Lilly stepped off the plane, reminding herself this had been Roni’s idea from the start.  This trip was about Roni. 

Roni spotted her first and ran straight into her arms.

“You’re finally here!”

“You say that like I had options,” Lilly laughed.

“And I would do it again,” Roni said without apology. “Come on. I want you to meet Justin. I may have talked about you a little.”

“A little?” Lilly narrowed her eyes.

They found him near the exit, holding Roni’s coat, watching the crowd in that quiet way some people do, studying passers-by like research projects.

“Lilly,” Roni said, glowing, “this is Justin Collins. He works as a features editor for a city magazine here. The one I told you about.”

Lilly looked between them. “And your fiancé too, right?”

Justin laughed first. “Yes. The best headline of my life.”

Roni nudged him. “See? I told you she was quick.”

Justin offered his hand, steady and warm. “I’ve heard you’re at a crossroads.”

Lilly shot Roni a look.

“She may have filled me in,” he admitted. “Best friend briefings are thorough.”

Roni grinned. “You’re welcome.”

They started walking toward the parking garage.

“So,” Justin said casually, “Roni mentioned you’re switching into journalism. Travel writing caught your attention?”

“I’m trying to figure out if I’m brave enough to say that out loud,” Lilly answered. “Right now, I’m just trying to survive an assignment explaining why I deserve to be in a journalism club.”

“Ah,” he said softly. “The persuasive essay disguised as destiny.”

She laughed despite herself. “Exactly.”

Roni glanced between them. “She’s always written, you know. Even in college, she rewrote half her professors’ prompts just to make them more interesting.”

Lilly groaned. “Please stop helping.”

Justin’s eyes sharpened, not critically, just attentively. “What kind of writing have you done?”

“Local paper features. Nothing huge. Some opinion pieces and many incomplete drafts.

“Unfinished drafts are honest,” he said. “It means you care enough to wrestle with them.”

She blushed a little, knowing he was encouraging her, but she felt exposed.

Roni noticed at once. She slipped her arm through Lilly’s and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Hey,” she said softly, just for her. “You don’t have to have it all figured out this weekend. You just be you… and be the best maid of honor ever.”

“And what’s holding you up on this paper?” he asked.

“I’m trying to prove I’m worthy instead of just… writing.”

He nodded once. “That’s common.”

They reached the car, but the conversation didn’t feel finished.

“If you want to write travel,” Justin continued, leaning lightly against the door, “then write something while you’re here. Not about yourself. About what you notice. The airport. The way this city feels at night. The coffee shop we’ll probably end up in tomorrow morning. Write it as if it’s already your job.”

Her pulse quickened.

“And then?”

“Then I’ll see what I’m working with.”

She stood frozen, just smiling, thrilled about a brand-new possibility.

Roni clapped once. “See? I told you this weekend was going to be productive.”

Justin smiled, but there was seriousness beneath it. “If there’s something there, I can introduce you to someone in your city who mentors new writers. I’ve recommended interns before when I believe in them. But I need to see your voice first.”

“So,” he said gently, “are you willing to take a detour?”

For the first time since Greg Thomas had handed her the assignment and challenged her to prove herself, Lilly felt something shift.

Maybe she didn’t have to explain who she was.

She had to show it.

To be continued.

Tag, you’re it. If you’d like to jump in, feel free. If not, I’ll keep moving it along, bit by bit.

Sending warmth and kindness.