Page 19 of Let's Kiss and Tell

“I tried, Marsh, but Quinn feels bad,” he says, and I pinch the bridge of my nose. I’ve known Quinn since we were all kids, well before she and Oliver started dating. She’s one of my favorite people on the planet and I think of her as more of a sister than a sister-in-law. But sometimes she’s too nice, and this is a perfect example.

“Okay, fine.” I surrender. “Whatever. What am I going to do?Notshow up?”

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I mean…no, not really,” I say. “You’re allmyfamily. I don’t get why Julia even wants to go.”

“Some sense of normalcy?” Oliver offers.

I scoff. “Well, she can’t have it both ways. She’s lucky we’re all even going to the wedding.”

“Let me talk to Quinn again—”

“No, it’s fine. Really,” I say. “I’ll be there, and it’ll be fine. Anyway, I’ve got to get back to work. Thanks for calling.”

“Yeah, you got it. I’ll text you,” Oliver says.

“Bye.” I set my phone down and try to refocus on work.

The trial isn’t set until, coincidentally, a week before Julia’s wedding. The timing is unbelievable. I clean my glasses, then continue to scan the supporting files until I hear a knock at my door.

My eyes are glued to my screen. “Come in,” I say, not looking away.

“Hey,” says a voice that causes me to freeze.

My eyes snap up. “Lucy.”

Lucy is standing in the middle of my office wearing an oversize dress shirt, jeans, and these red jelly flats that look like something from the nineties but work on her. The last time I saw her she had more eye makeup and seemed a little taller. Her hair is bouncy and smooth and she’s literally glowing before tena.m.

“Surprise.” She gives a weak laugh. I’m still processing that she’s in front of me. Which I suppose isn’t the craziest thing, since she does work here. “Is now a good time?”

“Yes, of course.” I hold my breath. “Please, come in.”

“I found you in the directory. I hope that’s okay.” She closes the door behind her and my heart rate jumps a few beats.

“Um, yeah…” I run a hand through my hair. “About that…I hadnoidea you worked here. Otherwise, I would’ve—”

“You would’ve told me you’re a news reporter?” she finishes my sentence.

“I told you that,” I say.

Lucy squints. “Did you? Because I left the other night with the impression that you were in between barista and Uber jobs while you wrote for a local newspaper in your off-hours.”

I think back to our conversation and recall actively not wanting to talk about work. “Okay, I see why you would’ve thought that. In my defense,youdidn’t tellmethat you worked here.”

Lucy narrows her eyes at me like that is nowhere near the same thing. “Call it even?”

I feel myself ease up. “Even.”

Her eyes scan the walls around her. Past the framed accolades Jay insisted I hang on the bookshelf behind me. “Nice office.”

“Thanks,” I say.

Lucy takes a step forward. “I wanted to talk about my text from last night.”

Shit.

“Uh.” I clear my throat. “What text?”