First Kiss Last by Sara Miller (read e book .TXT) 📗

inconvenience and promised to check her email from home. She was amazed how normal she sounded.

It was not until after she hung up that she saw her missed messages. One from her sister and two from Cade. His first, though unread, had sent her running home from work to safely sleep. It turned out to be nothing more than a question mark after she had not responded to his message about his dreaming about her.

The one that came in this morning said, “As you wish.”

Leah sobbed.

Chapter 7

“Let’s go shopping!”

It was Saturday morning and Leah was restless. Needing something to do, she called her sister, begging for attention.

“Wait, doesn’t Eric have a million plans for you guys this weekend like always?” Lily continued without giving Leah a chance to answer. “Like yoga in the park, shopping at the farmers market, biking through the park, game night at the pub . . . you know, all the usual nonsense? He sure wasn’t happy about our family picnic. I figured you’d be spending the next few weekends making it up to him.”

“Whatever. He didn’t mind the picnic and hey, I like some of that stuff too!”

“You like it ’cause he likes it.” Lily was extra-feisty this morning.

Leah knew her sister had never really clicked with Eric, but she had no idea Lily felt so strongly about him.

“What the heck, Lily? Do you need coffee?”

“Yes. As a matter of fact, I do. And I also need . . .” The phone went silent.

“Lily? Are you there?” Leah was about to ask again, when she heard her sister sigh.

“I’m here. Never mind. Lemme check with Robert and see if he can watch the girls while we run out. What do you need so badly anyway?”

“I want to redecorate. The apartment needs color. I need color.” Now it was Leah’s turn to sigh.

“Okay, scratch that. I will inform my husband he is watching the girls and pick you up in . . .” There was a rustling noise and Leah assumed her sister was checking the time. “Twenty minutes. Be ready and don’t change your mind!”

“Why would I change—” Leah stopped, realizing her sister had already hung up. She shrugged, grabbed a notepad, and began to make a list.

Two and a half hours later, the sisters were surrounded by shopping bags. They sat in the mall food court, sipping sodas and splitting a large boat of chili cheese fries.

Leah scanned the crowds around her as she absentmindedly stuffed another fry in her face.

“Okay, that’s it!”

Lily’s proclamation startled her and Leah almost choked. “What?”

“Who?”

“Huh?”

“Who are you looking for? You’ve been doing that all morning. Scanning every one who comes near us. Super jumpy. And where is Eric? And why did you only buy stuff for your bedroom. Things, I might add, you’ve turned down in the past because, I quote, ‘Eric wouldn’t like it.’ So yeah. Spill.”

Leah had been looking for Cade at every turn. Both wanting to see him and terrified if she would. She was not ready to admit that to anyone.

“When did you become so sassy and bossy?” Leah tried to distract her.

Lily didn’t fall for it. She lifted her soda to her mouth, taking a long drawn out drink. Waiting her out.

“Eric is out of town,” Leah kept her explanation simple. “Guy’s trip, he said.”

Neither sister ate, the last bit of fries growing cold. Lily did not comment. She watched, arms crossed, waiting for Leah to say more.

“Okay, fine, “ Leah relented. “I just wanted to add a pop of color before winter. You know winter gives me the blahs.”

“A pop of color is a new throw pillow for a couch. Not a whole new bedroom set.”

Leah shrugged. When she didn’t reply, Lily continued.

“Your whole apartment gives you the blahs. It’s all shades of concrete. In fact, I think your whole life is giving you the blahs!”

“Wow, sis, tell me how you really feel.” Leah forced a laugh.

“Okay, that came out too harsh. But I don’t think I’m wrong. When are you gonna wake up and realize it?”

“Wake up?” Leah echoed. The irony of Lily’s word choice made her laugh. “This isn’t a dream, this is my real life. I’m just trying to make the best of it.”

“But is this what’s best? I thought you wanted a house and a family and—”

Leah cut her sister off with an abrupt subject change. “Remember that first year when you went off to summer camp without me?”

Once the words were out, she regretted them. Leah busied herself cleaning up the table. “Are you done with these? I am. They are gross and cold now.” She stood suddenly, taking the tray, and throwing out the fries. Lily sat, watching her.

“Come on, one more store,” Leah begged.

“Yeah, okay, but what about camp?” Lily was clearly puzzled.

“Nothing,” Leah hedged. “I was trying to distract you and it worked!” She stuck her tongue out childishly. Lily laughed. As they made their way back toward the stores, Lily chatted away.

“I actually was thinking about looking into summer camp options for the girls for next year. Allison would love it. But Emmie, not so much. And you didn’t have it so bad. You got to spend the week at Gigi’s. Although, I did break my arm that first year so maybe I don’t wanna send . . .” Lily trailed off. She put a hand out, grabbing Leah, forcing her to stop.

“When I broke my arm . . .”

Leah nodded and tried to keep walking. Instead, Lily navigated them over to a nearby bench and continued her line of thought.

“My arm, you knew it was broken. And when Gigi lost her ring that one time, you knew where it was.”

Leah looked down at her hands. They had gone their whole lives without talking about Leah’s dreams. Their mother had forbidden it. The habit was hard to change.

“Was there, um . . .” Lily’s next words came out as a whisper, “Were there more?”

Leah gave one tiny nod and