A Wifey for the Bad Boy(212)

“I suppose maybe it's something to do with my age. Today is one of those days when I just feel old Cecilia. Try and hold onto your youth for as long as you can. It's no fun seeing time slip by, no fun at all.”

“Really, Lucy, what's going on? I'm getting worried about you. You're never usually like this. I always thought you were one of those people that looked to the bright side of life. Are you ill? Have you had some bad news? What's going on, please, talk to me about it.”

She laughed dryly to herself. “I used to be, mostly I am I think, but sometimes things happen...I don't know, it just casts life in a different light. One day you wake up and everything is different and you have no idea why. But I fear that I am rambling now and that is unbecoming of me. I would hate to shatter the illusion that you have of me.”

“And what illusion would that be?” I asked, my breath catching in my throat.

“That I'm some kind of wise old woman who knows the mystery of life and the meaning behind it all, when in reality I'm just as clueless as the rest of you. Sometimes I feel like a fraud, standing up here and lecturing to all those students like I know what I'm going on about. The truth is we can never know what life is going to throw at us until it happens, and then it's happening so quickly that we barely get a chance to respond at all.”

Suddenly my worry increased for it sounded like she was talking about something deadly. Was it cancer? Was she ill? Was Wendy? I perched myself on the edge of the desk and leaned forward to her. I wanted to reassure her with a hand on her shoulder but I was still hesitant to give her any kind of clue that I was in love with her, so I kept my hands to herself, and just tried to offer her emotional support.

“Lucy, please, tell me what's going on. I'm getting worried. Are you sick? Did someone die? What's going on?”

And then, all of a sudden, her expression changed and she was back to being the normal Lucy that I knew and loved. She threw her head back and her hair settled in its usual glossy pattern and the light was back in her eyes, as was the warmth in her smile. While I was gladdened to see her like this it did strike me as odd at how she could so easily shift between moods, and there was a look of puzzlement on my face.

“Now you're the one that looks troubled,” she said, “what are you doing for dinner tonight? I feel like eating out, you want to try that new Italian place that's just opened up?”

I could barely believe my ears as the words tumbled from her mouth and there was no way I was going to say no, and I dared not ask about Wendy because I didn't want to suffer the truth until it was inevitable.





Chapter 7

I had to keep reminding myself that Lucy was married and that this wasn't a date. I knew she was too honorable a woman to ever cheat on her wife. I liked to think that I had the same values and would never fool around with a married woman, but I feared that I wouldn't have been able to resist Lucy if she really tried to seduce me. I picked out a few outfits, most of which had plunging necklines but I ended up avoiding them, convincing myself that it was just a dinner with a friend and I didn't have to do worry about dressing up. I ended up wearing a skirt and a black top, and made my way to the restaurant.

I arrived there before Lucy but I gave her name and the waitress showed me to the table. It was a nice place and I was surprised at how romantic the ambiance was. String music played in the background and the lights were dimmed. Red candles stood on the table, drops of wax slowly falling along the sides, the orange flame dancing around the black wick. I stared at it, entranced, until the door opened. Somehow I knew it was her even before I looked up.

“Wow,” I gasped as I saw her. She was wearing a long red dress that clung to her curves. Two thin straps reached over her shoulders and ran down, the dress barely held her voluptuous figure. When she walked the end of her dress swayed, offering a brief glimpse of her leg. She commanded attention and she commanded me. I rose as she approached and she giggled a little as she took my arms and kissed me on either cheek. I almost fainted as I felt the warmth of her skin against mine, and I felt extremely under-dressed.

“You look lovely,” she said politely.

“Thank you, but I wish I had known what you were going to be wearing. I would have made more of an effort!”

“Nonsense, you look great, and I only threw this one because sometimes you need to remind yourself that life can be beautiful.”

I was about to ask her why she needed reminding of that when she snapped her fingers and a waiter came to our table. She ordered some wine and a wicked look came across her face.

“Let's live a little tonight, shall we?” she asked, raising her eyebrow. I could do nothing but follow her lead. The wine wasn't long in coming. Lucy tasted it and said that it was fine, and then we both had glasses in front of us. We ordered our meals, then Lucy leaned forward and spoke in a low tone.