Page 88 of Let's Kiss and Tell

“See you.” Jonah tips his drink then turns to me when Nadia’s out of earshot. “Not Nadia Lewis praising you!”

“Stop.” I squeeze my eyes shut. “I’m still processing…Do you know I’ve never seen her around the office?”

“It’s because she’s always chained to her desk,” Marsh whispers, and I smack his arm.

“But, Luce,” Jonah says, “she knew your name…Can you take that in? She’s read one of your stories!”

“I can’t believe it.” I rub my hand across my chest. Nadia saying that my piece was good is all the validation I need. “Way to set the bar for networking.”

We make our way back to the high-top table, joining the rest of the group. Effortlessly, Marsh and Jonah ease back into conversation with everyone, and I continue to nurse my beer.

Nadia’s words sit with me. The fact that she knows me, that she said I had depth and emotion, means more than any praise Eman could give me. I forgot what it felt like to be proud of my column. I have proved I’m a good writer and that what I write matters.

I’m not going to be stupid and risk it all now.

17

Marsh

“So, do you want to quit yet?” Jay asks as he takes a sip of his Diet Coke.

We’re on a patio at Los Feliz’s not-so-hidden treasure Little Dom’s. Jay saw Danny DeVito here once three years ago and now refuses to dine anywhere else. The Eastside vibe is so much different from where I live on the Westside. People in west LA love getting dressed up and telling you how close they are to the beach. On this side of town, people embrace the culture and food and drink scene without having to post it on social media.

“No.” I laugh. The sun is starting to set so I switch out my shades for my glasses. “I’m liking it.”

Jay’s across from me in a T-shirt and baseball cap and I’m already warm in my jeans. Even though the summer heat usually lasts until October, I’m thankful September is around the corner.

“How many stories do they have you working on a day?” he asks.

I take a sip of my water. “Four to five.”

Jay lets out a low whistle. “I mean, as long as you’re liking it.”

“It’s news and I report to Nadia.” I give him a look, laying out the two most important things to me. “What’s not to like?”

“Have you hit it off with anyone else?” Jay asks.

“Kat’s been super helpful.” I give credit where it’s due.

“Yeah, she’s amazing,” Jay agrees. “She’s probably one of the most helpful people on admin.”

“Absolutely,” I say. “Ben’s pretty cool too,” I add, bringing up one of the other writers on the news team.

“Man, I kind of miss it.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Do you?”

“No.” He lets out a hoarse laugh.

“Anyway, enough about work. How are you? How’snotworking?”

“God, it’s fucking fantastic.” Jay leans back and drapes an arm around the empty chair beside him. “But not having structure kind of messed with me at first.”

“Yeah, I bet. What does your day look like?”

“Well, the first week I was getting like two coffees a day. Catching up with all the people I said I would but never got around to in the past ten years,” Jay says. “And now I’m just relaxing, you know? Watching all the shows I never got to watch…I’m finally watchingGame of Thrones,” he says incredulously.

“I don’t think I could do that.” I grimace at the thought. “I wouldn’t know what to do with myself.”