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

her empty cup and tossed it in a trash bin before answering.

“Staying over at a friend’s house.” Cade paused. “You know what that means: we’ll have the house to ourselves.” He waggled his eyebrows.

Leah couldn’t help laughing. She turned and kissed him in the middle of the crowd. She heard a few cheers and whistles and felt the rumble as Cade laughed as well.

He pulled her out of the throng of people. She found herself at one end of the bleachers. Her back to a metal beam, Cade moved in, kissing her face and neck.

“Wait, what are we doing?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” he laughed. “Making out under the bleachers. I always wanted to do this,” Cade said as he initiated more kisses.

“Uh-huh, sure.” She poked him in the chest playfully. “You had plenty of make-out sessions, Mister!”

“But not with you.”

“Your choice.”

They stared at each other for several long moments. Leah held her breath, nervous for how he might respond and also kicking herself for steering the conversation to this subject. Here it is, she realized. Her opportunity to ask him about Lily’s accusation.

Leah sucked in air. She was going to do this. Gone was the non-confrontational Leah. This was Cade. They’d been able to talk about almost anything.

“About high school . . .” she started and faltered. So much for her new-found courage.

“What about it?” Cade’s face was curious and open.

“You dated so many girls. Like, all the girls.”

His face protested and she tried again, “Not literally, but you had a lot of girlfriends.”

“It was high school, it’s what you do,” he forced a laugh, attempting to make light of it.

Leah was not buying it. “I didn’t,” she said softly. “We had a very different high school experience.” She could tell he did not understand so she tried again.

“I wanted it. I wanted it all, Cade. I wanted a boyfriend. I wanted to wear his jersey and class ring. I wanted to go to dances and parties. I wanted to go to prom, wear a beautiful dress, ride in a limo—all the things I watched my friends do. But I didn’t get to . . .” she sucked in a breath and asked him flat out.

“Cade, why would none of the boys go out with me? Was it me? Did I do something wrong? Was I so very unattractive?” Years of insecurity walloped her but instead of crying like she normally did when facing these memories, she got mad. “No one, Cade. Not even a nerd or band geek. Tell me!” she demanded.

“I . . .” Cade rubbed the back of his neck. He looked down, not meeting her eyes.

She put a hand on his chest and felt his steady heartbeat. Leah kissed his cheek tenderly.

“Cade,” she said his name softly, as an encouragement. He looked up and sighed.

“You know, don’t you? I told you I was stupid.” He shook his head, looking off in the distance as if remembering. “After we broke up, I wasn’t over you. I was kicking myself for letting you go. You seemed so hurt, I thought you’d never take me back. And when I saw other guys starting to circle, I was so mad at myself that I took it out on them. It was only a couple guys, I swear, Leah. But with my reputation, word got around and well . . .” he shrugged.

Leah searched his face. She could see he was upset. He looked guilty and defeated. Always a tough guy, seeing him vulnerable got to her. She put her hand on his cheek. Cade closed his eyes and sighed.

“I’m so sorry, Leah. I ruined high school for you and I can’t fix it. It wasn’t on purpose, I swear. I never meant to make you unhappy. Do you believe me?” he looked up.

She thought quickly. Processing what he said now and what she remembered from back then, Leah felt a new clarity. She knew she needed to release the bitterness she felt toward her school days. She kissed him.

Cade broke the kiss, repeating his apology. Leah deepened the kiss. When he tried once more to speak, she bit at his lip. She wrapped her arms around his neck and wove her fingers in his hair, holding him to her. Cade responded eagerly, one hand on her butt and the other roaming her body. Her breath quickened.

As much as she’d always wanted this classic high school experience, a kiss under the bleachers with a boy who wanted her as much as she wanted him, Leah was a woman now. She wished they were somewhere more private. Somewhere they were less limited in what they could do. Yet it didn’t stop her.

“Hey you kids, break it up—it’s time to go!” An older grumbly voice broke through their moment. Leah looked up startled.

“Oh, I—” the older gentleman was even more shaken than she was. “Sorry, thought you were teens.” He winked. “Carry on.”

They watched as the man tipped his hat to them and quickly hobbled away.

Leah could not help it, she started to giggle. She looked at Cade’s indignant face and the giggles increased. Cade broke and joined her in laughter.

“Busted,” he said, still laughing. “Come on, let’s go.” He grabbed her hand and together they found the exit.

Once they’d cleared the main football field area, Cade lit a cigarette. They walked silently back to his truck several blocks away. People had already cleared out and the street where they parked was mostly deserted.

Standing by the truck, Cade ground out his smoke with his work boot before unlocking the doors.

“Let’s go home,” he whispered as he assisted her into the truck.

Cade soon had the heat blasting in the cab. She could still feel his hand on her butt as he’d helped her in. She could still taste his kisses on her lips. And she could still hear his words, “Let’s go home.”

Leah sighed and repeated the important word in her mind: home. Home with Cade. She couldn’t think of anything that would sound better.