love, love you, or even luv u, can be misinterpreted. I settle for the cheesy “<3 Lucy.” Up until this moment I’d always rolled my eyes at the use of <3. But as I type it, I feel a growing appreciation for the cliché symbol.
I push SEND and lean back in my seat. Moments later, my cell buzzes.
Zach: Out running. Let’s grab dinner. I owe you—remember?
Me: Absolutely. That’d be great.
Zach: Awesome. Romano’s. Pick you up at 7.
I smile, thinking of that romantic corner in Romano’s.
“What’s with the silly grin?” Justin’s voice cuts into my thoughts. He is so nosy. I can approach this two ways: either refuse to acknowledge his question or brag about my date. I choose the shallower approach.
“Just planning a date with Zach,” I say.
Justin scrunches up his nose. “Oh, still seeing that guy? ”
“Um, yes. Not much has changed in the last week.” I mock his cackle.
Justin won’t take his eyes off me, making me shift in place. “Didn’t I tell you not to see that guy? He’s not worth it.”
Like hot water on dry ice, I steam. Why would I listen to him?
I readjust myself in my seat so I can face him square on. If we crash, we crash.
“You can’t tell me who to date. I make my own choices. Zach’s a great guy. I choose him.” I glare at Justin with venom. He needs to back off, now.
His serious expression slowly becomes more relaxed. Hint taken.
“So you go against the advice of a wiser, older man?” He laughs.
My heart flips. That damn noise.
Justin turns back to the road, leaning back in his seat with a huge smile on his face. His smug smile pushes me over the edge.
“You are so full of yourself. Yup,” I taunt. “I said it. FULL OF YOURSELF. You aren’t God!” The adrenaline flies through my system. “What on earth would give me any incentive to listen to you? You are an egotistical, pompous ass!” The words are sweet relief flying off my tongue.
“I am, am I?” He sucks in his cheeks, nodding slowly. “I assume this is not a random conclusion?”
“Hell, no. It’s well studied, I assure you.”
“So you’ve been studying me?” He chuckles and it vexes me despite the beauty of its roll. Maybe being around Justin is good? It’s a great reminder that we are not compatible.
“I won’t dignify that with an answer, as I’m sure your head will explode.”
“So you have?”
“For real? You are seriously clueless. Listen to me. Get over yourself. You’re not royalty.”
Justin studies the glare in my eye and his smile fades.
Good. Comprehension.
He shrugs. “At least I’m not as clueless as you, Lucy.”
CHAPTER TEN
Justin doesn’t talk to me the rest of the day which is great, because I can’t stand him. But I do find a white plastic bag filled with three water bottles and a breakfast sandwich at the bottom of my ladder before our morning break. His version of apologizing? That or he doesn’t want me to faint again. He also took care of lunch, buying the entire crew pizza. We downed eight pizzas in ten minutes.
As Alex and I power wash, I occasionally sneak glimpses of Justin priming the house behind me. He usually spends the day listening to music, joking around with the crew. Today he paints iPod-free and only once squirted Emmanuel with a hose. He never glances in my direction. He doesn’t even say goodbye when I climb out of his truck at the end of the day.
He's acting like a child. I want to shake him. He deserves every word I said. And now he’s punishing me? I hate how his silence is worse than his taunting.
Mom picks up on my agitation the moment I walk through the door. She stands at the counter, soaking bulbs in some new concoction while mud drips from her gardening boots onto the hardwood floor. Her look of concentration reminds me of a kid enthralled in their first science experiment. It would have been cute, except she is supposed to be a mom.
Sadly, her concentration is not deep enough to miss me as
I push SEND and lean back in my seat. Moments later, my cell buzzes.
Zach: Out running. Let’s grab dinner. I owe you—remember?
Me: Absolutely. That’d be great.
Zach: Awesome. Romano’s. Pick you up at 7.
I smile, thinking of that romantic corner in Romano’s.
“What’s with the silly grin?” Justin’s voice cuts into my thoughts. He is so nosy. I can approach this two ways: either refuse to acknowledge his question or brag about my date. I choose the shallower approach.
“Just planning a date with Zach,” I say.
Justin scrunches up his nose. “Oh, still seeing that guy? ”
“Um, yes. Not much has changed in the last week.” I mock his cackle.
Justin won’t take his eyes off me, making me shift in place. “Didn’t I tell you not to see that guy? He’s not worth it.”
Like hot water on dry ice, I steam. Why would I listen to him?
I readjust myself in my seat so I can face him square on. If we crash, we crash.
“You can’t tell me who to date. I make my own choices. Zach’s a great guy. I choose him.” I glare at Justin with venom. He needs to back off, now.
His serious expression slowly becomes more relaxed. Hint taken.
“So you go against the advice of a wiser, older man?” He laughs.
My heart flips. That damn noise.
Justin turns back to the road, leaning back in his seat with a huge smile on his face. His smug smile pushes me over the edge.
“You are so full of yourself. Yup,” I taunt. “I said it. FULL OF YOURSELF. You aren’t God!” The adrenaline flies through my system. “What on earth would give me any incentive to listen to you? You are an egotistical, pompous ass!” The words are sweet relief flying off my tongue.
“I am, am I?” He sucks in his cheeks, nodding slowly. “I assume this is not a random conclusion?”
“Hell, no. It’s well studied, I assure you.”
“So you’ve been studying me?” He chuckles and it vexes me despite the beauty of its roll. Maybe being around Justin is good? It’s a great reminder that we are not compatible.
“I won’t dignify that with an answer, as I’m sure your head will explode.”
“So you have?”
“For real? You are seriously clueless. Listen to me. Get over yourself. You’re not royalty.”
Justin studies the glare in my eye and his smile fades.
Good. Comprehension.
He shrugs. “At least I’m not as clueless as you, Lucy.”
CHAPTER TEN
Justin doesn’t talk to me the rest of the day which is great, because I can’t stand him. But I do find a white plastic bag filled with three water bottles and a breakfast sandwich at the bottom of my ladder before our morning break. His version of apologizing? That or he doesn’t want me to faint again. He also took care of lunch, buying the entire crew pizza. We downed eight pizzas in ten minutes.
As Alex and I power wash, I occasionally sneak glimpses of Justin priming the house behind me. He usually spends the day listening to music, joking around with the crew. Today he paints iPod-free and only once squirted Emmanuel with a hose. He never glances in my direction. He doesn’t even say goodbye when I climb out of his truck at the end of the day.
He's acting like a child. I want to shake him. He deserves every word I said. And now he’s punishing me? I hate how his silence is worse than his taunting.
Mom picks up on my agitation the moment I walk through the door. She stands at the counter, soaking bulbs in some new concoction while mud drips from her gardening boots onto the hardwood floor. Her look of concentration reminds me of a kid enthralled in their first science experiment. It would have been cute, except she is supposed to be a mom.
Sadly, her concentration is not deep enough to miss me as
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