I think her question is rhetorical, but I answer it anyway. “Oh, you’ve got it all wrong, Lacey. It’s me that should be asking that question.” I’m too close to her, much too close for this conversation.
I want to be the man she deserves, but I’m not there yet. So, instead of giving in and taking what I want, I softly kiss her cheek and shut the truck door. Then, I take my sweet time walking around the back to calm myself.
We avoid Brimcrest for obvious reasons and instead travel a little further to one of the larger towns with a broader rangeof shopping options. That was five hours ago, and I seriously underestimated Lacey’s shopping ability. She is like a woman on a mission, and I am brave enough to admit that my arms hurt from carrying all of these bags.
“Hey, Lace? Do you think we could stop for a bit and get something to eat?” Do I sound a tad whiny? Yes. Do I care? Not really.
“Huh?”
“Food?”
“Yeah, sure.” She smiles, but it’s forced, and her head has been in her phone.
We walk together in silence, and I can tell something is on her mind. We find a little restaurant by the sea that sells fish and chips. I nudge her arm. “Remember when we used to bunk off school and go and get fish and chips by the pier?”
She barks out a laugh. “Oh boy, do I! I also remember the first time we did it, you got so scared your mum would find out that you dobbed us in as soon as we got back to your house.”
“Fancy some fish and chips with me? I promise I won't tell Mum this time.” I give her my best cheeky smile, and she rolls her eyes, leading the way in.
The lady behind the counter nods towards the back of the room, and we see a few empty tables. Lacey manoeuvres her way through the rest of the tables, and I follow suit.Eyes up, Cole, eyes up!
I put the bags down, tuck them under the table, and sit across from Lacey, who is back on her phone.
“Hey, you okay?” I put my hand over one of hers, and she snaps her head up.
“Shit. I’m sorry, Cole. I got this message…I’m just…I don’t know…” She trails off and hands me her phone.
Unknown
It’s Ted. I’ve been thinking, we need to talk. We owe it to each other to do that much. Come back to me with a date and time and I’ll be there.
She hasn’t replied to him, but she worries her lip and her legs start to bounce underneath the table.
“Cole, what do I do?” Her voice is small. I want to tell her to fuck him off; he isn’t worth her time, but do I do that? No, I don’t, because I’m a fucking idiot.
“I can’t tell you what to do; this is something you have to decide on your own. I’m here no matter what you decide.” I’m not sure if what I’ve said is right or wrong. Her face falls a little, but she shrugs it off and picks up the menu instead.
Cole, you fucking idiot.
**********
After dropping a very tired Lacey off back home along with all of her bags, I take a drive out to the new piece of land that I’ve just bought. I plan to build my forever home, but as I stand here looking at the land, all I feel is a sense of emptiness.
I pull down the tailgate on my truck and hop up. Sometimes I come out here and spend a few hours till the sun goes down, imagining what it might look like when it’s all built. Would it be somewhere that Lacey would want to live? Could I give her the life she deserves?
My phone pings, and I open it to a picture from Lacey. She’s put the outfit I bought for Peanut over her stomach, and I can see a bump beginning to form. I put a heart on the image and closed out of her message.
Me
I know I’m going to regret this but I am desperate and I need advice
It doesn’t take long before the vultures descend.
Arch
*Oh I’m Ready For This Meme*
Ethan
