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

Leah was laughing at her sister when her phone rang. It was Lily and she picked up immediately. Lily didn’t bother with hello, she just went right into it.

“I’m not kidding, Leah. Guys really like your curves. I saw at least six guys check you out tonight. Two of which I’m pretty sure are not only married, but will also be sleeping on the couch tonight if the looks I saw from their wives was any indication.”

“Uh-huh, sure!” She laughed again. This had to be a joke.

“I’m serious.”

Lily’s voice was agitated and Leah didn’t know what to make of it.

“I . . . for real?” She tried again, “I just don’t see myself that way.”

On the other end of the phone, Lily sighed.

“Maybe you haven’t but I don’t know why. The rest of us see it. Even Eric hates it when guys check you out.”

“Except tonight he basically told me I was fat. So apparently he’s changed his mind.”

“I don’t have any idea what that was about. You looked great tonight. In fact, I’ve always been jealous of your curves. Maybe not your height, I like my extra few inches, but yeah. And the only times I’ve even come close was when the girls were born. Even then, my boobs never looked as good as yours!” she laughed. “Although, Robert wasn’t complaining.”

“I never knew,” Leah was at a loss.

“Oh yeah. And all through high school I watched the boys watch you.”

“Okay, now I know you’re making things up. Nobody wanted me in high school. Every time I tried, I got friend-zoned. I didn’t date, I didn’t have boyfriends, I wasn’t even asked to prom! If the boys thought I was hot, explain that,” she demanded. The memories of how rejected and alone she felt still hurt.

The line was silent. Leah took her phone from her ear to make sure the call was still connected.

“Lily?”

“Do you really wanna know?” Lily’s voice sounded serious.

“No. But yes.”

She heard Lily take in a deep breath.

“I’ll tell you but please don’t be mad at me.”

“Why, what did you do?”

“I didn’t do anything but I . . . um . . . may have known something for a while, something I heard. Something I heard after the fact. And I didn’t think it worth mentioning. Well, until now.”

“Okay”

“I mean, you’d met Eric and had your whirlwind romance and you seemed so happy.”

“Whirlwind,” she muttered under her breath. It had felt that way at the time. Looking back, knocked up and married off was more accurate.

“Promise?” Lily pleaded.

“I promise not to be mad at you for not telling me something you heard. Happy? Now tell me.”

“Robert and I were out with some of his old school friends. And one of them asked about you. So I happily shared how you’d met someone and fallen in love and were getting married and—”

“Who?” Leah was curious. She wished this conversation was in person so she could see Lily’s face.

“That’s not the point, lemme—”

“Who was it, Lily? Who asked about me?”

Lily sighed. “Fine, it was Mitchell. There was Brandon and Mitchell and a few others, it was years ago and not the point. Can I finish my story?” She didn’t wait for Leah to answer, just plunged ahead.

“Well, one of them said something like ‘it’s about time, he must finally be off his game.’ or ‘over himself’ or something and they all laughed. Even Robert. They’d been drinking and laughing, and I wasn’t catching all of it. I looked at Robert and saw him trying to get the guys to shut up. They all changed the subject and ordered more drinks.”

“I don’t get it.”

“Neither did I. So I confronted Robert later at home and made him tell me.”

“And?” Leah didn’t know what was coming, so she didn’t know how to prepare herself for it. Maybe Lily was right. Maybe not knowing was better.

“You were wrong earlier.”

“Huh?”

“When you said you didn’t date or have a boyfriend . . .”

“Yeah, I meant in high school.”

“What about Cade?” Lily asked.

Leah’s head spun. Hearing the name out loud. Her heart pounded in her chest.

“W-what about him?” She tried to ask in a normal voice. “That was basically middle school,” she dismissed it. “We were kids and we broke up because he didn’t want to kiss me.”

“Apparently, he did.”

“Lily, I was there. I’d know if I’d been kissed or not. And I hadn’t. Not until college. I know because they are my lips! But seriously, what does any of this have to do with what Mitchell said? I’m so confused. Have you been drinking?”

“No, no. And no I haven’t been drinking. Listen! Cade did want to kiss you.”

“Ha!”

“Robert told me.”

“Robert told you,” Leah repeated.

“Yes! Don’t you see?”

“Robert told you, right before I got married, that Cade wanted to kiss me when I was fourteen? Okay, good to know. Goodnight.”

“No!”

“No, he didn’t? Okay fine. I knew that all along. I’m hanging up now.”

“LEAH! Listen to me!”

“I am listening but you are crazy talking! I love you, Lily but what the heck?”

“That’s what I’m trying to tell you,” Lily sounded as aggravated as Leah felt. “According to Robert, Cade didn’t stop liking you. And if any guy showed interest, well, you know how Cade was. Remember? Always getting in trouble. Picking fights. Robert said all the guys knew to leave you alone or else they’d have to deal with Cade.”

Leah heard laughter. It took her a second to realize it was coming from herself. She tried to stop and couldn’t.

“Leah? Leah!”

“Okay, thanks for telling me,” she knew her voice sounded weird.

“Are . . . are you okay?”

“Yup, just tired. G’night, sis.”

“And you aren’t mad at me? For not telling you sooner?”

“Nope. We’re good. Kiss the girls for me. Love ya,” Leah hung up. Didn’t even wait for Lily to say goodbye.

She lay in bed trying to process the information she’d just been given. Could it be true? Could Cade have stopped the other boys from asking her out? Was he capable of that? Yes, no doubt