Free Lucy Wagner Gets In Shape (A Romantic Comedy) by Claire Matthews

awkward silence, Paul clears his throat. “So, are you going to come ride with me or not?” He gives me a ridiculously sexy smile.
    “Umm…I think I’ll pass.”
    ***
    This is kicking my ass. Literally. Even with my butt pads in place, I am so sore I can hardly walk once we end our fifteen-mile ride. Will is putting our bikes on the rack mounted to the back of his jeep, while Jen and I plan my interview wardrobe strategy.
    “You should definitely wear the Kate Spade skirt with the J Crew cardi. And you can borrow those silver pumps of mine, the ones with the t-straps.” Jenny is my fashion consultant—left to my own devices, I’d wear something way too girly, as my instincts run more towards Holly Hobby than Versace. But I’m learning.
    “Are you sure the silver ones will go with that cardigan? I don’t know--I’m not really a silver kind of gal.” I’m dubious.
    “You’re not a silver kind of gal? Well, what color are you then?”
    “I’m thinking I’m a pink? Or a beige? Beigey-pink?” Jen’s look tells me I’m full of shit, so I stop talking. I feel the text message alert from my phone buzz against my hip.
    How was ur ride? TOU, P
    How was my ride? He’s thinking of me? Oh, for crying out loud—
    “What?” Jen’s on to me.
    “Nothing.” I shove the phone quickly in pocket, but she lunges, reaches in, and neatly plucks it out. As she reads the text, her face clouds over.
    “Is this from Paul? Why is he texting you?”
    “I don’t know. He came over this morning to show me an offer on the condo. We started talking about biking. I guess he’s just trying to be nice.”
    “Yeah, because that’s so like Paul, right?” Her voice has a nasty edge.
    “Whatever, Jen. He’s probably just feeling lonely or something. Apparently he and Langley broke up.”
    Jen’s eyes bug out comically. “Oh, so that bitch is out of the picture, and now he wants you back?”
    “No, of course not! He just stopped by to show me the offer on the condo, that’s all.”
    “What’s all?” Will walks up, wiping his hands on a white towel.
    “Nothing,” I say quickly.
    “Paul broke up with his whore, and now he wants Lucy back.”
    “Not true,” I mumble, and do my best to avoid Will’s questioning gaze. Goddamn Jen and her big mouth. “C’mon, we’ve got to get a move on if we’re going to make that shower.” Jen and I are going to a bridal shower for Corrine, one of our grad school friends. It’s hard to believe that anyone from our group is actually getting married—grad school tends to keep you single and penniless, and for a long time, I was the only one in our cohort with a boyfriend. Fat lot of good that did me.
    “Hey, are you okay?” Will’s looking at me intently, and I feel…God, I don’t know how I feel. Embarrassed? Disloyal? What the hell is wrong with me?
    “Of course! But we’re horribly late. Would you mind taking the bikes to your place? Then Jen and I can go straight back in her car and get ready.”
    “Sure, no prob.”
    “Thanks, Dumpling,” I grin as Jen and I climb into her car.
    “See ya,” he says, giving us a single wave as we drive away. I suddenly realize that he hasn’t called me a pet name all day.
    ***
    Jen and I drive back to my condo in silence. My mind is on a million things…Will, Paul, my upcoming interview, my dad. Jen seems to recognize my need for quiet, so she doesn’t speak until we’ve made it to the condo and dumped our equipment in a heap by the front door.
    “So, do you need to talk? Or would you rather just pretend that you’re not upset.”
    “I guess we can talk,” I say, my voice flat with dread. I don’t know if I can do this.
    “C’mon.” We head over to the couch. “Out with it.”
    I take a deep, fortifying breath. “Okay. Last Friday…” Jen raises her eyebrows at me when I pause. “Last Friday night Will kissed me. And then I kissed him.” Her eyebrows remained raised, as if waiting for a punch line that I’ve failed