Page 26 of Let's Kiss and Tell

“Do you want to live together?” I ask, aware of how ridiculous it sounds.

Marsh thinks. “Maybe not, that one would be hard to explain to the family.”

“All right, we don’t live together,” I say. “Tell me about your family. Your friends.”

He pops a roll in his mouth. “I have an older brother, Oliver. He’s married to his high school girlfriend, Quinn. They have a daughter, Sadie. He lives in the Bay Area, and my mom lives in Nebraska where I grew up.” Marsh pauses to think. “I have friends from college who might be at the wedding…Peter, Felix, Jenn.” He nods like that’s all he can think of right now. “Your turn.”

“You already know I’m born and raised in Santa Clarita,” I start. “I’m an only child. My group of girlfriends are either married, engaged, or have kids, so it’s a little hard to find time because of life. The closest person to me right now is Jonah. He’s a pop culture writer atThe Rue.You’d love him.”

We both stare at each other, smiling and in silence. There’s something oddly intimate about what we’re doing. We’re the only two people in the world who know about this little plan we have going on, and there’s something strangely comforting about that.

“Thoughts on kids?” he asks.

On dates, I hate this question. Because I’m usually the one who asks it. Depending on the person I’m with, their reaction goes one of two ways: utter bliss, or distaste.

“I don’t want kids,” I answer honestly. I say it more bluntly than I normally would, but I’m not trying to impress Marsh right now. “I’d love to have a dog, though. You?”

“I had a vasectomy,” he says.

That I was not expecting, but I don’t make a big deal out of it. We can get deeper into it one day, if ever, but sitting in the middle of a sushi restaurant is not the time or place.

“Who was the last person you dated?” I ask.

“Define dated.”

“Went on more than three dates with, but doesn’t necessarily mean you slept together.”

Marsh takes in a deep inhale and looks up. “Uh, two months ago. Someone from Hinge, she was a Pilates instructor.”

“Why didn’t it work out?”

“She was fun, but she was young,” he says. “She lived in Hollywood and wanted to go out all the time. Just a different kind of lifestyle.”

“As opposed to you who likes to sit at home all day with your pipe and crossword puzzles.”

“Don’t forget my robe and reruns ofMatlockin the background,” he says. I let out a laugh, and I realize that not many people make me laugh as much as Marsh does. “What about you?” he asks. “Last person you dated?”

“Uh…” I think of Chris but don’t necessarily know if that qualifies.

“That many, huh?”

“No.” I clear my throat. “I just, uh, rarely make it to date three.”

“Why’s that?”

“I guess I’m picky?” I say, not even knowing if that’s really the answer. There’s a silence that’s a little longer than the normal breath of a conversation and I desperately wait for Marsh to say something.

“Fair enough.” He reaches for a spicy tuna roll.

“Favorite movie?” I change the subject.

“I stand by this when I sayBack to the Futureis the single best movie ever made. No notes.”

“Oh, obviously. Hot take, but I actually do love the third one.”

“That is a hot take.” Marsh points his chopsticks toward me. “I respect it.”

“My favorite isSingin’ in the Rain,” I say.