Lucy
Who knew campaigning was such a gruesome task?
After spending most of the day going door-to-door with Stella and her insanely supportive husband—oh my gosh, the puppy dog energy rolling off Lucas Grady today—I’m beat.
And I’m now the proud owner of a new memorized spiel:
“Hi, I’m Lucy Spence, and I’m here on behalf of Stella Grady, Independent candidate for Mississippi’s 4th Congressional District. I’d like to speak with you today regarding state educational reform and congressional term limits.” Stella said the latter one would really get people talking, and that’s when we could hit them with the former, her true passion, educational reform.
If I never have to say those words again, I’d die a happy woman. Though I have to admit, hanging out with Stella and seeing such a force of a woman at work was inspiring. Maybe I could write a book about her one day.
I take a gulp of water as sweat rolls down my back, and I frown, wishing for my air conditioned apartment and darkness and aloneness.
But that desire is obliterated in two seconds as I remind myself that this isgood. It’sgoodI’m in Dasher Valley for the Fourth of July. It’sgoodI’m not alone, hulled up in my apartment numbing my brain by watching television dramas, listening to triste Taylor Swift songs, or losing myself in unrealistic happy-ever-after novels.
Because on the days that Stone and I aren’t together for an event or random date—though there has only been one of those, and I suspect it’s because he didn’t want to go to the theater alone as a man to see a romantic comedy—that’s what I do. I also write, and that is an analgesic, too, I guess. Building up fake worlds with fake people with fake conflicts and fake happiness that are forced by the powers that be to fall into love.
My phone buzzes in the back pocket of my mini jean skirt with white stars painted on, and I pull it out to find my sister calling me. I check the time and, while it’s a little after noon here, it must be the wee hours of the morning in Korsa.
I hope she’s okay…
I shuffle off of the front porch of Marian’s house and weave through a few people standing around chatting until I’m far enough away to answer the phone without a ton of background noise. “Lorelei? You good?”
A yawn answers back. “Yeah, I’m good.”
I stare at Stone, who is wearing stars and stripes Chubbies shorts that look exactly like they sound: one side stars with the other stripes. He laughs at something his newly married friend, Tate,says, and the way his blond hair bounces as he shakes his head in laughter, the sunlight creating a golden hue, mesmerizes me. The tanned man in a tight white t-shirt is a sight to behold. Anyone with a sense of vision would agree. Heck, even if a person was blind, they’d still be able to tell Stone Harper was the epitome of the predetermined Roman god by his heavenly, otherworldly scent. Maybe that’s the writer in me running wild, but the man’s scent—something akin to stardust and lightning and the rings spinning around Saturn—lingers in my mind after the long drive down from Juniper Grove yesterday evening after work.
Don’t even get me started on the kisses and light touches he’s given me since the moment we were in the presence of other people.
To keep up a dating contrivance, that’s all.
“Uh, Lucy? Are you there?”
Oh, crap.“Oh, yeah. Hey, Lor. What’s up? Why are you calling me when the sun isn’t up for you?”
“Earth to Lucy. I just told you why.”
I chuckle, my gaze still stamped on Stone. As if he heard me think his name, he glances my way and tilts his head. I wiggle my fingers in a wave to let him know all is well, and then he winks at me and blows me a kiss.
Even though I’m screaming internally at the cuteness, I don’t catch the kiss. I let it fly right past me and into the woods on the side of the quaint home.
Because I’m here as hisfakegirlfriend.
Fake. Fake. Fake.
Remember that, Miss Falls Too Hard and Too Fast.
I turn my back to the nuisance. “Sorry. I was looking for a spot outside to talk with you away from people.”
“Where are you?”
I rub my elbow with one hand as I grip the phone at my ear with the other. I haven’t told my sister about this arrangement I have with Stone. Heck, I haven’t told Hadley anything more about us after I told her I “called it off.” She doesn’t know we are “back together.”
Nobody knows but me and him.
And apparently his best friend back in Juniper Grove, but that’s all.
Even the player confides in his closest friend. And you can’t even bring yourself to tell your twin. Tsk, tsk. What a mess you are…
