(Once) Again by Theresa Paolo

took a deep breath and let out a puff of air. It was now or never. Besides, I told my sister everything. Almost. Kat was the one thing I kept from her. From everyone. Even when Liz was heartbroken when Zach had left, I didn’t tell her.
    Kat was my secret. I was afraid other people would taint our perfection. But it was already tainted. She was with Darren.
    I glanced up at Liz and her eyes grew to triple their size. “Oh. My. God! She’s the one. Isn’t she?”
    “I’m completely confused,” Zach said, resting back into the booth. “We’re talking about Josh right? This Josh?”
    “Shush!” Liz put her hand over Zach’s mouth and went right back to giving me the death stare. “She’s the girl you didn’t want to talk about. The reason you knew what I was going through when Zach and I broke up.”
    She’d already figured it out. There wasn’t much more to say, so I nodded.
    Her mouth practically hit the floor, and she slapped Zach so hard on his back—out of excitement, I guess—I thought his head would bounce off the table.
    “I knew it! I said you can tell me one day over cookies, but a burger is going to have to do. What the hell happened between you two? And when? How did I not know about this?”
    “It’s history. After seeing her with Darren . . . It’s never going to happen.”
    “No way. The sexual tension between you two is insane.”
    “I don’t want my sister talking about my sexual anything.”
    “Oh please. We’re all adults here.”
    “I don’t care if we’re ninety and in nursing homes.”
    “Stop dodging the subject.”
    My jaw tightened, and I took a deep breath. It wasn’t my sister’s fault, but she got the gist and I really didn’t want to go into it. Not yet at least. Maybe in time . . . when the wound wasn’t open and filling with salt.
    “Lizzie, let it go for now,” Zach said, and arched an eyebrow in my direction.
    Liz looked at me, and I must’ve looked pissed, because for once in her life she backed down and let it go.
    The waitress walked over, her blond hair hanging over her shoulder and dipping into the V of her shirt. Normally I’d be all over that, but my mind was still on Kat’s hand in someone else’s.
    “Can I start you guys with a drink?” she asked.
    Before I could answer Liz held up three fingers. “Three Cokes please. Thanks.”
    Two minutes later the waitress came back with our drinks. I looked into my Coke and bounced my straw up and down, my thoughts still on Liz’s questions.
    What the hell happened between you two? And when? How did I not know about this?
    Even though I resisted a walk down memory lane with Liz, I couldn’t keep my mind from going there.

Chapter 9
    “Go out with me,” I said for the third time since walking up to the cotton candy booth.
    Kat rolled her big blue eyes at me. “No.”
    “One date.” I held my pointer finger up and gave my best smile, the one I knew made girls melt.
    “No.”
    All girls except Kat.
    “Why not?” I asked, leaning my elbow on the window, making sure my muscle flexed tight.
    “I know your type.” She sucked in her bottom lip and closed her eyes. She took a deep breath and then opened them. “And I’m not your type.”
    “I’m looking for a change.”
    “Tell you what.” She crossed her arms under her chest, and I couldn’t help staring at the crease it created between her boobs. “Name one thing you like about me. Then maybe I’ll consider it.” I went to open my mouth, and she put her hand up to stop me. “It can’t relate to my looks.”
    “So you want something more than ‘you’re hot.’”
    She raised an eyebrow and nodded. “Yes.”
    “I can name five.”
    She laughed, a cute, sexy-as-hell laugh. “Yeah right.”
    I stayed silent for a second, letting her think I was scrambling for a response. Little did she know I was aware of every part of her. There were so many things about her that I liked.
    “One. You suck your bottom lip into your mouth when you’re