Page 12 of Let's Kiss and Tell

“Is that bad?” I hesitate, wondering if I sound like a pig.

“Whose wedding is it?”

I hold my bottle to my lips for a second. Fuck it.

“My ex.” I take a swig.

“Yourex?”

“Mhm…”

“Wow…okay.” Her face scrunches. “Why are you going to your ex’s wedding?”

“I don’twantto,” I say. “But our families are close friends and it’s how we met…It’s complicated. I just don’t want to show up alone. I know it sounds stupid—”

“No, not at all.” Lucy shakes her head. “So, you want someone hot,” she concludes like it’s that simple.

“I never said that.”

“Marsh, everyone wants someone hot.” She narrows her eyes. “When’s the wedding?”

“September 13. In Palm Springs,” I say, reminded that I have only a little more than a month to find a date. “God, I don’t want to go,” I groan.

“That’s far away enough.” She waves a hand. “You’ll be fine.”

“I appreciate your optimism.” I force a weak smile.

“Is the problem that you’re just not finding anyone who wants to go?” she asks.

“Oh no, I’ve met women who want to go.” I sigh. “But they also want to go on vacation together, they want to go on double dates with their friends, they want to do day trips to Ikea—”

“Ohhh.” Lucy closes her eyes. “Now I get it.”

“Get what?” I frown.

“You don’t want a relationship,” she states. “And at this point, anyone you start dating and take to the wedding is probably going to expect that the two of you will be exclusive.”

“Exactly,” I say, thankful that Lucy understands. “And I know that sounds shitty, but I just wish there was someone who could come, meet my family, and be fine with doing just that.”

“Why don’t you want a relationship?” Lucy squints at me.

I hesitate for a moment thinking of how to answer exactly, but I don’t necessarily owe Lucy my life story. “I just don’t want one.”

“Fair enough,” she says. “But, Marsh, there areplentyof women out there who would be happy to be a plus-one to a wedding, no strings attached. An excuse to get dressed up, have a free trip to Palm Springs, spend the evening with an attractive man, and eat free food? I think you need to start dusting off that dating app.”

I push past the fact that she just called me attractive.

“I’d rather do anything else,” I say.

“I have so many friends like you,” she starts. “There’s this pressure to find someone that checks all the boxes. If you approach dating like I do…and instead of looking for MissRightyou look for MissRight Now,you’ll never be disappointed.”

I give her an unimpressed look. “Please don’t put that in your next story.”

“You laugh but I’m telling you!” she insists. “You just need to either expand your horizons or lower your standards.”

“Is that what you’ve done?” I raise an eyebrow.

“No,” she says pointedly. “Women can’t afford to lower their standards.”