Chapter 24
LUCKY
Bella
Just heard from Hardy.
Mike is okay.
Hardy saw him on the scene when Mike saved a rookie who passed out and Mike asked Hardy to tell you that he loves you and nothing could ever change that.
Were those his exact words?
That’s what Hardy told me.
Okay
This is good news.
Then why haven’t I heard from him?
I don’t know, but Hardy said the fire was almost out when he saw him.
Said he looked miserable and exhausted, but he was fine.
He probably went home and crashed.
What if I scared him off?
What if he doesn’t come to the program tomorrow?
Micah invited him. He’ll be there.
I hope so.
OMG I just realized that they are Micah and Mike! How cute is that?
Yeah
Lucy!
[gif of Lucille Ball sticking out her tongue]
Sorry
Hang tight. We’re on the way.
We? We who?
Bella?
It’s a school night.
Aren’t the boys in bed?
Yeah
[gif of the Sex and the City women walking in slow mo]
Thirty minutes later Bella, Summer, and Raven are on my couch.
“Sorry, I know I’m normally the life of the party…” I trail off, unsure how I even want to finish that thought.
Summer places a hand on my arm, rubbing small comforting circles. “What’s going on?”
I sigh, trying to decide where to start. “So I’ve been seeing someone.”
“We know,” the girls practically answer in unison.
I look between Summer and Raven. “I figured Summer knew because I missed pickup at that playdate, but how do you know?” I ask Raven.
“Ned said he saw you two driving through town together one night last week. Said you stopped at the light in front of the store, and he saw Mike lean over and kiss you.”
That must have been the night we went to his place. I look at her apologetically. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I feel like an asshole.”
“Eh, I figured you’d tell me when there was something to tell. Despite working at a newspaper, I don’t think every bit of gossip in this town is newsworthy. You know me, I’m not really one to get FOMO about stuff.”
“So what happened with Mike? Are we here for the big talk-you-off-the-cliff speech?” Summer asks.
“Yes. No? I don’t know.” I sigh. “I know I tend to be tight-lipped about my past, but I had some really shitty exes, and the last one really fucked with my head and my self-confidence. He called me boring in bed and would make little comments here and there about my weight, and how my clothes fit, and whether I should really be eating that,” I say, doing an impression of Kyle.
“And my body changed so much after having the boys that I just started to feel like, I dunno… not myself.”
“I totally get where you’re coming from,” Summer says with a warm smile. “Motherhood is hard. But you don’t have to do it alone. You have us.”
I return her smile as I continue sharing my truth.
“My ex never wanted to have kids, and Levi was so difficult. I knew I couldn’t handle any more kids on my own, so I had a tubal ligation.
It was also supposed to help with my endometriosis.
But then I met Mike. And he is amazing, but he wants a big family, and I can’t give him that. ”
“Oh, Lucy,” Summer says, pulling me into a hug.
“Please don’t tell me this one was calling you a good girl in an ambulance too, or on a firetruck.” Raven lifts an eyebrow.
We all burst into laughter at Raven’s unexpected joke.
“Look at you cracking jokes. That’s my job!” Bella playfully says.
“He did not call me that in an ambulance,” I say.
“Good, because I just don’t think that’s very professional.”
“I agree with Raven. I think it’s hot in a book, but I don’t think I’d like it in real life,” Summer says.
“Oh, trust me you would,” Bella and I say in unison.
“Please tell me someone has at least called you a good girl before,” Bella says to Raven.
“Nope, and I’m not sure I’d like it if one did,” Raven replies.
“Okay, you need to read Hitched and Tied by Ayana Cox,” I tell her.
“Oh my God, I don’t think I’ve ever realized how much her name sounds like ‘I wanna cock,’” Bella squeals.
“That was probably intentional,” Summer adds.
“I wouldn’t put it past a romance author to come up with a cheesy name,” Raven scoffs.
“Well, this book will definitely change your mind about romance books and men who like to praise their women. It’s the first book in her newest cowboy romance series, and the mouth on this man is delicious.
It’s a fake marriage to save the ranch story.
You will definitely like good girl after reading that one,” I say.
“And darlin’,” Summer adds.
“And mine. And the way that man growls my wife? Ugh.” Bella shimmies her shoulders, and we all get quiet, probably thinking over our favorite scenes from the book.
