What Cat Lost (The Last Life of Cat Book 1)

by Chelsea Thayer

  “Lucas Presnell, you put me down this instant,” Cat fought back her giggles and tried to sound haughty.

  “Or what?” Luke swung her to the front and caught her behind the back with his other arm so he was now cradling her.

  “Or I won’t run cross country!” Cat shouted.

  “But you already said you won’t do that,” Luke began to spin with her.

  “Then, I will never ever kiss you again!” Cat laughed.

  “I’m not putting you down till you agree to run cross country,” Luke began to spin faster.

  “No!” Cat squealed.

  He spun faster.

  “Fine! Fine! I’ll do anything you want!” Cat laughed.

  Luke stopped abruptly and set her down by the side of the gravel driveway. Cat plopped down on the grass, too dizzy to stand.

  “You shouldn’t say things like that, Cat,” Luke sat beside her.

  “Like what?” Cat looked up at him. She felt like she’d missed something.

  “You said you would do anything I want,” Luke smiled at her.

  Cat’s heart skipped a beat. She wasn’t quite sure what he was getting at.

  “Yeah, well … I think I might,” Cat looked into his eyes, knowing that she spoke the truth.

  Luke paused for a moment in thought.

  “What if I said I wanted you to be with me … sleep with me?” he watched Cat carefully, gauging her response.

  Cat felt the blood rush to her face. She had never really wanted that before, not really. It just always seemed like something scary before she met Luke. Suddenly, she found herself longing for that sense of closeness, of knowing someone so completely. A voice in her head told her that she was going crazy, she’d only known him a few weeks. Yet, her heart knew that she had found her match. Much in the same way that she knew she and Landon were destined to be best friends.

  “I wouldn’t ask you, you know?” he whispered. “I just wanted to see what you’d say.” Luke leaned in and kissed her sweetly.

  “I still haven’t answered,” Cat whispered back.

  “Don’t,” Luke’s voice became serious. “You’re hard enough to resist as it is.”

  “What do you mean?” Cat laughed.

  “I’m waiting ‘til I get married, Cat,” he answered seriously. “Or at least that was the plan ‘til I met you. I see you are going to make that a challenge.”

  Cat laughed. Then, she was quiet. She hadn’t met a guy before who was serious about waiting. It was so, so … honorable. Cat sighed and realized with shock that she was a little disappointed. Not that she was ready to take that step now, but in a year or so …

  “Are you okay?” Luke asked.

  “I’m great,” Cat lied. Then changing the subject, she asked, “So what do you have planned for my birthday this weekend?”

  “Ah, oh, well …” he looked at the ground. “Well, I feel bad ‘cause I didn’t know it was your birthday until today.”

  “Luke! I’m totally kidding!” Cat leaned on him, “Pizza and Blockbuster would be fine with me. I really don’t care, as long as I’m with you.”

  “Well, now I really feel bad, Cat,” he grimaced. “I already have plans with the guys. It’s our end of summer camp out. We do it every year the weekend before school starts back.”

  “Oh,” Cat knew her voice and face gave away how disappointed she was. She quickly tried to mask it, “That sounds like fun! Where are you camping?”

  “Down in the gorge,” Luke replied. Then he hesitated, “I can tell them that I won’t be able to go. I’m sure they wouldn’t really care.”

  “No, Luke,” Cat tried to sound reassuring. “This is your tradition. You shouldn’t miss it. It’s your last chance anyway.”

  “Well, that’s true,” Luke agreed, and the subject was dropped.

  “Hey! Maybe we can go out Friday,” Cat exclaimed, as they reached the back porch and pulled off their running shoes.

  “We’re leaving on Thursday. It’s a long weekend camp out,” Luke looked genuinely sorry.

  Cat didn’t say anything more. She didn’t want to make him feel bad, but this was the first birthday in her life that she actually had a boyfriend. It was kind of lame to spend it alone. Now that she thought about it, she wondered if Luke thought about her as his girlfriend. They hadn’t really figured that part out. They were together all the time. Did that mean they were ‘together’?

