Page 135 of Let's Kiss and Tell

“Marshall was telling us about how he’s a news writer.” Selena gives Lucy a plate and she slumps into the chair next to me, accepting defeat.

“Oh yeah?” She looks at me. “What else did you talk about?” she says, although it comes out more threatening than curious.

“Lucy, why didn’t you tell us about Marshall!” Selena says. “He’s so handsome, and tall, andsmart.”

“How do you know he’s smart?” Lucy frowns, clearly annoyed at everything happening.

“Because he’s a news writer!” Selena says, and they’re fully having a conversation about me as if I’m not here. “You have to be smart to be a news writer.”

Lucy rolls her eyes. She then stands up to pour herself a cup of coffee. “Dad”—she raises her voice a little to get her father’s attention—“how was the cruise?”

“It was fine,” he says, still locked on his iPad.

I take a bite of the longanisa, and just as I predicted it’s a unique mix of sweet and savory. “Wow, Selena, this is delicious,” I say.

Selena raises her eyebrows at Lucy, impressed. “Andhe likes Filipino food.”

“Oh my god,” Lucy says under her breath.

“Marshall.” Selena’s attention switches to me. “We went on the Jurassic Park tour! Have you ever been?”

“I haven’t actually,” I reply, “but I’ve always wanted to.”

“Oh, I’ll show you our pictures. We went on the ATV!” Selena sits in between Lucy and me and opens the photo app on her phone.

I intently listen to Selena sharing her entire experience all the while showing me twenty different versions of the same photo. Lucy looks at me and mouthsI’m sorry.There’s no reason for her to apologize because truthfully, this is nice.

Whatever is happening here this morning is nice.

Around sixp.m.I’m back at Lucy’s place. It’s been less than seven hours since breakfast with her parents and I already miss her company. She’s waiting outside her building and looking just as effortlessly stunning as she always does. She has these dark blue jeans that hug her in all the right places, a black belt, and a tight long sleeve black top. It’s moments like this when she’s just literallystandingthere that I wonder how the hell I got so lucky to be alive at the same time as her.

“Hey, sailor.” She winks as she opens the door to my car. “Look how handsome you are.”

I trimmed my facial hair and opted for one of my better denim shirts, but hearing Lucy call me handsome makes me want to forget dinner and go inside her apartment instead. She leans over themiddle console, giving me a kiss. Placing a palm on my cheek, she deepens the somewhat harmless gesture and opens my mouth wider with her tongue. We do this for a few more seconds, tasting and exploring each other like a couple of teenagers, and then she pulls away, smiling.

“Hello to you too,” I say.

“Thank you for this morning,” she says, and now I know the kiss was a thank-you.

I push the button to start the ignition and start driving. “You have nothing to thank me for.”

“Uh, yes, I do.” She lets out a laugh. “I swear I had no idea my parents were going to be there. Thank you for being such a trouper.”

“Luce, just admit this was your way of making me meet your parents.”

She rolls her eyes. “You caught me.”

“They’re great,” I tell her. Lucy’s parents are the opposite of my mom. Not that one set of parents is better than the other, but they’re different. It’s interesting how two people can come from contrasting upbringings and environments and still somehow manage to connect with each other in their adult lives.

“Are they?” She makes a face. “Because if I recall, my mom force-fed breakfast down your throat while my dad didn’t say a single thing.”

“If I recall,” I counter, “my mom spent the entire day talking to my ex instead of mycurrent girlfriend.”

“No,” Lucy retorts. “Your mom was nice. And she has history with your ex. I get it.”

“And your parents were just being parents,” I say. “I liked getting to know them.”

“Mhm.” Lucy looks out the window. “I used to be a lot closer to them.”