Page 64 of Let's Kiss and Tell

Marsh—11:23p.m.

Text me when you get home please.

Lucy—11:56p.m.

Home.

“Morning,” Chris’s groggy voice mutters behind me.

“Oh, uh, morning.” I set my phone down. His boxers are sitting low on his hips, accentuating his V-line. As he rubs his eyes, every single muscle on his chest and core seem to be at work. His blond hair looks messy and, frankly, greasy, and there was a moment in time where I would have buckled at the knees for this sight. “How’d you sleep?”

“Okay.” He walks over and gives me a quick kiss on the lips. “What about you?”

“Fine,” I say, rubbing my temple. While I do remember what happened last night—Chris and I making out for a bit, putting on some made-for-Netflix movie, and then falling asleep—I still want to make sure there are no missing gaps. “We didn’t, uh, sleep together last night, right?”

Chris gives me an amused look. “Why?”

“Because…I missed a few days of my birth control so just making sure,” I lie.

Chris walks over to the kitchen and pops a pod into his Nespresso machine. “Nah, you said your head hurt.”

“Right, right.” I take a sigh of relief. “Well, uh, I’ve got to get home and work on some stuff.”

“Just like that, huh,” Chris teases. “You show up here last night and now you can’t get away fast enough. I don’t get you, Luce.”

Nobody gets me and I don’t think anyone will. I don’t even get myself right now.

When I get home, I head straight for the shower. I let the hot water run over my head, down my neck and back, and to my feet as I make a mental note of everything from last night.Make notes of everything,Marsh’s voice echoes in my ear. After drying off, I open my laptop and start a new document tracking last night. Everything that Marsh said, what I said, what Dani said, even what that Australian woman said. I jot down observations, like the R & B mix and the décor in the club.

I then start making notes about how it made me feel.

How did I feel when I saw that woman talking to Marsh? Even though he was completely oblivious to what was happening, a part of me felt jealous. There’s a knot in my stomach even using that word, but Ididfeel jealous.

How did I feel when we were talking to Dani? Protective. Marsh is too much of a gentleman to say otherwise, but Dani was being spiteful. I know exactly the kinds of conversations she and Julia have about Marsh over red wine and charcuterie boards, and frankly, Marsh doesn’t deserve that.

How did I feel when we were on the dance floor? I was aroused, undeniably turned-on, because this may be the first time I’m attracted to not only a man’s physical appearance but also his mind.

My phone buzzes and I see a text from Eman.

Eman:

Hope you’re having a good weekend! No need to respond but just caught wind that your last two stories are doing AMAZING. Huge praise from the team and the clicks are crazy. Keep it up!

Suddenly it feels like there’s so much more at stake right now.

I wasn’t sure if we would, but Marsh and I have a connection. It’s mental, emotional, and nowphysical…which I’m still wrapping my head around. I’ve had sexual chemistry with other men, but Marsh isn’t just another man. This feels different. And I don’t know what that means.

What I do know is now that the stories are doing well, wehaveto continue with our arrangement. And if we continue, we need to talk about last night. We need to talk without any alcohol in our systems or distractingly sexy clothing on.

I continue to jot down more notes when my phone buzzes.

Marsh:

Hey.

Lucy:

Hey, I was just thinking about you.