21. Lucy
Lucy
“So what did you do for those birthdays that you didn’t go to the Cheesecake Factory?” Leo asks.
“Nothing.”
He leans back, like he’s shocked. “You didn’t do anything to celebrate your birthday after he died?”
I shake my head. “I was too sad and depressed. So was my mom. Looking back, I think she had pretty serious clinical depression after he passed away, but she didn’t know how to deal with it.”
Concern etches in Leo’s wrinkled brow. “Did she ask her doctor for help?
“No, she refused to go. I tried to take her a few times. I even made appointments for her, but she never went. And I didn’t know how to make her. I wish I had tried more. Maybe it would have made a difference.”
He gives my hand another squeeze. He’s been holding my hand this whole time, patiently listening to me talk, letting me get emotional as I talk about my parents.
“You did your best, Lucy. Trying to help a parent who’s struggling in the depths of depression would be insanely difficult for anyone. You were just a kid.”
I let out a shaky breath. “I just…sometimes I wish I could go back in time and try harder to keep her from meeting my stepdad…”
I trail off, emotion choking me.
“It’s okay. You don’t have to talk about that.”
I look at Leo. “Thank you for letting me talk about my parents. And thank you for listening.”
“Thank you for telling me about them. It means a lot that you shared them with me.”
I pack up my leftovers, and we head out of the sandwich shop and into the parking lot.
As we walk to our cars, I feel lighter. Happier. As emotional as I was talking about my dad and mom, it also felt good. Like I was honoring their memory by telling someone new about them.
Leo walks me to my car. When I see my tired reflection in the driver’s side window, I let out a tired laugh.
“God, I look exhausted. My skin makes me look like a vampire.”
Leo chuckles. “Stop. You look great.”
That tingle in my tummy is back. Even though I know Leo doesn’t see me as anything other than a friend, it still feels good to get a compliment from a guy as hot and handsome as he is.
“Thanks, but I’ve really let my skincare game fall to the wayside.” I lean back against my door. “You know, when I was in high school, my dream was to go to school to become an esthetician. I wanted to go to massage therapy school too. I wanted to work at a spa.”
Leo leans on his car, which is parked next to mine. He stands across from me, that deep brown gaze focused on me.
“That sounds like a cool job.”
I cross my arms. “It’s just a pipe dream. I’d have to save enough money to go to school. That’s thousands of dollars I don’t have.” I check the time. “Oh, wow. It’s late. We should get home.”
“Hey, can I ask you something?” Leo says.
“Sure.”
“Um, do you like working at the strip club?”
“Not really. But it’s good money, and there’s really no other job that I’m qualified for that will pay me that much.
All I have is a high school diploma. That’s it.
And I don’t have the money for college, so I’m stuck with whoever will hire me.
And I’d really like to get my own apartment soon, so I need to keep this job and save as much money as I can. ”
“If you found a better job, would you take it?”
“Of course. It’s not exactly my dream to sling drinks for drunk guys while they drool over naked chicks,” I joke. Leo doesn’t laugh. “But if I could find something better that paid well, I’d quit the strip club in a heartbeat.”
I start to turn to my car, but he stops me. “You should stay at the house until you find an apartment.”
I look at him. “What?”
“You and Wally should keep living at the house until you save enough money to find your own place.”
I’m stunned at his suggestion. “Leo, no. I can’t just move into your house. Where would I stay?”
“My bedroom.”
“Where would you stay?”
“The couch. Or one of my roommates’ rooms. They’re gone at their girlfriends’ places half the time anyway.”
I’m tempted to say yes, but I still shake my head. That’s too generous of him to offer up his bedroom while he couch-surfs in his own house.
“I appreciate the offer, but I can’t kick you out of your own bedroom, Leo. That’s too much.”
“You’re not kicking me out, Lucy. I’m offering.”
It’s a phrase he’s said a million times before, but it catches me off guard every time. I’m not used to this kindness, this generosity.
He steps forward. “I hate the thought of you sleeping in your car. It’s not safe.
You don’t deserve to live like that.” His jaw works.
“You’re my friend, Lucy. If any of my friends were in your situation, I’d offer to help them.
If it were Nick or Travis or Blake living in their car, I’d move them into my place, no questions asked.
I’d give them my bedroom and take the couch without a second thought. I want to do the same for you.”
I’m quiet as I process what he’s said. I can tell he’s telling the truth. I’ve known Blake for not even two weeks, but I’ve witnessed his kindness multiple times.
This is who he is. This is what he does. He helps people. He helps his friends.
Part of me almost says no. It’s the part of me that’s struggled on my own for the past two years. It’s the part of me that’s gotten used to fending for myself and never expecting anyone to lend a hand.
But the other part of me is tired. Exhausted from always scraping by. From never having any support. From never being able to land on my feet, no matter how hard I work.
But now I have a friend who truly cares. Who wants to help me.
Maybe what Leo’s suggesting isn’t just a crazy idea. Maybe it makes perfect sense.
If I stay with him for a couple of months, that’ll give me enough time to save money for my own place. I’ll finally have the stability I need to make it on my own.
No more driving around finding random places to park and sleep. No more wrecking my savings to pay for tickets whenever I get in trouble for parking in the wrong place or sleeping in my car.
“You’re sure it’s okay?” I ask him.
“Positive. I want you to stay with me, Lucy. You and Wally.”
“Okay. We’ll stay.”
He grins.
“But just until I save enough money to get my own place. Just for a few months.”
“You can stay as long as you want.”
“No, I need to have a place of my own as soon as I have the money.” I think for a second. “We’ll move out before Christmas.”
Leo looks at me. “You sure that’s not too soon?”
I shake my head.
“Okay. Then live with me until Christmas.”
I wrap my arms around him, hugging him tight. “Thank you,” I say into his big, broad chest.
He slides his massive arms around me. This is the first time we’ve ever hugged each other, I’m just now realizing.
I breathe in the spicy scent of his cologne, relishing the warmth of his body.
I step back when I realize how creepy it is that I’m smelling him.
“Sorry,” I say. “I should have asked if it was okay to hug you.”
He just smiles, looking totally unbothered. “You can hug me, Lucy. You never have to ask.”
Tingles swoop through my chest once more.
He rounds the front of his SUV to the front door. “See you at home?”
Home. The word sends warmth all over me.
It’s just temporary. Don’t get attached.
I can’t ignore that warm, comforting feeling. I can’t ignore how happy I feel right now—to have a new friend and a new home, even if it’s just for a little while.
“I’ll see you there,” I say.
Then I hop in my car and follow Leo all the way home.