Page 146 of Let's Kiss and Tell

“Yeah?”

“Oh yeah.” She nods.

“Okay, I’ll keep them on one condition.”

“Anything,” she says.

“You call me Mr. Oakley when we get back here tonight.” I squeeze her ass.

“Yes, Mr. Oakley,” she says through her lashes. I lean down to kiss her, and she places a fingertip to my lips. “You’ll mess up my lipstick.”

“I know what will mess up your lipstick, and it’s not a kiss.” I press my lips to the crook of her neck and she lets out a squeal.

“Behave!” She pushes me away and goes to slip on her heels.

“The ceremony starts in thirty minutes.” I look at my watch. “Since it’s downstairs, do you want to leave in fifteen? I’m really not wanting to do the whole small talk thing.”

“Yeah, that’s perfect. And I don’t think it’s going to be too hot today, thankfully,” Lucy says, making me feel relieved. Palm Springs September feels like LA July. “How are you feeling?” she asks. “Are you sure you want to go?”

This is probably the thirtieth time that Lucy has asked me that since the rehearsal dinner. There was a part of me that did want to go back to LA after hearing Julia and Chad’s speech. To just forget the whole thing and leave. Truthfully, maybe the Marsh from before meeting Lucy would have. But this Marsh is okay. I thoughtI already had closure, that I was past everything that happened last year. But hearing the fact that Julia and Chad are having a baby…it obviously wasn’t easy, but I think it’s what Ineededto hear.

“I promise I’m okay.” I tuck a piece of hair behind her ear. “I just want to put all of this behind us.”

“Okay.” She squeezes my hand. “But before we head downstairs, I need to tell you something.”

“What’s up?”

Lucy takes a breath, like she’s nervous to say whatever she’s about to say next. “I saw Julia last night.”

“That makes sense.”

“No.” She rolls her eyes. “I ran into her in the bathroom and we…exchanged some words.”

“Okay…” I say slowly. “What kind of words?”

“We talked about you…and her, and me, and everything. I don’t know. It was horrible and maybe I shouldn’t have said anything, but I was just so mad, Marsh.” She throws her arms out to her sides. “I just don’t understand why she would want you and your family here to begin with and then to just make that announcement about her baby in front of you?! After everything that happened with Clementine…I just, I don’t know, I needed to say something. And I know you said last night you didn’t want to talk about it…but are you okay? Really? Because I just felt sick to my stomach and I don’t want you to feel like you’re alone.”

“Hey.” I start rubbing the sides of her arms. I can tell she’s upset, and there’s a heavy comfort pressed in my chest. Like she really has my back, and that’s a new feeling. “Hey, it’s okay.”

“You’re not upset with me?” Her eyebrows lift. “Maybe it was out of line…It probably was out of line, but she crossed that line first!”

“No, I am not upset with you,” I say. “I’m honored, actually.”

Lucy wraps her arms around my waist, squeezing me tight. “I don’t want her to keep hurting you, Marsh.”

I forgot what it felt like to have someone care about you. To know if you’re sick someone might order you some soup, or if you had a bad day, someone might want you to tell them about it. I rub Lucy’s back and give her a kiss on top of her head. Her hair has a velvety, rich-rose scent.

“She can’t hurt me,” I say. “She doesn’t have the power to do that anymore.”

What I don’t tell Lucy is that she’s now the only person who can.

The wedding is nothing short of posh and beautiful. It screams money and I think that was the goal. Seeing Julia’s parents and closest friends and family last night makes today a lot easier. I wasn’t sure how it would feel, but I can confirm I don’t miss having these people in my life.

Before meeting Lucy, I was worried about how it would look and feel if I showed up on my own. Whispers and looks of pity. I’m still getting the whispers, but now that Lucy’s on my arm, I’m getting dirty looks. I can’t win and I don’t care anymore.

We eventually find Oliver and Quinn in the crowd. Quinn and Lucy immediately link arms and walk across the patio, finding us a spot. My mom walks up to me, placing a hand on my back.

“Marshall,” she says.