The Shoes Come First: A Jennifer Cloud Novel

by Janet Leigh

  ~

  One Saturday afternoon, in the first part of May, Jake and I were lying out by his pool. The early-summer sun was giving us a day of eighty-degree weather. It was the perfect temperature for relaxing outside in Texas, because in a few weeks it would be escalating up to our summer boil. It was nearing the end of our senior year. A gaggle of girls had just left to go do whatever the cheerleaders normally do, leaving Jake and I alone.

  “You know, Jake, the only reason you run so fast is because you always have so many girls chasing you,” I said. “If you would just pick one…I noticed you were paying special attention to Sarah Montgomery.”

  “I know,” he replied, “but then I wouldn’t have this great scholarship at this awesome school where I can meet even more girls to chase after me.”

  Casanova had returned. Just when I thought maybe he was ready to have a steady girlfriend, he pulled the snake card.