Chapter Twelve

“I can’t believe we were both at the bonfire and didn’t see each other,” Spencer said, grabbing Lucy’s foot and helping her stretch out her hamstring. “Weird.”

“I know, right?” Lucy said, straining as he pulled further and further. A few weeks ago, she would have been embarrassed as hell to lay on the ground, splayed out like a turkey waiting to be trussed and let Spencer stretch her out, but now, it just seemed like routine.

At least he was still as pretty to look at as a few weeks ago, she thought, biting back a small smile as she pictured Brandt’s rapt attention whenever she mentioned Spencer’s biceps.

“Did you have fun?” Spencer asked.

“I did,” Lucy said with a smile. “I… well, I danced for a while. Got in some cardio while also getting my groove on. It was very… therapeutic.”

“That’s great,” Spencer enthused. “Bonus points to you,” he said happily. “How’s the food going? Lean protein and lots of veggies?”

Lucy sighed as he released her leg, then flopped back and rolled over onto her stomach to rest, glad the workout was over for the day. “Um, hit and miss,” she said into the mat.

“Hrm? What?” Spencer asked, sitting down gracefully beside her. “I didn’t hear you.”

Lucy lifted her head. “Um, hit and miss.”

“Lucy...” Spencer said in a chastising tone. “What you eat is important too.”

“I know, I just…” Lucy sighed and sat up so they were facing each other. “Whole Foods is expensive, and I don’t even know what some of the food there is.”

Spencer laughed. “Okay, that’s fair. I don’t even know what some of the food there is.”

“That’s comforting,” Lucy said wryly.

“Don’t you go to the farmer’s market downtown?” Spencer asked, leaning over and grabbing her a bottle of water and handing it to her.

She shook her head then took a big drink. “No, is it year round?”

Spencer nodded enthusiastically. “Yeah, it’s awesome! It’s like four blocks long along Alvarado Street, and is always held on Tuesday evenings. They have tons of stuff to choose from, and not just produce. There’s crafts and flowers and tons of food – some to take home, some to eat there. Lots of international stuff too, especially to eat on site. It’s really great, and is a great place to pick up cheaper fruits and veggies that you might actually recognize. And, of course, it’s all super fresh and tastes good.”

“Sounds great,” Lucy agreed, swigging her water.

“I can’t believe you haven’t been,” Spencer mused.

“I mean, I know about it, obviously, from living here before, I just never really… I don’t know. When I think ‘farmer’s market’, I think of a pickup truck full of, like, tomatoes or something. Is there really a lot to choose from?”

Spencer nodded. “And for cheap. It’s like a big open air art fair that happens to have fresh food. You have to check it out,” he said, leaning forward to stretch his own quad muscles.

Lucy fiddled with the cap of her bottle shyly. “Maybe… maybe we could go sometime. Uh, together. You know, meet there or something. You could show me the ropes, tell me what to buy, that sort of thing. Help me with my meal planning…”

Spencer looked up, slightly startled but hiding that emotion from Lucy. That was the last thing he was expecting her to say.

Did she think it was a… a date?

“Not a date, obviously,” she hastened to add, as though reading his mind. “Just a, I don’t know, a bonus trainer session. Total body sparkly unicorn, right?”

Spencer grinned at their inside joke about his brand name, but wasn’t sure what to response to give her.

He knew she could use some food guidance, and frankly, she often seemed a bit down or a bit sad and could probably use a friend or two.

But at the same time, he didn’t want to lead her on, and there was that ‘no fraternizing’ rule he had…

But she looked so hopeful, her green eyes shining and a bit shy. Maybe this would just be a bit more of a confidence booster for her – a chance to look at good foods together and make the right choices…

“I…”

“Forget it,” Lucy said, noting his hesitation. “I’m sure you have plans. Forget I said anything, but I’ll totally check it out sometime. I promise.”

“I’ll go,” Spencer said, deciding in that second. “Sure, it’ll be fun,” he added with a warm smile.

Lucy looked skeptical. “Are you sure? You aren’t’… busy?”

“Nope, not busy,” Spencer confirmed. “It opens at four in the afternoon. Wanna meet in front of the Portola Hotel at four next Tuesday and we’ll walk over together?”

Lucy blushed slightly, but nodded with a smile. “Sounds like a plan. See you next week, boss.”

Spencer waved as she closed the front door behind her a few minutes later, hoping he had made the right decision.

He had, he decided. Lucy just needed some confidence, some guidance, a friendly face in a new environment and she’d be on her way.

No big deal.

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