Page 150 of Let's Kiss and Tell

I don’t know what this feeling is.

“Hey.” I feel Marsh’s hand on my shoulder. I look up and my anxiousness is suddenly put to ease. I can’t quite explain how, but all it takes is that eye contact, that familiar smile, and that safe aura that Marsh exudes to make me feel better.

“Hey,” I say as he takes my hand. “Where were you?”

“There’s cake.” He passes me a plate with a slice of white cake and berries then takes a seat. “And I, uh, talked to Julia.”

My face visibly winces. “Painful or…?”

“Naturally. But it was okay,” he says. “It’s over and we can all move on.”

I place my hand on his thigh and lean in to give him a kiss on the cheek. “Good.”

Meanwhile, Oliver, Quinn, and Charlotte are deep in conversation about how Sadie’s too young to have a cellphone, even for emergencies.

“You okay?” he asks.

“Yeah.” I smile. “I’m great.”

“Good.” He rubs my lower back and then gives me a kiss on top of my head. It feels nice. I just want to bury myself into Marsh and never leave. I don’t want this night to end.

I don’t want us to end.

The music then switches to a familiar ballad, and everyone on the dance floor breaks off to find their partners.

“Shall we?” Oliver stands up as Charlotte begins talking to another lady at the table beside ours.

“Let’s do it.” Marsh follows and then offers his hand to me. “May I?”

The formality causes me to blush. I look at Marsh’s open palm and then up at him. “You may.”

We walk toward the center of the room, and Marsh and I find an embrace not too far from his brother and Quinn. Effortlessly, we sway to the music. I don’t think about anything. I simply enjoy the feeling of being in Marsh’s arms and being held in front of people who are important to him.

I rest my head on Marsh’s chest and feel a deep inhale on his end. Slowly, he begins to trace my hip with his thumb, and it feels as if there’s nobody else in the room. That’s how the entire past month has felt. Utter bliss. Utter ease. Utter comfort. It always felt like just Marsh and me, the two of us. Like we’re the only people in the entire world. The only people who really get each other.

It’s an unfamiliar feeling, one I’m certain I’ve never felt before.

I know exactly what this feeling is.

“Marsh,” I say. Once I hear my voice, I hope he doesn’t hear me.

He now traces my lower back. “Mhm?”

“Can we go…outside for a sec?” I say slowly.

“Of course. You know what, let’s just get burgers now.” He gently pulls himself from my embrace, a slight curve at the corner of his mouth. “I’m going to run to the restroom and say bye to some people.”

“Okay,” I say. My heart begins to beat a little faster and my chest starts to tighten. “I’ll meet you outside.”

Everything suddenly feels overwhelming. The music, the people, the entire night. I quickly scoop my purse from our table and head toward the garden where the ceremony took place. The music from inside is now faint, and there are fairy lights sprinkledthroughout the grounds that add a luminous glow. Surprisingly, there isn’t anyone else out here.

I take my phone out and see that I have several texts from Jonah and one missed call.

Jonah:

Luce…

Jonah: