Page 26 of His Build
Sadie snorted. “You do too have more thanpassingattraction for men. What about that guy you dated last year? The one who wanted to bring you home to meet his mother… Gene? Jeff?”
“John. He was too clingy.”
“What about the one who was a—what—magazine writer or something?”
“Michael. Also too clingy.”
“Lucy, you ever stop to think that people who you say are clingy are just interested in taking things to the next level with you?”
“Next level, ha. What, like getting married?”
“Maybe, eventually.”
Now it was Lucy’s turn to snort. “No. Those guys were all… they sold me a different bill of goods than I got. They knew I date on my own terms, and that I don’t like long-term arrangements. Both of them wanted to ignore that. But that’s a fundamental requirement of mine. I have rules.”
Sadie sighed. “Yes, yes you do. So what’s your rule with this Graydon guy?”
Just like the last time she’d talked about Graydon to her sister, she considered clamming up. She could tell Sadie it was strictly business between them.
But that wasn’t true, was it? She had butterflies about going on a furniture shopping trip. She’d had a sex dream about him, for god’s sake.
Lucy let out a breath. “Okay, Sadie, promise not to say anything, okay? Like, don’t laugh.”
“Lucy, I promise!” Sadie said. Her voice was suddenly serious. Probably because Lucy had never made any indication she might confess anything romance-related to her little sister before.
Lucy took a deep breath. “I can’t stop thinking about him.”
There. She’d said it.
Lucy felt something release in her chest. Then a wave of embarrassment rushed at her, making her stomach clench. “I’m not interested in dating him or anything, of course—”
“Of course.”
“I just…”Might as well go all in.“I wonder if maybe… maybe I could handle a fling.”
The embarrassment needle dipped in the red. “Oh my god. I can’t believe I just said that—never mind, I don’t know—”
“Oh no,” Sadie said. “I am not forgetting that, not in a million—”
“I swear to god I’m going to hang up this phone—”
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m not laughing. Seriously. I’m sorry, Lucy. I know you don’t do proper long-term relationships, okay, you’ve been very clear about that. I think you’re crazy, of course—”
“It’s not crazy, Sadie, I just know what I want. I like my life the way it is.”
She waited for Sadie to counter her like she always did, but Sadie was quiet for a moment, as if considering what to say. When she spoke again, her voice was soft. Kind.
“I know you do, Luce. But you know what? I think you’re right. I think a fling would be good for you. You could stand to loosen some of your rules for a bit. Unbutton your collar.”
Lucy smiled, a rush of nerves in her belly replacing the mortification. Was she really going to do this?
“Maybe I’ll think about it, then.”
“Don’t think too hard. Just go for it.”
Lucy couldn’t help but laugh. “I love you, Sadie. Thanks for being there.”
“Always.”
