Cured by Bethany Wiggins

Author:Bethany Wiggins
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2014-08-28T04:00:00+00:00

“Jack, look at me,” Kevin whispers.

I blink and remind myself that I am sitting in a kitchen, in a bomb shelter, and I’ve just been kissed. I take a deep breath and look at him—look at his frowning lips before staring at his eyes.

“What happened? Why did you pull away from me like that?” he asks.

I focus on the table again and wonder if I can tell him. Wonder if I can’t tell him. So I say, “You know I’m not twelve.”

“Of course I know you’re not twelve! Do you think I’d be kissing you if I thought you were a kid?”

I press my hand to my forehead and close my eyes. “Do you know—” I can hardly breathe.

“What? Do I know what?” he asks.

“—that I’m not really a boy?” The words squeak out, as if affirming what I’ve just said.

There’s a long silence that makes my face burn with shame, and tears threaten to fill my eyes. And then Kevin starts laughing. Laughing! My body goes rigid. His laughter stops dead, and he leans in close to me again, staring into my eyes. “Yes, Jacqui. I do realize you’re female. I’ve known since the first time I saw you.”

It takes a minute for his words to sink in. My mouth falls open but no words come out. Kevin puts his finger under my chin and gently closes my mouth.

“Can we try again?” he asks. When I don’t say anything, he stands and takes my hands in his, pulling me to my feet in front of him. One at a time, he places my hands against his chest, palms over his heart. His trembling hands frame my face, warm against my skin, and tilt my head back.

“Why are your hands shaking?” I whisper.

He looks right into my eyes. “Because I’m scared to kiss you.” We stay that way for half a minute, just looking at each other, and then slowly, he leans toward me until his lips come down on mine. They’re warm and firm, like he’s been practicing this very thing for years. I’ve hardly had any practice, but it doesn’t matter. It is as if my lips know what to do, turning soft and supple and moving like they’ve been programmed to respond to his.

I press my palms against his chest and feel his beating heart, feel it accelerate. Fire floods me again and makes me bold. I stand on tiptoes and press my mouth more firmly against his. Kevin sighs and one of his hands leaves my face to rest against the small of my back, holding me steady. His other hand moves from my cheek and circles around to the back of my head, his fingers sweeping over my short hair and sending shivers down my entire body. And then I hear birds singing and smell food cooking and feel sunshine warming me from the inside out.

Kevin’s lips pause against mine and he releases me, but the birds don’t stop singing.

“What is that?” I ask, self-conscious that my voice sounds so breathless.

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