Page 7 of His Build
Lucy scoffed. “I got into that fight with Mom because she wanted us to take a road trip to Florida that night to meet some guy she’d been long-distance dating. On a Tuesday. She was drunk, remember?”
“Can you blame her? She finally got her freedom after Stan left.”
How could Lucy forget? Stan had not been a nice guy. He was constantly squashing their mom’s ideas, her voice, and her point of view. Growing up, Lucy had thought all men were like that. When Mom finally got it together enough to divorce him, Lucy and Sadie were fourteen and twelve respectively, and thought they were finally going to have the fun, carefree life their stepdad never let them have.
But as if to make up for Stan’s stern, controlling nature, their mom had gone on a dating spree, hooking up with loser after loser, each of whom made Stan look more and more like a saint. These days she’d slowed down a little, but she hadn’t really had a functional long-term relationship since.
While Lucy had learned from her mother’s mistakes, Sadie had followed in her footsteps. At least the dating awful guys part. She had terrible luck with men—if they weren’t ghosting her, they were fooling around on her.
But like Lucy told her clients—and Sadie, if she would ever listen—you make your own luck.
“The problem with Mom is she never put herself first,” Lucy said with a gentle tone, hoping Sadie would glean that she was also talking about her.
“Are you kidding? Mom hasalwaysput herself first.”
“She always put the men she’s dating first,” Lucy corrected. “That’s what happens when you think your personal happiness depends on a relationship with a man.”
Sadie sighed, and Lucy knew she at least got what she was saying. Maybe someday she’d actually listen.
“You ever think about calling her, Luce?”
Something pricked at Lucy’s stomach. “No. Why should I?”
“I don’t know, to get some peace.”
Lucy huffed. “I have a perfect amount of peace already.”
She hadn’t talked to her mother in a couple of years. It was better this way.
There was a pause, and then Sadie said, “You ever wonder if things would have been different if Dad hadn’t died?”
“All the time. But you weren’t even born. And it's not like I remember him. He could have been worse than Stan.”
“God forbid.”
“Anyway,” Lucy continued. “Mom can be spontaneous all she wants. But not planning for stuff is not the best way to get an optimal result. I’m looking at you, Sis.”
“Who am I, your client?”
Lucy smiled. “No. But I should be my own.” Lucy flopped back on the bed. “What am I doing, Sadie?”
Sadie might not be any good with her own love life, but she was still pretty good at giving Lucy advice on everything else. Even a life coach needed help from outside her own head.
“I think it’s a great thing, to be honest,” Sadie said. “You need a shakeup.”
“I need the money.”
Sadie laughed. “Don’t we all. Anyway, it’s going to fly by. Try to enjoy yourself.”
Lucy sighed. “I’ll try.”
“Keep your eyes peeled for Truck Man.”
“As if! I’m going to take this time for me.”
She could practically hear Sadie rolling her eyes.
But maybe Sadie was onto something. A hook-up might not be the worst thing. It would be guaranteed to be temporary, anyway. She blushed furiously for no one but herself.
