Chapter Six – Lucy
It was Friday night and I was getting home in the evening from a long day at my temporary lab. I knew that they didn’t need me there, so I was appreciative that I was given my own workspace. I just wanted to rebuild my own lab where I could work freely and not feel like I was in the way.
Nothing felt like it was working as I parked and walked up to the house. It looked like Mrs. Hastings was gone. I planned to just go upstairs and open some wine for dinner.
Yeah, that was healthy.
I glanced over at Max’s house without moving my head and saw the lights on in the living room. I was just walking around to my door when I heard his voice. “Lucinda?”
I winced and knew that I’d been seen. “Hi, Max. How are you?”
“I’m good. I just dropped Riley off at a sleepover with her cousin for the night, so I have the evening to myself,” he said. Wicked thoughts raced through my mind.
“Are you going to go out? Isn’t that what single parents do whenever they get the chance?” I asked, dreading another porno set next door. I was just going to drink and feel sorry for myself behind closed blinds.
“Not tonight. I already had dinner out, so I’m making tri-tip with fresh veggies on the grill. It’s still nice out. Want to join me?” he asked. I nibbled on my lip and thought about all the reasons why that was a bad idea. “I have some great wine. We can toast to the weekend.”
I didn’t see a lot to toast to, but the wine won me over. Why drink alone when you can drink with someone else? My only problem was that my someone else was an old crush that was hot as hell. I needed to try to stay away from him, but Max had the same pull that he did back then… except with an added weapon.
Riley. She was sweet, beautiful, and innocent. Max loved her, and that made me forget about his playboy ways for a moment. I let out a breath. He was a caring man and I knew that spending the evening with him would make me fall even further.
“I’m going to change into some real clothes and I’ll come over. Should I bring anything?” I asked. I saw his smile in the light from his sprawling porch.
“Just yourself. I had some free time today and went a little crazy in the kitchen with Ri,” he said with laughter in his voice. I raised an eyebrow. “I’ll see you soon.”
I headed upstairs and changed into some yoga pants and a t-shirt with flip flops. I pulled my hair down and fussed with it, making the craziness of the curls work before I freshened up my makeup. Sweet Jesus, this wasn’t a date. I’d never compare to the kinds of women that he preferred. I needed to get over this. It was just dinner and wine with a neighbor – perhaps a friend.
Nothing more.
I left my appearance alone and locked my door before heading over to Max’s. He had left the porch light on for me. I tapped on the door softly, looking over the quiet street. This was a great place to raise Riley in such a big, crazy place like New York. The door opened and I looked up to see Max standing there in the most perfectly worn jeans I’d ever seen and a half-buttoned shirt, a towel hanging over his shoulder. “Lucinda,” he said softly. I longed to hear him call me Lucy again. “Come in.”
I followed him inside through the open living room to the kitchen where he reached into the fridge. He retrieved a bottle of wine and poured me a big glass before giving me one of his sexy smiles. “I’m grilling out back. Join me?”
I hadn’t seen the backyard, so I nodded and followed him. The grill was on an expansive deck and overlooked a perfect yard. It wasn’t huge, but Max did a great job with it. It had a small garden as well as a swing set and pool for Riley. There was plenty of room for a little girl to get lost in her imagination out there and just be a kid. I sat down near the grill and watched as he lifted the lid and checked the coals. I could tell that Max was comfortable cooking and taking care of his home. I sipped the wine, imagining that he grew up to be just what I expected. “Were you at the lab tonight?” he asked me as he placed the meat on one side of the BBQ. I listened to it sizzle.
“I was. I was there all day, but it isn’t the same when you’re using someone else’s stuff. I feel like I’m an inconvenience.” I shrugged and tried to push the day behind me. “What do you do?” I knew that Max was headed to medical school before, but I never learned what he decided on.
He gave me a long look before grinning. “I’m in gynecology.” I wrinkled my nose and he laughed, holding up one hand. “It isn’t like that. I swear. I had an aunt that died from ovarian cancer and I wanted to help women survive. It isn’t the sexy job that some people think, but I am making a difference.” That made sense. I mulled it over as he spread a lot of vegetables over the other side of the grill.
We ate outside, sharing the bottle of wine. Max reminded me of how easy he was to get along with and truly like, making it hard for me to keep myself from bringing up our past. I’d been lying this long and it would look bad to do that now, so I decided to just keep playing the part of Lucinda.
We took the dishes inside, washing them side-by-side at the sink. I was feeling the wine now and laughed at all of his jokes. I felt the weight on my shoulders fading. This was fun and familiar. I placed the last fork in the rack before looking at him.
Max was staring intently at me as I swallowed the lump in my throat. He stepped closer, cupping my face with his hands before his lips claimed mine. It was familiar and intense – I felt like I belonged there. I wasn’t the teenager that I was the last time, but I also couldn’t admit who I was to Max.
His tongue swept my mouth as I considered just giving in for one night. What could it hurt?
The scene from his bedroom with that woman played back through my mind. I hadn’t seen her again, but Max was a good-looking man – probably one that slept around a lot. Mrs. Hastings and some of the other women hinted around to that. I knew how he was back in school and that he had split up with Riley’s mother early on. It probably wasn’t even a real marriage.
I moaned as he gripped my hips and lifted me to the counter, his mouth claiming mine with his lips and tongue. He pushed between my thighs as one hand drifted down over the front of my shirt, making me jump.
I pushed him away and slid from the counter, my heart pounding in my chest. I couldn’t give myself to him like this: in a lie and feeling weak. “I have to go. Thanks for dinner.” I hurried to the front door without looking back and then to my apartment, unlocking the door and falling to the floor as I started to cry.