First Kiss Last by Sara Miller (latest books to read .txt) 📕

marriage. She did not feel regret or longing. It had been a pleasant evening, but that was it.

She felt lighter and happier knowing she was making the right choice. She was convinced Eric had not felt any romance either. He had not held her hand or even called her “babe.”

Leah knew it was over. Other than actually informing Eric she was done, she had one more area of her life to address: it was time to call her doctor.

She called the very next morning. Leah’s doctor’s appointment was set for three days before Christmas. It was the only appointment available before the New Year. Her doctor insisted on seeing her in person before prescribing birth control, so Leah had to wait.

Waiting another week was not going to make or break her. Whereas, waiting for what would be the final nail in the coffin of her fertility was disconcerting.

So she tried to keep herself busy. Leah finished wrapping her presents and delivered them all to her sister’s house ahead of time. The only ones she kept back were Eric’s gifts.

Their tradition was to privately exchange gifts on Christmas Eve, then do the bigger family Christmas the day of. They did this whether they were with her family or his. Leah thought it was a sweet tradition. This year she was dreading it. She just could not imagine how it would go with them being so distant or what he would possibly think to get her. He had not asked for suggestions either. It left her feeling unsettled.

Leah thought Eric would like the simple things she got him. She’d picked out some new workout clothes and a Collector’s Edition of World War II documentaries on Blu-ray. She had also gotten him a few of his favorite Christmas candies.

Eric never liked to admit it, but he loved chocolate covered cherries. Every year she would buy them. Every year he would complain. But every year she caught him eating them all up. The memory made her smile.

Leah would miss little things like that. She tried not to overthink it. Knowing what kind of candy someone liked is not the basis for a healthy marriage. There was so much unhealthiness in their relationship. Come the first of the year, Leah knew she would need to talk to a lawyer. Maybe Robert could help her find one.

As she thought about that, she kneeled down to make space under Lily’s Christmas tree for her gifts. She felt confident. She had a plan: she’d ask Robert.

“Ask Robert what?”

“Gah!” Leah jumped. Gifts went one way and the ornaments she bumped went another. They clinked and clanged and one fell off the tree and rolled across the floor.

Leah looked up and saw her sister standing over her. She glared and her sister laughed. Lily retrieved the runaway bulb and handed it to Leah. She put it back on the tree, finished tucking away her gifts, and stood.

“You didn’t answer. What do you wanna ask Robert?”

Leah plopped on the couch lazily, half sitting, half reclining. “To help me find a lawyer,” she said with a sigh.

“It’s like less than a week before Christmas and you want to find a lawyer now?” Despite her choice of words, Lily’s tone was not judgemental.

“No, I was thinking about it now. Apparently talking out loud too. But probably nothing until after the New Year.”

“That makes sense.”

“I think I might want to find a new job too. We just had some restructuring and my newest boss is one of Eric’s gym buddies.” She made a face of displeasure.

“Yeah, gyms are the worst.”

Leah laughed. She loved Lily. Loved her support and her sense of humor.

“Just remember our offer,” Lily added, bringing a bit of seriousness back to the conversation.

“You’d really take in your divorced, unemployed sister?” Thinking about her dreams, Leah added, “whose grasp on reality may be sketchy at best?”

“In a heartbeat,” Lily immediately answered.

Leah was spared any more conversation on that topic because her nieces had found her and the additional presents under the tree. She sat back and watched as they discovered who each new gift was for. They lifted, shook, and squeezed each package. Leah loved hearing their guesses.

“Slippers for Dad, hear how soft it is?” Emmie said with absolute confidence.

“This one is a candle for Mom. I didn’t shake it ’cause I don’t wanna damage it but I can tell. It’s heavy and it smells like lavender,” Allison explained.

Lily shot Leah a horrified look. They both hated candles and lavender. Leah couldn’t help but wonder if Allison actually knew what lavender smelled like. She avoided her sister’s gaze so she didn’t start laughing.

She loved moments like this. Leah wondered what it would be like to live here. Temporarily, for sure, while she figured things out. But she felt blessed to have the option of this buffer, this safe space. So much so that she reached out and hugged her sister.

“What was that for?”

Leah shrugged and didn’t try to explain.

Later that night, Leah lay in bed thinking about the day and smiled. Her nieces were growing up so fast.

Everything was moving fast.

Her doctor’s appointment was in a couple days. Christmas a few days after that and New Year’s a week later. And then . . . then she had no idea what was next.

Leah considered the way her life was filled with unknowns. In reality, she should be terrified. But right now she had this zen vibe going on. She felt confident she would figure things out as she went. Was she crazy? Maybe. Only time would tell. She rolled over and let sleep claim her.

Chapter 25

Leah basked in the afterglow of truly amazing sex. She was naked in Cade’s bed. The lights were low and the room felt warm. Or maybe she was still flushed from their lovemaking. Either way, she lay there naked with no motivation to cover up.

Cade was on his side next to her. His head propped up on one arm and his other hand traced light