Page 128 of Let's Kiss and Tell

“You should go,” Lucy tells him. “Or just order your food and please leave us alone.”

“I don’t get it. You want me, you don’t want me…Now you’re here with some—”

“She said please,” I interrupt him.

Chris looks at me. “Excuse me?”

“Lucy politely asked you to leave us alone,” I say. “Don’t make her ask twice, man.”

Chris takes a step back, almost shocked that I said anything at all.

“Yeah, fine,” he says and then turns his back to Lucy and just faces me. “Just warning you, you have no idea who you’re dealing with over there. She’s fucking crazy. She doesn’t know what she wants—”

“Chris!” Lucy gapes.

“You think you’re the only guy she’s talking to? This girl’s gota fucking Rolodex of names. She’s got commitment issues. Save yourself.”

I stand up so I’m eye-to-eye with Chris. I mentally make note of how big he is, and I have a few inches on him. Even though he’s no doubt muscular, I’m not worried if one thing leads to another.

“If I were you—” I start.

“Marsh, it’s fine.” Lucy stands up.

“I’d just go,” I say. “Nobody wants to see me punch you right now, which I would more than enjoy doing if you don’t back the fuck off.”

Chris just sneers at me and then looks at Lucy. “Congrats on manipulating another one, Reid. Can’t wait to read all about it.” He then switches back to me. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you, man.”

With that, Chris walks out.

24

Lucy

My blood is boiling. I’m quite literally shaking and feel like all eyes are on me. Without looking back, I rush outside and catch my breath. My eyes scan my surroundings to make sure that Chris is gone. When the coast is clear, I do my best to regain composure.

I’m not even mad at Chris for saying what he did. I hurt him and despite how I felt, he deserved better.Marshdeserves better. Everything Chris said is true: I don’t know what I want, I do have commitment issues…and maybe I did manipulate someone else.

Marsh appears, a large paper bag full of takeout in hand. “Are you okay?” he asks.

“I’m so sorry about that.” I look at Marsh, thoroughly embarrassed. “Chris isn’t a bad person or anything. He’s just…” I try to find the words to describe just exactly what our relationship was.

“One of the many guys in your Rolodex?” he repeats Chris’s words. It’s a statement that I would otherwise laugh at. I kind of wish I came up with it myself. But hearing it from Marsh, my stomach drops.

“Yeah, I guess so.” I look down.

“He’s an asshole, Luce.” Marsh dips his chin to get my attention. “You don’t actually believe any of that shit he said, do you?”

“No,” I force out. My eyes stick to his. I’m not upset by what Chris said to me. Hell, I’ve heard more iterations of his sentiment through the years than I care to admit. What upset me was that Marsh never saw me the way other people do; as someone who wascrazyor hascommitment issues.Now I’m worried he does. “Doyoubelieve any of that stuff?” I ask, afraid of the answer.

“What?” He rears back. “Of course not. Jesus, Luce. Guys like him say that shit because they can’t handle the fact that you didn’t want to be with them. Seriously, fuck that guy.”

My heart twists. Marshall Oakley really isn’t like the other men I know. My gaze stays fixed on his, and I don’t have any words.

“You sure you’re okay?” he asks.

“Yeah.” I smile. “I’m sure.”

“Great, now let’s get out of here.” He wraps an arm around me, and we start walking back to my place.