"Cool. I have to go to Tucson on Thursday so maybe I'll drop in on Wednesday. It's a thing for Lucy, so I gotta see when she's free."
"Tucson?"
"I'm actually driving Lucy down to go see her sister. Her parents live there," I confess and my dad lets out a whistle.
"Shit, you're meeting this girl's parents? How serious is this?"
"Uh, I mean...it's new but...I dunno. It's...We're figuring it out. "
My dad laughs, "Alright well, I guess when you figure it out, let us know. You know if your sister finds out, she'll be up your ass about it."
"Keep this from Bre. She doesn't need to come down and overwhelm Lucy. I'd like to ease her into the Dalton family."
"I won't tell her. Well, have fun at work. Be good and we'll talk soon."
"Alright Dad, talk soon." Right after I hang up, I pull into Mag's parking lot and see Lucy standing with her hands on her hips right outside the employee entrance. She must have been waiting for me because she drops off the step to come over to me once I park. Seeing her in my shirt for some reason just turns me the fuck on. I do not know how I am going to keep my hands off her.
"I like your shirt," I tell her and she glances down as if she had to check to see what she was wearing.
"Turns out Hannah remembers you played Lacrosse for ASU," Lucy tells me before placing a finger on her lower lip. "Which apparently confirmed the rumors that we're dating."
"You said that Ariana said that I said we were dating, and I will tell you I went to great lengths to cover that up."
"I think I need a quick thirty-second run down of what happened today. Hannah acted like she knew before I even walked in," she says before glancing back to the door. I also scan the parking lot and notice Maggie's Volkswagon isn't in the lot.
"Ariana assumed we were dating because both of us ditched the party last night and left together on Thursday. Mike tried to get me to kiss Kylie to prove we weren't a thing and I refused. Oh also, Pepper Lynch was there and fueled the rumor flames by telling Ariana that we've been into each other for years, which, I didn't even know she knew," I confess and I watch Lucy's eyes widen. She takes a step away from me as she says, "You were with Pepper, Kylie and Ariana today?"
"I mean, they were at the beach. I wasn't like, with them." She nods and then looks to her feet while blowing a long breath out.
"And Mike just...wanted you to kiss Kylie?" She asks, with her gaze to the gravel. Lucy can be so confident one minute and so insecure the next. She's willing to ask the question but then she dreads the answer. I lift her chin with my finger as I reply, "It was a stupid thing they were doing to prove I was dating you. But yeah, I'm pretty sure everyone at the beach knows we're together now." This news doesn't seem to be of any relief to her, if anything she looks terrified. "Is it really so bad?" She shakes her head while pulling away from me.
"I just..."
"Lucy, talk to me. What's up? I don't know why anyone who works here will care." She's chewing on her lip, instead of answering me. She just shakes her head again and then says, "You're right, it's fine. Let's go clock in." She turns around and starts toward the door. Once again, I have no idea why she's clamming up and I feel like I am going to get random emotional vomit from her later this evening after she lets whatever is going on in her head stew a little longer.
I follow her through the back door and into the office. I never have anything to put in my locker but I make the pit stop so she can grab her chapstick. I watch as she swipes it on and I can tell she's still fully in her head. She hasn't made eye contact with me since the parking lot. I'm understanding now that my role in this relationship will be the reassurer. I think I am going to have to constantly remind Lucy where I stand and how I feel. I use my right hand to shut the door to the office and then grab her face with my hands.
"Lucy, I don't know why you are freaking out right now. I do not care who knows about us. I just told my dad that I'm serious about you."
"What?" She asks as she draws her head back, but not hard enough to take it from my hands.
"My mom told him you were staying at the house. So, if I've told my parents about you, it means something. So please tell me what's going on up there." She stares at me, and I watch her eyes dart between mine. "Don't do that thing you do where you stay in your head and overthink everything and wind yourself up. I know you, Lucy. You forget that I know you. I know you are freaking out about something so just tell me."
"Tell me you're not going to fuck another girl, Jack." She suddenly blurts out. "Tell me you aren't texting girls. Tell me I am enough. I cannot go through the cheating thing again. I just can't. I don't want anyone to know about us because I am afraid you're going to make me look like a fool." Her voice catches and I do not want her to cry. I am about to reply when the office door shoots open and Lucy pulls her head out of my hands. Maggie stops in her tracks when she sees us standing there and looks between us.
"I don't know what this is but I think it's happening when you're supposed to be clocked in," Maggie says from the threshold. "Bar is too busy for you two to be canoodling back here." Lucy darts out of the door without saying anything, almost colliding with Maggie's shoulder and I'm sure she felt Maggie's iciness too.
"Sorry Mag's, we'll go clock in," I tell her before taking a step toward the door. She blocks me as she quickly says, "I'm gonna have Lucy at the front bar tonight. I need you to train Sabrina at the back bar."
"The back bar is busier."
"I know. Which means she'll learn faster," Maggies replies, looking pissed the fuck off.
"Okay. Whatever you want," I tell her and then make it to the door. She shoots her arm out to block me from leaving again before saying, "Keep your flirting outta my bar." I let out a stunned laugh, seeing this is the woman that has been tugging at my shirt and shorts constantly for the past few weeks while I've been on the clock. She kissed me here in this office and I know she hooked up with Rissa here too.
"Yes, boss." Is all I say because I am not about to add fuel to the fire that's burning in her eyes.