Page 148 of Let's Kiss and Tell

“Given the circumstance, I think this is probably the best wedding I’ve ever been to.”

“As much as I hate to admit it, I think you’re right,” I say.

Lucy looks up at me, her eyes mischievous. “In-N-Out closes at one-thirtya.m…. Are you hungry?”

A breathless laugh escapes me. After a three-course meal of some of Palm Springs’ best food,of courseshe’s asking if I would want burgers.

“You know…I weirdly am.” I glance at my watch and see that it’s almost elevenp.m.“I’m going to squeeze one more drink in.”

“Perfect.” She gives me a high five and then finds her way back to Quinn while I head toward the bar.

After ordering, I clock my mom willingly making conversation with Lucy. It’s her, Lucy, and Quinn sitting and laughing. I even see my mom admire Lucy’s rings. I want to give them both space to form their own relationship, so I mosey over to the front of the hotel and take a breath away from everyone. The sky is a deep black and there’s a chill in the air. Out here, away from the city, the stars are so much more visible. I admire the shimmery dust above me.

“Hey,” a familiar voice says behind me.

“Hey,” I say without turning around, knowing exactly who it is. Julia appears to my left and I feelnothing.“Congratulations. It’s a beautiful wedding.” My gaze falls to where her hand is, sitting on her stomach that’s not yet showing. “Congratulations times two.”

“Thanks for coming.”

“Is this where I thank you for inviting me?”

“Marsh…”

I take a sip of my drink. “Shouldn’t you be inside?”

“I wanted to talk to you,” she says, and I motion my glass to her to allow her to keep talking. “I’m sorry things happened the way they did.”

“Jules”—a breath of air shoots out of my nose—“I think it’s a little late to have that conversation.”

“Come on, I’m serious.”

“I am too.”

“I just…” She shifts her weight to the other foot. All I think is it’s sad. It’s sad for her to be here on her wedding night with all her friends and family a few hundred feet behind her, her new husband waiting, and she still needs closure. “I just want you to be okay, Marsh. I want us both to be okay.”

“I am,” I say sincerely. “Areyou?”

“I am. I really am,” she says, and I don’t even know if I believe her. But it’s not my job to read between the lines anymore.

“Mm.” I take another sip of my whiskey, letting the distinct ginger flavor sit on my taste buds.

“Chad loves me very much.”

“Are you telling that to me or to yourself?”

“Maybe it wasn’t right of me to rub all of this in your face…but I want you to have this too. I really do, Marsh. All I’ve ever wanted is the best for you.”

Despite what happened between us, I believe her. I don’t think Julia deliberately hurt me. I think she made a decision that had consequences, but I don’t think there were ever malicious intentions.

“Lucy and I are in a really good place,” I say. “I feel good about it.”

“Lucy?” she says incredulously.

“What?” I frown.

“You don’t even know her…” Julia gives a pointed look. “What she’s like.”

“I actually know a lot about her.”