Chapter 25 Marsh #4
There’s a moment that lingers between us. Among the hum of glasses and cutlery clinking, chatter, and the jazz music in the background, it’s comfortable silence.
“Thank you for telling me all that stuff earlier, Luce,” I say. “I know it’s not easy to share any of that.”
Her face becomes somber, and she gently rubs her foot against my leg. “Thank you for letting me tell you. I know it was a little heavy and you didn’t ask—”
“I did ask,” I remind her. “I want to know about you and what’s important to you. Even if it’s heavy.”
She avoids my eyes and plays with the base of her wineglass. “I haven’t told anyone any of that before. I didn’t want them to look at my parents and see them any differently.”
“I understand,” I say.
“I know you do,” she says. “And I know I said it before but thank you for telling me about Julia.”
“Oh,” I say. “I mean, I figured that was a prerequisite given everything.”
“No, not what she did.” Lucy pauses. “Clementine,” she says softly.
Hearing Lucy say the name in such a gentle way pulls at a string in my heart. There’s a protectiveness to it, and I know that part of my life is safe with her.
For the rest of the dinner, we stuff ourselves with delicious Italian food. We laugh, we flirt, we talk about work, our families, and our friends. The bubble that we’re in has expanded and it no longer feels like we’re in a bubble—instead, this is our world.
Everything feels like it’s falling into place. A little over a year ago, I was bitter, overworked, narrow-minded about practically everything. Maybe all those things in the past needed to happen to get me to this exact moment.
I know what Lucy and I agreed on…but I’m wondering if this actually has to end? Things are not what they were when we met. Things are not what they were a week ago. As each second goes by, we’re both slowly opening ourselves to each other more and more.
I don’t want things to end.
Could He Be…the One?
By Lucy Reid
September 12
Let it be known for anyone new here that I have never been in a serious relationship.
What qualifies as a “serious relationship”?
In my eyes, that means having a mutual understanding with someone that the two of you are in a monogamous relationship.
You’ve met the important people in their lives and you’ve had those late-night conversations talking about your hopes and dreams. Both of you have an understanding and mutual desire to explore the world together, live together, perhaps even spend the rest of your lives together.
The reason I’ve never succumbed to the idea of a “boyfriend” is because I can do all those things listed above on my own.
I’m an only child and independent by nature.
I’m capable of having a connection with someone for one night and then having another connection with someone another night.
I think that ability is rare and beautiful.
Multiple people fulfill different needs within me.
But lately, it feels like one person has been doing all of that.
Now I’m wondering if this is what people talk about in movies and TV shows?
If this feeling is what those love songs explain? Do I not need anyone else?
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Sex Work Is Lucrative…But to WHOM?
By Marshall Oakley
September 12
When environmental philanthropist Aditi Singh filed for divorce from Tango founder, Alf Olson, last month, the end of the marriage isn’t what turned heads.
It’s why she’s ending the marriage. The divorce petition lists among the grounds “respondent has committed adultery” with multiple sex workers from a private escort service.
Since then, there has been a close eye on the business of sex work.
In some states, sex work is deemed legal, depending on its nature.
In recent discoveries, Olson’s close circle of male business leaders and political figures has been outed as being involved, now resulting in scrutiny of the sex workers, not their clients.
What the private escort service is being investigated for is not the business that is run, but what happens after a payment is made: getting caught when there is a nondisclosure agreement.
“People want sex,” sex writer Lucy Reid says. “Even for the richest men out there, you can have all the money in the world…but people want sex.”
The current lawsuit goes to trial next week, and it’s leading to a polarizing debate.
Since ancient Greece, men have been using prostitution as a tool of power.
As of late, women have taken control of the male-dominated industry—although it’s subjective as to who dominates it: the men running the industry or the women working in it?
Women have now taken the profession used against them and garnered control over their clients.
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