Page 41 of An Unexpected Home

“I’d kiss you,” Carly said, “but one, I like men, and two, I’m kinda afraid you’d like it too much.”

“Fuck off.” Melanie flipped her off.

Leah sat, because standing and listening to those two bicker was annoying enough but doing it after a Brandon Graham kiss was nearly impossible.

It was obvious that they had chemistry; hot, out-of-control chemistry. And she liked him. A lot. He was funny and sweet and thought about her more than he thought about himself.

But, and this was the thing, was she ready for that? And even if she was ready for it, was she capable of handling those kinds of feelings?

“How do you know if you’re in love?” she blurted and four eyes that were looking at her widened in shock.

“You’re in love with Brandon?” Carly said, mouth gaping open.

“She didn’t say that.” Melanie slapped her shoulder. “Pay attention. She asked how you know if you’re in love.”

“In my limited experience when someone asks how you know if you are in love...they are already in love.”

“Is anyone gonna help me out here?” She threw her hands up. “I’m kinda in the middle of a crisis, that’s in the middle of another crisis, that’s inside of a GIGANTIC crisis.”

Carly looked at Melanie. “I think we broke her.”

“I think you’re an idiot,” Melanie said to Carly before crouching down on the floor in front of Leah. “Tell us what’s going on?”

“I don’t know exactly. I’ve just, well I’ve never had feelings like this before.”

“That’s because you never really liked anyone before,” Carly said from behind Melanie. “I mean, as far as I know, while you dated and had sex, you’ve never had a boyfriend, right?”

“Yeah. So?”

“So,” Melanie said, “that means you never even let yourself get past the first stage of liking someone. The part where you each do and say stupid and annoying things and yet you still like them.”

“What does that have to do with being in love?”

“Everything,” Carly answered. “If you can still want them, still find them attractive after they leave their dirty clothes all over the house or always use the word ‘literally’, then that’s when you know you like them and maybe even love them.”

“You’re talking about that guy freshman year with the ‘literally’ thing aren’t you?” Carly had gone out with this guy their freshman year and after about two months she dumped him because he literally said the word literally like twenty times in a five minute period.

“God he was such a douche,” Carly said. “How I ever liked him is beyond me.”

“If I remember correctly,” Melanie said, “the sex was off the charts.”

“It was only off the charts because I was new to sex and I didn’t know what good sex even was.”

“Do you think I only like Brandon because of the sex? Because I gotta say, I didn’t know it could be that good.”

“Do tell,” Melanie said.

“Eww, no.” Carly covered her ears like a child. “Gross.”

“I’m not related to him, so tell me.”

Leah laughed, surprised that she even could with all the emotions running through her. “Don’t worry,” she told Carly, “I am not going to give details.”

“No fair,” Melanie complained and crossed her arms over her chest.

“But,” Leah said, “without going into details, I will tell you that the man has skills.”

“Like penis skills or mouth skills.” She was practically hopping up and down on her knees now. “And please say mouth skills. I love a man that knows how to eat pussy.”

---