Carolyn and came to rest pointing directly—blatantly—at Leigh.
Clay froze and looked at Leigh, his best buddy. Austin tittered. Carolyn was oblivious and shrugged at Clay, grinning, as if to say: well, that’s the fun of the game.
It was all in good cheer, after all.
Clay swallowed. He was supposed to kiss Leigh, his best friend?
He wanted to pretend that it wouldn’t mean anything, but he knew better than that. Leigh, whom he had walked with to and from school when they were kids. Leigh, who knew every secret, who was always there for him no matter what trouble he got into . . . who was the only one who knew how nasty his dad could get when he was angry or drank too much, or how sad his mom could be when—
Leigh, who did dishes with Clay at three in the morning. Leigh, who fixed cars, and loved Taylor Swift. Leigh, the most decent person who walked the earth . . . She was the only person in the world who truly knew him, yet still accepted him and was always there for him. No. He couldn’t kiss her. He knew it wouldn’t be platonic. It couldn’t. That would just be crazy.
Leigh turned beet red, a sure sign that she was immensely nervous and also horribly uncomfortable.
Clay turned to her and hesitated. He was so close he could smell her breath—spearmint gum mixed with the beer he’d given her.
Austin guffawed. “Hurry up, guys! It’s just a kiss!”
Clay felt terrified.
Leigh looked at him with her eyes wide and nodded slightly, as if giving him permission.
Clay tucked a reddish curl behind Leigh’s freckled ears and pressed his lips against the lips of his best friend in the whole world.
Her mouth was perfect; it fit his like a puzzle. The kiss was powerful and loving and dizzying all at once. It was the most intense feeling Clay had ever experienced and chills ran up his spine. Their kiss lasted a second too long but it ended too quickly, and the players began hooting.
Leigh broke away and looked at him, confused.
Even Carolyn looked quizzically at Clay.
Clay’s heart was pounding so loud he thought that everyone could hear it. Did he really just kiss Leigh? And did it just feel . . . like nothing he had ever felt before?
Austin would not shut his fat trap. “Dang, did it just get hotter in here?”
Carolyn, clearly annoyed, said, “No, Austin.”
Clay’s teammates elbowed each other and looked at Clay admirably. He was a stud. Meanwhile, all the girls in the room tried to demolish Leigh with their eyes.
Leigh kept blushing redder, redder, and redder.
A million thoughts were racing through Clay’s mind. He fumbled, and then said loudly, avoiding Leigh’s eyes, “Well, Leigh, at least we got that over with. Now, let’s party!”
The team hooted loudly. The girls laughed.
Leigh turned and fled the room.
• • •
Clay kept sipping his drink, willing the alcohol to work its calming effect. Leigh had left silently, but Clay knew that she must be really angry. She would never strand Clay if she weren’t fuming.
Clay surveyed the party, which was winding down. Some couples were making out on the couches; many had left to go to the next party. Carolyn was deeply involved in a conversation with a few of her devout sorority clones. While Carolyn’s grave expression gave the impression of a serious discussion one would have concerning world politics, Clay knew she was probably talking about the benefits of waxing over shaving.
He noticed Carolyn glance worriedly in his direction, and he managed a lazy smile so she wouldn’t feel obligated to come over.
Leigh, Leigh, Leigh. What did I do? I messed up. The only person he ever truly cared about and he had humiliated her in front of everyone. Besides her spunk, Leigh was smart. Especially in the ways that counted. She always knew what to do in any situation—saw straight through the B.S., did the right thing, and never cared a hoot what anybody thought.
He, on the other hand, rarely felt brave enough to do what he wanted. Sure, he
Clay froze and looked at Leigh, his best buddy. Austin tittered. Carolyn was oblivious and shrugged at Clay, grinning, as if to say: well, that’s the fun of the game.
It was all in good cheer, after all.
Clay swallowed. He was supposed to kiss Leigh, his best friend?
He wanted to pretend that it wouldn’t mean anything, but he knew better than that. Leigh, whom he had walked with to and from school when they were kids. Leigh, who knew every secret, who was always there for him no matter what trouble he got into . . . who was the only one who knew how nasty his dad could get when he was angry or drank too much, or how sad his mom could be when—
Leigh, who did dishes with Clay at three in the morning. Leigh, who fixed cars, and loved Taylor Swift. Leigh, the most decent person who walked the earth . . . She was the only person in the world who truly knew him, yet still accepted him and was always there for him. No. He couldn’t kiss her. He knew it wouldn’t be platonic. It couldn’t. That would just be crazy.
Leigh turned beet red, a sure sign that she was immensely nervous and also horribly uncomfortable.
Clay turned to her and hesitated. He was so close he could smell her breath—spearmint gum mixed with the beer he’d given her.
Austin guffawed. “Hurry up, guys! It’s just a kiss!”
Clay felt terrified.
Leigh looked at him with her eyes wide and nodded slightly, as if giving him permission.
Clay tucked a reddish curl behind Leigh’s freckled ears and pressed his lips against the lips of his best friend in the whole world.
Her mouth was perfect; it fit his like a puzzle. The kiss was powerful and loving and dizzying all at once. It was the most intense feeling Clay had ever experienced and chills ran up his spine. Their kiss lasted a second too long but it ended too quickly, and the players began hooting.
Leigh broke away and looked at him, confused.
Even Carolyn looked quizzically at Clay.
Clay’s heart was pounding so loud he thought that everyone could hear it. Did he really just kiss Leigh? And did it just feel . . . like nothing he had ever felt before?
Austin would not shut his fat trap. “Dang, did it just get hotter in here?”
Carolyn, clearly annoyed, said, “No, Austin.”
Clay’s teammates elbowed each other and looked at Clay admirably. He was a stud. Meanwhile, all the girls in the room tried to demolish Leigh with their eyes.
Leigh kept blushing redder, redder, and redder.
A million thoughts were racing through Clay’s mind. He fumbled, and then said loudly, avoiding Leigh’s eyes, “Well, Leigh, at least we got that over with. Now, let’s party!”
The team hooted loudly. The girls laughed.
Leigh turned and fled the room.
• • •
Clay kept sipping his drink, willing the alcohol to work its calming effect. Leigh had left silently, but Clay knew that she must be really angry. She would never strand Clay if she weren’t fuming.
Clay surveyed the party, which was winding down. Some couples were making out on the couches; many had left to go to the next party. Carolyn was deeply involved in a conversation with a few of her devout sorority clones. While Carolyn’s grave expression gave the impression of a serious discussion one would have concerning world politics, Clay knew she was probably talking about the benefits of waxing over shaving.
He noticed Carolyn glance worriedly in his direction, and he managed a lazy smile so she wouldn’t feel obligated to come over.
Leigh, Leigh, Leigh. What did I do? I messed up. The only person he ever truly cared about and he had humiliated her in front of everyone. Besides her spunk, Leigh was smart. Especially in the ways that counted. She always knew what to do in any situation—saw straight through the B.S., did the right thing, and never cared a hoot what anybody thought.
He, on the other hand, rarely felt brave enough to do what he wanted. Sure, he
Similar Books
