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

I know what kind of decisions you were making at her age,” she gave him a knowing look. He gave her the look right back and tried again.

“I don’t want her to do anything permanent or anything she’ll regret. I don’t want it to cause her any harm or trouble. She’s a good kid—young adult,” he corrected, “and I want others to see that too. They may judge her if she has a nose ring. May judge me as a parent too. Being a single parent is hard enough. And what else? I don’t know, she’s just so beautiful the way she is! I don’t want her to wreck it. And I don’t want her to do something just because everyone else is. Herd mentality. She’s smarter than that.” He shot Leah a “how’s that” look.

She nodded and turned to Sky.

“Okay Sky, what did you hear your dad say?”

Sky wasn’t expecting the question. It was clear by her face that she had her list of objections and things she wanted to say already formed.

“Oh, um . . .” she considered her words, “Well, he said . . . he said he thinks I’m like, not old enough to make this kinda decision. And he’s worried what people will think. And he said he thinks I’m pretty.” She looked her father directly in the eyes, “Do you really?”

Cade nodded. He cleared his throat before he spoke, “Beautiful, darlin’—inside and out.” His voice was heavy with love for his daughter.

Sky’s face lit up and she smiled a true smile. One Leah had rarely seen and she had to agree; Sky was beautiful. She gave father and daughter a moment before bringing them back to the conversation at hand.

“Anything else, Sky?”

“Yeah, he doesn’t even know why I want a nose ring. He said I want it ’cause my friends have one but no one does.”

Cade had his head down but it shot up when he heard his daughter. He looked at her then at Leah.

“And why do you want a nose ring? Can you explain? Your dad is listening,” she looked at Cade and he nodded. They watched Sky process the question and waited for her to give her answer. The resemblance to her father was more apparent as she thought it out.

“It’s kinda hard to explain but I’ll try.”

“Just tell him what you told me earlier. He’s not as stupid as he looks, he’ll get it,” Leah winked. Sky giggled and Cade pretended to be offended. It lightened the mood and Sky was able to find her words.

“I’m almost sixteen. I feel like I’m starting to get to know the real me. I mean, not totally yet, obvi.” It was clear she was being her true self with her teen lingo slipping out. “But like, I’m deciding who I am and what I like and when I was at cheer camp this summer I was talking with one of the assistant coaches and she had a nose piercing, a hoop, and—”

“No,” Cade interrupted.

Leah was at the point of intervening but Sky surprised them both.

“No, I agree! I hated the hoop! No hoop for me. But I looked around and took things in. Some girls wore too much makeup. Some had streaks of color in their hair. I even saw a couple tattoos,” she put up a hand before Cade could get a word out. “I don’t want a tattoo. Yet. Maybe someday but no time soon. Too permanent and too regrettable.”

Cade shook his head. “When did you get so smart?”

Sky smiled at him.

“Someone around here has to be smart!” she teased. “But no, seriously, I just started thinking that I wanted something just for me. Something special. And I just kept going back to the nose piercing thing. I really like the idea of a tiny stud. Just the little glint of sparkle. So I started researching it. Where to get it done. How to care for it. I even checked the school policy to make sure there isn’t a rule against it.” She shrugged, running out of words.

“And there’s not? Really.” Cade was surprised.

“Nope. I even double-checked with the guidance counselor.” She bit her lip and looked at Leah.

“Sounds like you’ve really thought this through,” Leah praised her.

“I guess you aren’t twelve years old anymore,” Cade concluded. “But you aren’t even sixteen yet either.” His words sounded too final. Sky hung her head.

“What if . . .” they turned sharply and stared at her. Leah knew she was about to overstep. Cade had one eyebrow raised in a “careful how you proceed” look. Leah plunged ahead.

“Sky has been thinking about this for months now, but it’s all new to you. What if you take time to consider her request? What if maybe it’s not a complete ‘no’ but more of a ‘not yet’? And while I’m digging myself into a huge hole, I’ll just add that your daughter came to you—she didn’t sneak and do this behind your back. That’s a level of maturity worthy of respect.”

She turned to Sky, “When do you turn sixteen?”

“Not until March.” Sky held her breath. Her eyes darted between the two adults.

Cade got up and kissed Sky on the temple.

“Thank you for explaining. I’m still not saying yes, but I’m not saying no either. I need some time. I’m sorry I didn’t listen, darlin’. I love you. I forget how fast you’re growing up. Be patient with your old man, okay?”

Leah watched them beam at each other. Sky mumbled an “I love you,” gave her dad a quick hug around the middle, mouthed a “thank you” to Leah, and jetted off to her room. Cade got up and wrapped Leah in a full hug. Over Cade’s shoulder she saw Sky’s head pop back into the room.

“Hey Dad, wait—what decisions were you making at my age?”

“Goodnight, darlin’!” Cade called out, chuckling.

Leah’s heart felt good. Father and daughter were set to rights. And it was clear by the way Cade was now kissing her that he was