  Cat didn’t have a chance to ask that question.

  “Hey! Can you do me a favor?” Luke asked suddenly.

  “Of course,” Cat looked up at him as she rubbed her feet. All this running had caused a blister to develop on her left foot. She would have to ask Mimi to drive her out to Wal-Mart later so she could buy insoles for her shoes.

  “I have an appointment to get the oil changed in the truck. I’m supposed to be there in thirty minutes. I completely forgot about it. Follow me in Mimi’s truck and give me a ride back?” he asked.

  “Ummm,” Cat didn’t want to admit she didn’t know how to drive, it was too embarrassing. “Mimi should be home soon. Why don’t you just ask her to take you?”

  “Cat, she went to one of her Red Hat meetings. She won’t be back for an hour at least. What’s the big deal? It won’t take but five minutes to drive there,” Luke looked impatient as he spoke.

  “Well, I haven’t driven before … around here,” Cat said. Well, it was the truth, she told herself. At least partially. “I would probably get lost.”

  “Cat, you would be following me,” Luke reminded her.

  “But I haven’t driven on curvy roads before!” she implored.

  “Cat, seriously, it’s not that hard. I’ll drive slow.” Luke now seemed annoyed. “Are you doing this cause I’m going to be gone for your birthday?”

  Now it was Cat’s turn to be ticked off. “Luke, do you really think I’m that petty?”

  “No. But, you sure are making a lot of lame excuses not to follow me five minutes down the road,” he frowned at her.

  “Fine! Let’s go already!” Cat stomped off towards Mimi’s farm truck.

  “Cat, you need the keys!” he called after her.

  “Oh,” Cat turned around. “Actually, I have no idea where they are.”

  “I do. I’ll grab them,” Luke ran inside the house.

  Cat did know where they were, but she thought she would try just one more attempt to get out of this ‘favor’. She sighed. She hoped she wouldn’t make a fool of herself. More than that, she really hoped she wouldn’t hit another car, or wreck and roll down the mountain. Her mind started churning through all the possible outcomes, none of them positive. Cat had just pictured flames coming out of the engine when Luke emerged from the house with the keys. He tossed them to her.

  “Just follow me,” he shot Cat a smile. As always, that smile made Cat’s knees feel weak. She was putty in his hands.

  “Uh-huh,” was all she could say in response, and she strode to the old farm truck parked by the barn.

  Once inside, Cat took the time to do all those important things people do in movies. Adjust the seat, check. Fix the mirrors, check. Seatbelt, double check. Now, the only thing to do was turn it on and drive. Cat inhaled deeply. She tried to center herself like she would in yoga, but then she heard a horn honk at her. The noise made her jump; then it made her irate. She turned to Luke and flipped him off. He stuck his tongue out at her and made her shake her head. Is this why people say love makes you crazy? So crazy that she would risk driving without a license in a farm truck on curvy mountain roads. Breathing in deeply once more, she said a quick prayer that went like, “Dear God, don’t let me die or kill anyone else … or wreck. Amen,” and on the exhale, she turned the key in the ignition.

  The old engine rumbled to life. It made Cat smile. Success!

  Come on now, Cat. Let’s not get car
ried away. You just started the truck. Now you have to drive it, Cat told herself.

  She shifted into reverse and ever so slowly the truck began to roll backwards. Which was the brake? Which was the gas? Cat felt panic as she looked at the pedals. She pressed the one on the right. It increased her speed a little too quickly — she was about to back into Luke. She slammed on the brake and nearly gave herself whiplash when the truck jerked to a halt.

  Luke honked at her again and raised his hands up as if to say, “What are you doing?!” Cat motioned for him to go so she could follow.

  Cat felt quite pleased with herself as she followed him down the long driveway. She was staying on the road. She was doing great. She wondered what she could have been so worried about to begin with.

