“You have no idea how sexy you are,” I say in a muted tone, 325
FAKING FOREVER
kissing her right hip.
When I’m with her like this, it’s so easy to forget where we are and who else is nearby. I give everyone else minimal attention—even the slightest noises if she’s within eyesight.
It’s involuntary, but that’s why she has more sense regarding those matters. Neither of us had enough sense to lock the door,
though. Surprise, surprise. Apparently, when you knock, you don’t have to wait for a response.
“Hey, Paisley, I’m coming in!” Her mom knocks more, announcing herself as the door opens.
Paisley gasps like she’d been dying for air, shoving me and beginning to scoot away from me. I jump back at the knocking, practically throwing myself away, rolling off the bed and flat on the floor.
“Oh my god—Josh!” Paisley yells after me.
“Fuck,” I groan, landing on my back.
Her mom had fully opened the door now and looked at us like she knew she was interrupting something. She stared at the scene, beginning to question it.
“Um…I’m not going to ask. I just wanted to remind you to be ready for the Fourth of July party tomorrow, okay, Paisley?”
she says, then looks at me. “Josh, honey, get off the floor.”
“Working on it.” I hold a thumbs up with a painful smile, still winded from the fall.
Paisley looks on the floor, grabbing my hand and pulling me up.
“We’re going to the beach, Mom. Don’t wait up? I’ll stay at Josh’s.” She cheeses at her.
Her mom watches, popping out a hip to rest her hand on.
“Donotbe late—”
326
A LITTLE MORE TIME
“Mom, please, I know the drill.”
She exerts a raspy, cigarette smoker sigh, accepting Paisley’s random planning before looking at me.
“Be careful with her,” she insists, swinging her brunette hair around as she walks out.
Paisley flies to the floor, hugging her arms around me. “Oh my God, I am so sorry,” she says, kissing my cheek repeatedly.
My back was burning like hell, but the kisses were a perfect way to make me forget how hard I smacked it. Her kisses are enough to make me rise to heaven on a Sunday morning.
* * *
“Come here!” I grunt, laughing and puffing out quick breaths of air as I pump my body forward with each foot, digging them in the sand to chase Paisley.
“No!” she squeals as her long hair flies through the wind like a cape behind her head, holding up a volleyball above her head. Once we got to the beach, surfing became an afterthought. She found an old volleyball in the back of the Stillman’s truck and forgot that surfboards existed. I like to play along with her and go with whatever ideas she has, no matter how quickly her brain shifts. I never felt any different.
She always has a plan or an idea that digs at her until she fulfills it. Sometimes, it’s not something I’m keen on, but having childish moments like this while frolicking on the beach under the moonlight, perfectly explains why I love how her mind operates. I want these moments to last for eternity.
She ran toward the shore, slowing down at the force of the water. I was able to catch up to her, crashing into her back and locking my arms around her. She screams, following it 327
