Page 16 of Coach Me (Boston Blues #2)
Lucie
“You did what?!” It doesn’t matter that we’re sitting outside in downtown Boston, Jensen’s voice carries across the whole patio.
I sink lower in my chair. “I think I touched it.”
“This is incredible. Please, tell me everything. Leave no inch out.”
I can’t help but laugh. “Okay, well, I didn’t grope it in that much detail. Maybe it was something in his pocket.”
“ Ay, dios mío , Lucie!” Jensen snorts. “It never is.”
“Well, shockingly, I’ve never accidentally touched a man’s…equipment before.”
Jensen raises an eyebrow. “Equipment? Really?”
“What do you want me to say? I don’t cuss and you try thinking of non-cringey words for it.” I toss a fry in my mouth as Jensen turns her head up, clearly running all the other options through her head.
“Alright then, just cuss. Ever thought of that?”
I’ve thought of it many times, every time I try to think of a non-cringey word for a man’s penis .
“I’m around kids too much. It just feels weird for me at this point. Unnatural, in a way. I may not know too much about myself, but it’d probably look like Princess Peach cursing. I’d just be forcing it.”
Jensen takes a fry and drowns it in the ranch. “I see your logic,” she mumbles. “But I’ve got to disagree on Princess Peach. You know she’s dying to cuss Mario out every time she gets kidnapped.”
“Well, what princess wouldn’t cuss?”
Jensen quirks an eyebrow, then shrugs. “Cinderella? I don’t know, we got off track. We were talking about you touching your new boss’s dick. Let’s get back to that.”
“I’d really rather not.” I reach for another fry. Am I totally about to ruin the lunch I just ordered by eating way too much of our appetizer? Yep.
“Can you at least tell me if it felt big or not?”
My immediate thought was, of course it freaking felt big, but Dex is my boss . A boss who clearly has mixed feelings about hiring me. Talking about this feels wrong. Dex is a private guy. I can respect that.
“Jen, let it go.”
“Alright, fine, you prude of a princess. Moving on.” Jensen dusts her hands before reaching for her napkin. “How’s the whole figuring out yourself going?”
I called Jensen to fill her in on my plan the night Dex officially hired me. She’s the only person who knows about it at this point. She is my accountability buddy, making sure I don’t lose myself in my siblings again.
“It kind of just started. Taking this job feels more like the start of my who-knows-how-many step plan.”
“Don’t you have a list?”
“Sort of. I think it’s more guidelines really. ”
Jensen tosses another fry in her mouth. “Run me through them again.”
“We’ve got: venture out more, have a yes day, find a hobby, be more spontaneous, and do something I’m scared of.” I tap my finger on each task to make sure I remember all five. I should probably have an official list or something.
“Okay, it seems a little broad. Venture out more? How are you going to venture out? Venturing out to the bar and venturing to the park are two very different levels in my opinion.”
“Why can’t I venture to both places? The different levels are the whole point.
I go to bars with Reagan, and she usually orders my drink without asking me.
I go to the park—if we’re being honest, I don’t remember the last time I’ve been to a park.
But I want to find out. Maybe I’m one of those people who enjoys those park workouts—but I don’t know because Reagan hates things that make her sweaty, and Will would rather workout at one of the many top-of-the-line facilities he has access to. ”
Jensen laughs. “Okay, I’m understanding a little more. So, each item isn’t limited to a one-time thing.”
“Right, well, except maybe the yes day. Those may be a little more restricted to a once every couple of months deal.” I shrug. “Saying yes to myself every single time will result in debt that even Will couldn’t pay off.”
“Maybe it doesn’t have to be yes to monetary things. What about just saying yes more, in general? Like yes to a bubble bath, yes to the whole tub of ice cream in the freezer… Oh, yes to a date! When’s the last time you went on a date?”
My mouth forms a thin line as I think. I guess it has been a while since I’ve been on a date. “I was casually texting one of the teachers that I used to work with, but he ended up ghosting me.”
Jensen snorts. “Classy.”
I wave my hand off. “As you can see, I’m clearly heartbroken over it. It also solidified my need for these guidelines. That’s the third time I’ve been ghosted this year alone. I’ve had some boyfriends over the past but nothing…”
“Toe-curling?”
“Well, yes, but nothing describes it best. Most guys I’ve texted with seem to end up ghosting, and the two true boyfriends I can recall…well, I just feel like I wasn’t really heartbroken over them, ya know? It seems the common denominator is me. Maybe I’m too boring, I don’t know.”
“Okay, so why not add a spicy side to your list? Venture out more in your dating life. Be Spicy Lucie. Maybe even be a princess who cusses.” Her mouth opens in fake shock.
I roll my eyes, tempted to toss a fry at her. “With what time? Remember I’m going to be getting like two days off in the month. It’s fine, really. I think I need to figure myself out before I add dating to it.”
“Um, figuring out what you like in the bedroom is part of yourself, actually.”
She’s got me there.
“How about this—hand me a napkin.” Jensen digs in her purse when I drop a clean napkin in front of her. After pulling out a Sharpie, she grabs the napkin and starts scribbling away.
“Jen—”
She waves her hand, cutting me off. “Shh, I don’t want to lose my ideas.”
Sitting back in my chair, I let her work.
“Okay, here. As your accountability friend, I insist you add these. Consider it the Lucie After Dark side of your list.”
Picking up the napkin, I look at the barely legible list—goodness. “Ya know, for a tattoo artist, your penmanship needs work.”
“Oh bite me, I was working with a Sharpie and a napkin.”
I chuckle and go back to her list. Try different toys. Find a kink you like. Sexually inspiring outings.
“Okay, what exactly is a ‘sexually inspiring outing’?”
“It could be anything. I tried to be broad, like the rest of your list. You could take a pole dancing class, you could get your nipples pierced, go buy some lingerie, or have a one-night stand. And before you argue, you said you’d have some nights off—women need to not be so judged for them anyway. I had to throw it out there.”
“You’re right, you’re right. Not sure if it’s exactly my style, but I can respect the point.”
“And hey, none of these things require another person anyway. You can do them all yourself or with someone, but either way, you still get to the core of Lucie.”
“Was that supposed to have a double meaning?” I laugh.
“Wasn’t intentional, but I’m coining it now for this exact reason.”
I fold up the napkin and shove it into my purse. “Anyway, how are things going at the tattoo shop?”
Jensen falls back against her chair with a major eye roll. “I’m so ready to get out of this apprenticeship. Hank is the fucking worst. How Tally stays married to him is beyond me.”
“Doesn’t he hit on you constantly?”
Jensen throws her hands in the air. “Literally hits on anyone with a nice rack! I don’t know if she doesn’t see it, or just doesn’t care. I’m honestly scared to bring it up to her but he’s been breathing down my fucking neck and getting real touchy.”
I hate this for her. Jensen works constantly, and this apprenticeship is the last thing she needs to be officially licensed. “How many hours do you have left?”
Jensen sinks a little lower in her chair. “I’m finally under five hundred. Nearly two years. I’ve endured his backhanded comments and sleazy pick-up lines this entire time. Now I’m this fucking close, and he starts this shit?”
I can’t bring myself to keep the disgust off my face. “Jen, I’m so sorry. Do you think there’s any chance you could tell Tally and there not be backlash?”
Jensen lets out a deep, deep sigh. “With none whatsoever? No, I don't think so. I need this apprenticeship, Luce. I push through to get my license, then I’m out of there.”
I get it. I’m not happy about it, but I get it. “Swear to me, Jensen, if it escalates, you’ll say something.”
She holds out her pinky. “Pinky promise, Princess Peach.”