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

Brunch wasn’t much better. Sure, the food was delicious but the conversation was lacking. She tried to ask about his weekend but he answered mostly with “yes” or “no,” even though she was asking open-ended questions.

When it came time to pay the bill, Eric stared at his wallet in annoyance.

“Do you have any cash for a tip?”

She knew Eric hated tipping on the credit card. He was convinced the server would not get the tip if it was put on the card.

“Sorry. I didn’t bring my purse. Shoot, I didn’t even grab my phone.” That surprised her.

“Check your pockets,” he demanded.

She checked her coat pocket and found a gum wrapper and her grocery list. She merely shrugged in reply.

“What about your jeans?”

Now Leah was annoyed. She stood up and checked the rest of her pockets as Eric watched. Nothing. No money.

But then Leah felt something. There was a small, hard object in her pocket. As her fingers closed around it she knew instantly what it was, but it couldn’t be. She pulled out the small nub of crayon and stared at it.

“Gross, what is that!?” Eric was appalled.

“Seriously?” She sat down with a huff. “Look, it’s just a crayon,” she held her palm out for him to see.

“What happened to your hand?” He grabbed for her hand and the crayon fell on the table with a tiny thud. She tried to pull her hand back but he held it. Both of them staring at the angry red mark just below her thumb.

“I scraped it,” she winced as he probed her hand.

“Clearly. But how and when? You should put something on it.”

“I fell . . . outside the door. Lost my balance. It’s fine. And I did put something on it . . . and ice too.” She caught her ramble and stopped before she sounded even crazier. Although, all of what she said was technically true.

“You could’ve told me,” his voice was gentle. Maybe he did still care after all. Cautiously, she disengaged her hand.

“It wasn’t a big deal. I’m fine, just embarrassed. It was not my finest moment.” She forced a laugh and smiled outwardly. Inwardly she was annoyed. Assuming she had fallen at the apartment, just how was she supposed to tell him if he wasn’t there?

Eric nodded and got up to pay the bill. When his back was turned, she searched for the crayon. Finding it, she stood, slipped it back into her pocket and followed Eric out of the restaurant.

The walk home was just as quiet until they turned on their own block.

“Was it your nieces’?”

“My nieces’ what?”

“Crayon. You said they didn’t come over.”

“They didn’t.”

“So then where did it come from?” He had stopped, just outside their apartment now. Eric stared expectantly as Leah tried to come up with an answer.

“It’s hard to say. It’s just a crayon.” She laughed it off with a shrug, walking past him. When she got to the door, Leah realized she did not have her keys. She turned and leaned against the door, waiting.

Eric stood several feet away, arms folded across his lean chest. He was the typical “tall dark and handsome” type. It was what had initially attracted her to him. Nothing about him reminded her of Cade. Thinking of him brought a smile to her face.

“Who is he?”

“What?!” Eric’s question caught her so off guard, she hadn’t even realized he moved. He was inches from her now. One arm raised, hand against the door. Glaring. Angry and demanding.

“You’re seeing someone, aren’t you?” He practically had her pinned to the door.

“Eric, please. I work and I am home! How and when do you see me having this supposed affair?!” She stood her ground. Albeit, unsteadily.

He searched her face. Leah tried to remain calm. She needed to do or say something, anything. But she did not want to lie either. Her brain swirled, her mouth opened and words came out.

“You’re the one who has been gone two weekends in a row, not me. Where were you, Eric? Who were you with? What were you doing? Who the hell is Tim?” She spit out the words hotly. “And yet you accuse me? Unlock the door. Now. I’m done with this conversation.”

Eric’s eyes never left hers. He kept eye contact. She heard him get the keys out of his pocket and unlock the door. It squeaked slightly as he shoved it open. He waited, still staring.

Leah broke the gaze and dashed into the apartment. She went straight to her room. It felt strange to realize that was already how she viewed it—as hers, no longer theirs.

Leah grabbed her phone and some clean clothes and hit the bathroom for the shower she skipped this morning. She locked the door behind her and looked at her reflection for several long moments. She checked her phone. Sure enough, Cade had sent a corn emoji.

What was happening? How had her life gotten so mixed up? What was she supposed to do? No answer came to her.

A few minutes later, she was in the shower. Hot water washed over her body. Leah replayed the conversation with Eric in her head. Worried about what she had said and what she didn’t say.

She also realized he hadn’t answered her either.

Chapter 16

The rest of Sunday and the next few weeks were uneventful. Leah never brought up their fight and Eric didn’t either. They both gave each other a wide berth.

Leah grocery shopped and cooked. Eric ate without comment and spent his evenings on his phone in front of the TV. Leah read, sometimes also in the living room, other times in her room. It was as if they had called a truce.

Eric even stayed home on the weekends. Sometimes they went out but mostly, each did their own thing. The awkwardness of living in the same space but not being a couple had begun to fade and started to feel normal.

Yes, everything had a new pattern to it. Including her nights.