Raven scowls, crossing her arms over her chest. “I’m just not really into romance.”
Summer leans forward on the couch. “But these ones are different. The characters feel so real, and the stories feel cinematic, like you’re watching a movie in your head while reading.”
“Ayana’s books are always a one-handed read for me, if you catch my drift.”
“Bella, you could have your kindergarten student with the worst penmanship write it out for us, and we’d still know exactly what you were talking about.” Raven playfully rolls her eyes.
“All I’m saying is if you want to let loose, you should check out Ayana’s books. She might really open your mind to some things.” Bella winks.
Raven visibly stiffens, and I chuckle. Every so often, Bella says something crass that makes Raven uncomfortable, and it’s comical to watch them tiptoe around each other.
“So, what happened with Mike? Does he not want to be with you? Is that why we’re here, to beat his ass?” Summer asks.
Bella claps her hands like she’s calling her classroom to order. “Mike got called into the fire up on the ridge last night, but he told Hardy to tell me to tell Lucy that he loves her and that will never change.”
“So, what’s the issue?” Raven asks, flicking her hand.
Her practical approach to every situation is calming.
While she might come across as cold or uncaring to those that don’t know her, that couldn’t be farther from the truth.
She grounds our group, is the order to Bella’s perverted chaos, the balance to Summer’s romanticized naivety, and the calm to my anxiety-ridden storm.
“I think I’m just panicking because I told him I can’t have kids and then he left for the fire, and we haven’t talked since.”
“He’s probably just resting after the fire. RJ said they were up there all night,” Raven says.
“RJ was there? He’s okay, right?”
Bella and I exchange curious glances at Summer’s question. Sounds like someone is still hung up on her first kiss.
Raven nods. “Still an idiot, but otherwise okay.”
“Oh! I’ve been dying to tell you ladies. Guess what Mike calls Lucy?”
“Please tell me it’s darlin’,” Summer says with a wistful look in her eye.
Bella shakes her head. “It’s Lucky!”
Summer lets out an audible sigh.
Raven rolls her eyes. “What’s with your men adding letters to your names for nicknames? Bells, Lucky. Am I the only one who understands how nicknames are supposed to work?”
Summer swoons. “I think it’s cute.”
“It’s technically not a nickname when it’s what’s on your birth certificate.”
“Wait, what?” Bella gasps.
“I dropped the K and shortened it to Lucy in middle school. I just never believed that I lived up to the name, and it made me feel like shit every time someone called me that. I’ve always been unlucky. In love. In life. But when Mike calls me Lucky, it feels right for the first time in my life.”
Summer sighs. “I love that.”
“He’s your person,” Bella adds.
“Do we need to start calling you Lucky instead of Lucy then?” Raven asks.
“No, Lucy is fine.”
Raven nods. “So, what are you going to do about Mike?”
Summer claps her hands as if she’s had the biggest revelation. “You know what you should do?”
We all stare at her in anticipation.
“You should propose!”
“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I agree,” Raven adds, and we all gawk at her. “Mike is the Irish one, right?”
“How did you—”
“Ned.”
“Sounds about right,” Bella says.
Raven continues, “Tomorrow is St. Patrick’s Day, and according to an old Irish legend, St. Brigid was annoyed that women had to wait on men to propose.
So, she complained to St. Patrick, and he agreed to let women propose too, but they could only do it on Leap Day.
Small victories, I guess, but we’re still getting fucked by the patriarchy. ”
“There’s no Leap Day this year,” Summer says, sounding defeated.
“Who says she has to wait till Leap Day? If St. Patrick allowed it, she could do it on his day,” Bella declares.
“I’d have to get a ring,” I mutter, mind racing. Am I really considering this? “And there’s something else I’m waiting on that I’m supposed to get tomorrow.”
“A delivery?”
“Sort of. It could be nothing, but it’s something I wanted to look into.”
“It better not be a house listing with another realtor. If you propose and Mike moves in, you better use me to sell your house or his.”
“Of course.” I nod at Summer.
“I’ll watch your class tomorrow. Go do what you need to do, just make sure you’re back in time for the assembly,” Bella says.
Fuck you, Lady Luck. I’m off to make my own luck and get the man of my dreams.