Chapter Thirty Four

Lucy was beginning to feel like her whole life was nothing but one of those cheesy workout montages from some Eighties movie, minus the rousing music filled with synthesizers.

Sleep, eat, give massages to her clients, workout, walk, workout, run, workout, eat, sleep… and repeat.

Again and again and again.

In the last few weeks, Spencer had really stepped up the intensity of her workouts, making her work out for longer and longer periods of time, in preparation for the daily hikes required to get the summit in Africa.

Luckily, with Sullivan working from home, he was almost always around when she could summon the strength – and stay awake long enough – to hang out with him.

He was always cheerful and encouraging of her exercise, and after deciding not to worry so much about the scale and every chicken breast and broccoli spear, the pounds were thankfully starting to fall away.

Lucy knew a lot of it was mental fortitude, though. Now that she had the emotional support of someone like Sullivan, she knew she could do it, instead of just thinking about it.

Plus, he didn’t grumble too much when she suggested ‘ let’s go walking dates’ instead of going to the movies or out to dinner like a normal couple would.

Between them, they had probably walked to Neptune and back by now, she mused absently.

She didn’t deserve a guy like him, she thought, curling her legs up under her and looking up at the stars. She was spending a rare evening at her own house tonight, having promised Brandt they would hang out, catch up, and spend some time together. The two roommates had been like ships passing in the night lately, and she missed her best friend as much as he had missed her.

She heard the patio door snick shut, then watched Brandt ease himself into his chaise, making sure not to spill a drop from his wineglass. “Wow, it’s really clear tonight,” he said, looking up at the night sky the way she had been.

“I know,” Lucy breathed in agreement. “Amazing.”

“I’m glad you’re here,” Brandt said, reaching over and squeezing her hand. “I feel like we haven’t hung out in ages. You’ve broken up with me for a guy.”

“No,” Lucy corrected. “I’ve broken up with you for a treadmill. And a little bit for a guy. But, um, hello? Don’t you have your own man now? You are equally responsible for our break up.”

Brandt brightened, his smile lighting up the darkness. “I do have a man.”

“So… how is Mr. Whole Foods?” Lucy asked teasingly.

“Josh is fine,” Brandt said coyly.

“Still cute?”

“Still adorable,” Brandt said expansively. “He suggested we go away together for the weekend,” he added, burying his face in his wineglass and taking a big sip.

“Ooh,” Lucy enthused. “A dirty weekend away together – so soon? You’ve been together a few months now, right? What’s that in gay years?”

“Oh god,” Brandt said. “At least a decade.”

Lucy laughed. “Good for you. Where are you two going to go?”

“I don’t know,” Brandt said. “Las Vegas, maybe. You know how I love me some glitz and glamor. And gambling.”

“I do indeed,” Lucy laughed. “When is this magical weekend away?”

“Probably next weekend,” he said. “You will have the place to yourself, so you and Sullivan can play house. I’m sure you guys would like that.”

Lucy flushed at the thought. She liked the idea of sharing a house with Sully, just the two of them. And there was something to be said for having a little privacy, since they hadn’t had much of that lately. At either place, there was always the possibility of Brandt or Spencer being around. They loved them both, but privacy was a gooooood thing.

“Could you move it up to this weekend?” Lucy asked sweetly and Brandt chucked.

“Patience, my friend. Patience.”

“Fine,” Lucy said, mock pouting. “I’ll probably be so tired by then, I’ll sleep through the whole weekend anyway.”

“Yeah, I’m thinking Thor the Thunder Trainer had stepped up the workouts, am I right?” Brandt asked. “You’ve been gone a lot.”

“Yeah, he keeps increasing the length of every workout,” Lucy said. “I have a feeling he’s plotting a half marathon… or even a marathon for me to do before too long.”

“Gawd,” Brandt drawled. “I’d die.”

“I’m hoping not to,” Lucy said. “You know what’s amazing, though?”

“What?”

“Ever since Sully and I… you know, I’ve been worrying less and less about my weight. In the beginning, the weight was everything and Kilimanjaro was going to be a nice by product, but it seems to be switching now. It’s more about being strong and healthy so I can climb the damn mountain, and less about how much I weigh doing it. Kind of a nice mental turnaround. And definitely not one I ever expected to have. Even when I told Spencer it was about getting healthy, in the back of my head, it was all about how many pounds I could lose so I could face the scale like a normal, sane person. So, yes, a good mental turnaround.”

“And Sully has helped with that?” Brandt prodded gently.

“He has,” Lucy said with a smile. “I mean, he cares for me at this weight, so I feel like he doesn’t care about what I weigh any more than the average person would care. I want to be strong and healthy, but it’s nice to know he cares about me regardless. It’s been sorta freeing, really.”

“You guys are good for each other,” Brandt said. “And when you guys are together, god, you both look so disgustingly happy. That’s the other reason I’m fleeing to Vegas – to avoid the gushy looks you guys give each other all the time.”

“Oh please,” Lucy said with a laugh. “We are so not gushy.”

“Bitch please, you so are,” Brandt said in Nikki’s voice, making Lucy laugh harder.

“Fine, fine, we’re gushy. It’s a by product.”

“Of what?”

Lucy paused, looking up at the stars again. “Of being happy.”

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