  When Luke turned onto the highway at the bottom of the hill, Cat grew anxious. She couldn’t even see around the curve. What if a car was coming? She waited. Then, realizing that if she waited any longer she would lose sight of Luke, she hit the gas and squealed onto the road. Immediately, she hit the brake and jerked the wheel to keep herself from going into the other lane. This was tricky. She decided she would go extra slow just to be safe. Fifteen miles per hour seemed perfectly fast enough. She rounded another curve, hoping that Luke would come into sight soon enough.

  Luke had slowed down around the curve and was waiting for her. Cat closed in, slowly. He leaned out his window and shouted something Cat couldn’t make out before he began speeding up. She passed a 55-mph speed limit sign. They couldn’t be serious. Fifty-five miles per hour on these roads? That was ridiculous! However, if she didn’t speed up a least a little bit, she would lose Luke for sure. Cursing under her breath, she watched as the speedometer crept up to 25, 35, 45. That was as fast as she would go, Cat decided. Luke slowed down to accommodate. Cat could see him shaking his head in the rear-view mirror.

  “I tried to tell you!” Cat yelled aloud to him even though he couldn’t hear her.

  Another curve was ahead. Cat turned into it, maintaining her speed. She turned too sharply. When she felt the right tire go off the road, she jerked it quickly to the left. This action sent the truck completely into the other lane. Seeing another car coming towards her, she screamed and jerked it once more to the right. This time, there was a guard rail that the truck bumped against and Cat slowed down to 20-mph until she had control.

  Luke had slowed down as well and was turning around to look behind him. He was yelling and throwing his hands in the air with even more fervor than before. Cat did not want to hear what he had to say. Soon, he was slowing down and put on his right blinker. Cat saw the sign ahead for Bob Young’s Auto Shop. She followed suit and slowed down even further. Ignoring the line of cars behind her, she slowed down to 5-mph before she carefully turned and eased the truck into a parking space. Victory! She had even parked perfectly between the lines. There were no cars on either side of her, but Cat wouldn’t let that small fact ruin her moment. At least she had done something right. She was just unbuckling her seat belt when the driver’s side door was wretched open.

  “What the hell were you doing?” Luke demanded.

  “Driving,” Cat said pointedly.

  “That was not driving!” he yelled. “Honestly, Cat, were you trying to kill yourself?”

  “I parked in the lines,” Cat said. Certainly, he could admire her fine parking job.

  “Whoo-hoo. You parked in the lines,” he said sarcastically. “Cat, you went off the road, and then into the other lane, and then into the guardrail. Thank God this truck is so old Mimi won’t know the difference.”

  “I thought I did okay,” Cat’s voice was beginning to quiver.

  Luke snorted.

  “I’m going to run inside and give them my keys. Why don’t you scoot over so I can drive back,” Luke said, and with that, he slammed the door and marched away.

  Cat bit her lip and blinked back the tears. She would not be a crybaby, she told herself.

  When Luke got into the car, Cat didn’t acknowledge him. She turned to look out of the passenger side window.

  “You know you would have gotten a ticket if the police had been around,” Luke informed her, as he pulled back onto the highway.

  Cat pretended that she hadn’t heard him.

  “I just can’t believe that you were all over the road like that!” he continued.

  Cat felt tears prickling behind her eyes once more.

  “I mean, I know you’re used to driving in the city, but geez,” Luke shook his head at her.

  That was the last straw for Cat. She burst into tears.

  “No, I’m not!” she wailed.

  Luke was caught completely off guard.

  “What?” he looked at her warily.

  Cat sniffled as tears poured down her face, “I’m not used to driving in the city! I’m not used to driving, period! I’d never driven before!”

  Luke looked at her dumbfounded.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked gently, as he patted her back.

  “I was embarrassed, I guess. I didn’t want you to make fun of me,” Cat said quietly as she wiped her tears with tissues from the glove box. “People in the city don’t learn to drive.”

  Luke turned back onto Mimi’s drive and pulled the truck up to the barn. When he had turned the truck off, he scooted over to Cat and wrapped his arms around her.

  “No,” she pushed him away. “That won’t work! I’m mad at you. You hurt my feelings.”

