Page 90 of Let's Kiss and Tell

“Not successfully,” he responds, laughing. “Is it that one girl?”

“You’re going to have to be more specific than that.”

“That girl who was also going through a breakup?” Jay tries to remember. “You said she cried after you slept together.”

“Now, why would I take her?” I ask him seriously.

“I don’t fucking know,” he says. “You felt sorry for her?”

“God, no,” I say. “I hope she’s doing okay.”

“Wait, tell me everything. Who’s this new woman?” He shifts. “I fucking knew it too! You seem different.”

“I do not seem different.”

“Yeah, you do.”

I couldn’t be completely honest with my own brother for many reasons—one being that if Lucy is going to be going toSadie’s birthday and the wedding, everything needs to be foolproof. I can’t have people knowing we’re putting on a charade. It needs to feel as real as possible when I’m with my family. Meanwhile, Jay’s aware of the ins and outs of everything that happened with Julia. I have nothing to lose by telling him.

“Her name is Lucy,” I say. I’m already starting to feel warmer, and I have no idea why. “She’s amazing. She actually writes the sex column atThe Rue.”

“Get out.” Jay looks up. “Is that how you met her? At work?”

I try the arugula salad, enjoying the distinct, peppery flavor. “I met her at your going-away party if you can believe it.”

“You piece of shit!” Jay says. “You ditched me to pick someone up?!”

“I didn’t know she worked atThe Ruewhen I met her!”

“Well,you’re welcome.” Jay leans back in his chair.

“Yeah…thanks,” I laugh.

“But that was only a couple of weeks ago? She’s going to the wedding?”

There isn’t really a great way to sugarcoat this. Especially not to Jay.

“Yeah,” is all I say.

Jay frowns, setting his fork down. “What?”

“What?” I ask.

“Did she pressure you into taking her?”

I guess technically she kind of did. Lucy kind of pressures me into a lot of things, but it’s what I like about her. She doesn’t give a shit about how it might make her look. She speaks her mind and brings that out in me too.

“No, it’s not like that,” I say.

“Then what?” he asks. “You don’t think it’s a good idea?”

Jay and I have known each other since we were twenty years old, and it makes complete sense that he can see right through me.

“It’s a little complicated.” I rub the back of my neck.

“In what way? Because she works atThe Rue?”

“No,” I struggle to get out. “We’re, uh, we’re notreallydating.”