Lovesick (COMPLETED!)

Chapter 3

I get in my car feeling the weight of Lucille's words. Why does she care what I wear? Thank goodness she didn't see me yesterday with the ketchup stain. She likely would've had me committed. I shake off her words and think of my mom saying I looked nice. She would never let me wear something that was unflattering. Her opinion matters not Lucille's. She sure knows how to make me feel awful about myself though. I drive down to the gate and unroll my window to say hello to Tony the gate attendant.

"Morning Lil's!" He beams.

"Hi." I say with a big smile.

"Your hair looks so pretty today." My eyes go big and I drop my sunglasses down the slope of my nose.

"Tony, I brushed it!" I beam and he laughs out loud.

"Well, whatever you did it looks lovely." He says with so much adoration.

I hear a honk and see grouchy Dee-Dee behind me who is not pleased that I'm having a long chat with Tony. Dee-Dee is the grouchiest person in all of Whimsy and maybe even the whole world. Her husband died many years ago and her three kids moved away and never visit. I'm always very nice to her and my mom always invites her to every family thing we have. She honks again and I can see her throw her arms up in frustration. She's very annoyed every time Tony chats with anyone. The thing is Tony lives in the community. He is a long-time homeowner and golfer. He's a huge part of this gated country club community. He's retired and volunteers his time at the gate, I adore him and his wife Shelly. Sometimes they bring Drew and I dinner, she is an excellent baker and cook. She spoils Drew and I with her amazing home cooked goodies. They have the biggest house with a golf course view. Drew and I went to dinner there last week when she made the most amazing soft tacos with homemade flour tortillas. I look at Tony and we both laugh because we both know DeeDee is a total grouch.

She sticks her head out her window and screams with hostility, "Any day Lily!"

"You have a wonderful day!" I beam at Tony.

"I have a great feeling about you and today." Tony says with a giant smile and when he says it, I feel this stabbing pain in my heart about Dexter and what today is.

"It was 5 years ago today." I sigh out,

He smiles gently. "You make it really good then, change what today means." Tony says as Dee Dee honks again and I blow him a kiss and drive off. I love him, he is always so full of joy. I don't know why Dee-Dee is in such a hurry we are still going to have to sit at this road construction debacle for at least 5 minutes right outside the gate.

They are widening the road to accommodate all the new homes going in. Whimsy is growing. I sit outside the gate and wait for the go ahead from the construction workers. One of them is Johnny Johnson, which is just a silly name. I always wonder what his parents were thinking. He smiles and waves and I smile back. Johnny likes me and is always asking me out. He has had a thing for me ever since Dexter died. He's nice, a few years older than me. He graduated with my brother, Cameron. I'm not interested in Johnny, or anyone for that matter. He walks over to my car and I take a deep breath. Just my luck.

"Hi Lilly." He says once I roll down my window.

"Hey Johnny." I say with a forced smile. God, I hope he doesn't ask me out.

"You look beautiful today." He says, staring at my boobs. Rude.

"Thanks....orange is your color." I say making a joke about his bright orange construction vest. He smiles and I see that look in his eyes and I hold my breath because he's going to do it.

"Can I take you to the Country Club dance tomorrow night?" He asks. "Just as friends."

"Aw, that is awfully sweet but I'm going to pass this year." I say flatly. I pass every year when he asks. I want him to stop asking me out more than I want this underwire in my bra to go away. I seriously need to run into Davenridge and buy new bras.