AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He shakes his head. “Pride, probably. And stupidity.”
There’s silence between us now. I tap the side of my coffee cup with my finger.
“Graham—”
“I’m in therapy, you know.” We talk over one another.
I feel instant regret for telling him about Gloria. I don’t know why I said it—it just came out of my mouth.
His eyes widen at my confession, and I’m ready for him to say something stupid like, Shackwell men don’t need therapy, but instead he says, “That’s good.”
“It’s been helpful,” I keep going. “I’ve realized a lot of things about myself.” I don’t mention that a lot of the things I’ve done, using people because I didn’t want to let anyone get close to me, are partially related to my relationship with him. I don’t say it because, while I can lay some of the blame on my upbringing, I also know I have to take responsibility for my own actions. In the end, I chose the things I did, and that’s on me.
“You should think about going too,” I say.
“Therapy?” he says.
He looks to the side, his face contemplative. I’m waiting now. I’m prepared for him to tell me what a stupid idea that is, but he turns to me with resolve on his face instead.
“That’s a good idea,” he says.
I’m shocked by this answer, and even more taken aback by the sincerity in his eyes. I honestly thought he would blow my words off. I would have bet money on it.
For the first time in a long time, possibly my entire life, a kernel of hope begins to sprout.
And all I can think about is how I want to tell Lucy.
“SEE?” LUCY SAYS AS WE sit together on a pink couch in her condo. I was a little shocked when I saw it, but I have to admit, it’s comfortable.
I’ve just told her about the conversation with my dad, and she’s listening intently, the messy bun on top of her head bobbing as she gives the appropriate facial expressions at each part of my tale. It sort of feels like fiction, to be honest. My dad, wanting to make things right with me.
“See what?” I ask her, confused.
“This is how you cheat, Graham Shackwell,” she says, wagging her head disapprovingly. “You use things like long-lost relationships with your dad to win challenges.”
I let out a disbelieving chuckle, smiling despite her ridiculousness.
“You’re kidding,” I say to the crazy woman sitting next to me on a pink couch that’s growing on me by the second. Or maybe it’s because of who I’m sitting with.
She smiles. I don’t know if I’ve realized this before, but her smile feels like medicine to me. It makes me feel like everything is right in the world.
She casually props her feet up on the couch and threads her hand through my arm, letting it rest on the inside of my elbow. Then she leans her head on my shoulder just like she did the other night at the hospital.
“Cheating aside,” she says. “I think it’s a good thing.”
I lean my head on hers; I like being this close to Lucy. “I’m not getting my hopes up,” I tell her.
“That’s probably a good idea. But, you never know. Maybe he really will follow through, and then ... What do you want after that?”
I let out a breath. “I don’t really know,” I say.
“Maybe not knowing is a good thing. Maybe you just need to see where this goes. The pickleball is in his court.”
I snort. “The pickleball?”
“Morgan said it the other day and I decided to adopt it.”
“Of course Morgan did,” I say.
