Page 143 of Let's Kiss and Tell

“When does Mom land?” Marsh asks.

“Tomorrow, eighta.m.,”Quinn answers. “We’ll pick her up.”

“This is such a beautiful hotel, isn’t it?” Oliver says, taking a sip of his drink. Some kind of whiskey or scotch if I had to guess.

“Sure is.” Marsh points to Oliver’s drink. “I think I need one of those.”

“Yeah, let’s go to the bar.” Oliver stands up.

“You want anything, Luce?” Marsh asks, following Oliver.

“Please. I will take anything,” I say, and Marsh rubs my shoulder before he disappears.

“How’s it going?” Quinn turns to me, taking a sip of her champagne. “I’m so happy you were able to come!”

There’s something about Quinn that feels like a wool blanket on a chilly day. There’s a raw kindness, an empathetic flair to her that makes me feel like she has my back. I wish I was able to spend more time with her at Sadie’s birthday, but now that we’re here in an adults-only setting, I’m so happy to get to know her better.

“It’s going good!” I answer, and it’s not an act. “Everything looks so…big.” I eye the more than dramatic display of flower centerpieces at every table.

Quinn smooths the fabric on her lap. “Also, okay, I’ve been dying to tell you something…”

I freeze. “What?”

“So, Ihaveread your column before,” Quinn starts. “I wanted to tell you when we first met but I was a little embarrassed. But Iloveit, Lucy. Really. It always feels like I’m getting advice from a friend.”

“Seriously?” My heart flutters. “Oh my god, Quinn, thank you so much. Really.”

“I’m serious! I’ve been readingThe Ruefor years. It’s one of my favorite magazines. And I’m not going to lie…I made Ollie try out some of the things you recommended, and it was…” Her smile turns into a full-blown smirk, and she doesn’t need to finish the sentence.

“Shut up.” I can’t help but beam. “From which article?”

“I don’t remember what it’s called, but it was like last year. The one about dirty talk.”

I know exactly what she’s talking about. “I have said it once and I’ll say it again. Dirty talk is underrated.”

“It’s been agame changer.” Quinn grabs my hand and laughs.“Also!I read your most recent stories…I’m so happy for you and Marsh. You both seem super happy.”

My insides twist with guilt thinking about how people who nowknowMarsh and me, people like Quinn and Oliver, are reading what I’m writing and how that can affect them. Suddenly, my “readers” aren’t faceless people looking for advice. They’re people who are wholeheartedly following my words as if it’s a diary entry. If I write something negative about my current relationship, that’s not just a reflection of me. That’s a reflection of Marsh.

“I really am happy. Marsh is amazing.” My gaze sweeps to him and he’s in deep conversation with Oliver. He pushes up his glasses with his middle finger then starts laughing at something.

“I’ve known him practically my whole life,” Quinn says. “He’s like my brother and I can honestly say that he’s one of the good guys.”

“Yeah…” I take another glance across the room. “He really is.”

The servers start to come around and bring us our meals. As they do, Julia and her fiancé start clinking their glasses and the music softens. Chad is blond-haired and blue-eyed. I can’t really place any defining features on him. If he were standing behind me at my local Trader Joe’s I wouldn’t even recognize him.

“Hi, everyone,” Julia starts, and the guests go silent, focusing their attention on the couple. Marsh and Oliver find their seats, and I reach my hand over to Marsh’s, giving it a squeeze. “We just wanted to say thank yousomuch for spending this weekend with us. You all mean the world to both of us in different ways, and we’re honored we get to have this special night before the big day.”

Everyone applauds and Julia waits to continue. “I met Chad when he was picking up Kim from work.”

Chad tips his glass to who I put together is his sister at another table.

“You’re welcome,” she calls out, and everyone laughs.

Chad then jumps in. “The minute I saw Jules, I think I fell in love. I asked her out and, man, did she play hard to get!” he says, and there are more laughs. My eyes cut to Marsh, who currently holds a poker face. “She gave me her number but didn’t text me back until maybe a month later.”

“She made you work for it, huh, Chad?” someone chirps.