  “I’m sorry,” he said as he kissed her cheek, his arms still secure around her shoulders.

  “Not working,” Cat fought back her smile and turned away from him.

  “So, so sorry,” he said as he kissed her neck.

  “You really hurt my feelings,” Cat pouted, sticking out her bottom lip.

  “I know,” Luke said, kissing her cheek once more. “I feel really awful for going on like I did.” He kissed her nose. “For your first time driving, you did just fine.” He kissed her forehead.

  “Really?” Cat beamed up at him.

  “Yes,” Luke smiled at her.

  “Honestly?” Cat tilted her head to the side.

  “Honestly, no. You’re a terrible driver. But I am really sorry that I hurt your feelings,” Luke smirked.

  “Uggh! Luke!” Cat hit him on the shoulder and hopped out of the truck before he could stop her.

  In an instant, he was out and by her side. He took her hand and spun her around till she was face to face with him.

  “I’m still mad at you,” Cat said, trying not to smile.

  “That’s okay,” Luke laughed. “I like you mad.”

  Then, he kissed her. Not soft and sweet like before, but with an edge that made Cat feel that he wanted so much more than he would let himself take. His kiss left her weak in the knees, but just when he pulled away, she pressed herself against him. Twisting her fingers through his hair, she made it impossible for him to escape. She thought he might pull away as he had every time before when their kisses began to heat up, but he didn’t. His hands held her firmly against him. They went under her t-shirt to her back. He walked her backward towards the truck where the passenger side door was still open. Lifting her up into the seat, he remained on the ground and began to kiss down her neck. She wrapped her legs firmly around his waist and began to scoot back. He obliged, stepping up into the truck and laying on top of her. His hands supported his weight, lest he come down on her completely. She kept her legs around him as she began to pull at his t-shirt. They were both still sweaty from their run earlier, since neither had changed or showered. Normally that would deter Cat, but since she was sure she smelled as bad as he did, she didn’t mind. She pulled at his shirt until she got it stuck on his head. Laughing at her, he pulled it off with one hand, letting the other hand hold himself above her. Her fingers ran over his chest. She kissed his neck, his shoulder. Salty — s
he parted her lips slightly and teasingly nibbled his collar bone. She had just begun to pull on her own shirt when Luke stopped her suddenly.

  “It’s Mimi!” he hissed as he grabbed his shirt.

  He pulled Cat up to a sitting position and had his shirt back on just in the nick of time. Cat had barely had a chance to register what had happened when she heard the wheels of her grandmother’s Jeep Cherokee on the gravel and saw it rounding the curve.

  He offered his hand to help Cat out and turned away. Cat hurried to catch up with him. They were both a little flushed. Cat wondered if he felt as flustered as she did.

  “Well, that was …,” Cat remarked.

  “Yeah,” Luke cut her off.

  She sighed. He gave her a wink as they approached Mimi’s car, which had just come to a halt.

  “Where have you kids been?” Mimi asked as she glanced back at her truck. “I thought you were going for a run, not a drive.”

  “We went on a run, Mimi,” Luke answered her as he took the bags out of her hands. “Then, Cat followed me over to Bob Young’s so I could drop my truck off.”

  Mimi looked up in shock. “But Catie doesn’t have her license!” she exclaimed.

  Cat blushed. Apparently, Mimi did know.

  “Well, I didn’t know that,” Luke said quickly. “But it was okay. She did fine.”

  Cat looked at him in disbelief.

  “Well, let’s wait till after she takes driver’s ed. before letting her drive again,” Mimi smiled at Cat.

  “Driver’s Ed!” Cat exclaimed. “I refuse to take that class with a bunch of fourteen-year olds. I’m going to be seventeen this week!”

  “Cat, you have to take it to get your license,” Luke informed her. “How on earth will you get anywhere?”

  “I haven’t had a problem with that so far,” Cat replied.

  “Well, there aren’t too many Lincoln Towncars in Boone. How do you plan to get to school?” Luke joked.

  “That’s what you’re for,” Cat caught him in the ribs with her elbow.