Read Online A Girl by Any Other Name by Mk Schiller - Free Book Online

finish her mouth was on me. It was a quick, chaste kiss and totally unexpected.
    Her breath was warm and sweet like the spring wind. The blood pumped faster in my veins as it
    made its way to my lower extremities. She lowered her face toward me again, but I couldn’t take any
    more. I jolted off the bed, landing right on my ass. Luckily, her thick rug protected my butt from any
    lasting injury.
    “What the hell did you do that for?” I spat out, sitting up.
    “What? You didn’t like it?”
    I wiped my mouth. “You don’t just kiss a guy like that. Besides, if I wanted to kiss you I would
    have kissed you. It’s my job to make the first move.”
    “You didn’t want to kiss me?” The hurt was unmistakable in her voice.
    “It’s not that. It’s just…that I wasn’t ready for it, that’s all.”
    “Well, do you want to kiss me back now?” She was lying on her back where I couldn’t see her,
    but I could hear her rapid breaths, or perhaps they were mine.
    “Uh, no. I’m gonna hold off for a while.”
    “Am I a bad kisser?”
    “You’re not the best, but it’s okay ’cause it was your first time. You’ll get better.”
    She peered her head over the side of the bed, staring at me as I lay sprawled on the floor. “How
    many girls have you kissed?” she asked, narrowing her eyes at me.
    “Lots.”
    “Like who?” she demanded.
    I tapped my fingers on my chest and smiled with measured cockiness. “Wendy Watson for one.
    Now that girl’s a good kisser.”
    “Ew, she wears a ton of lip gloss.” It was an ironic statement coming from a girl who caked her
    face with white powder, but even at twelve, I knew better than to say that.
    “Yeah and her lips taste like the sweet cherries at Durbin Farms.”
    “So, you’d rather kiss her than me?”
    Shit.
    “I didn’t say that. It’s just I can’t kiss you right now. You ruined the moment and you’d be
    expecting it.” I almost wanted to pat myself on the back for pulling that one out. The truth was I really
    wanted to kiss her, but I was too scared to admit it.
    “So, you’re going to surprise me?”
    “Yeah, I am. When I kiss you, it’s going to be the best kiss you’ve ever had.”
    She laughed. “Cal, I’ve only had one kiss. Just now. I think you were there.”
    “Shut up, smartass. I’m saying it’s going to be the best kiss you will ever have in your entire life.
    No other kiss will even compare to it.” I was really talking out of my ass on this one, but I was on a
    roll of bullshit that just wouldn’t quit.
    “So when will I get this kiss?”
    “Jesus, Sylvie, have some patience. All good things come to those who wait.”
    “’Kay,” she sighed.
    I picked up a baseball that was wedged in her nightstand. I knew it was from one of my Little
    League games, but I was surprised she had it. I started throwing it in the air, looking for something to
    occupy me from the conversation.
    “Are you leaving?” she asked after a while.
    “Do you want me to?”
    “No. Can you stay for a while?”
    “Why?”
    “I don’t want to be alone.” There was something heartbreaking in that. It was apparent she was
    suffering. I just had no idea why.
    “Can I ask you something?”
    “You just did.”
    “Funny, smartass. I’m being serious.”
    “Well, spit it out then.”
    “Does your daddy ever hurt you? You know, like more than a punishment?” It was something I’d
    wanted to ask since I’d heard the rumor, but I’d never had the courage to.
    She turned so she was on her stomach, leaning down toward me. Her hair brushed across my
    face, forming a tent between us. It was soft and silky like feathers raining down on me. I thought she
    was going to kiss me again. She flicked her fingers against my forehead instead. “No, Cal Tanner. He
    does not. He loves me very much.”
    I winced, rubbing the area. “Okay, geez, I get it. I was just wondering because he’s different than
    other dads.” I wasn’t just referring to his alcohol