I went on walking until I reached a clearing that overlooked the top of the falls, just out of reach of the worst of the spray. I flicked the blanket open and placed the cooler on the edge.
"Now I see why you don't jump off the falls." Paisley leaned forward a little to take a better look, but kept a safe distance at the same time. Not that we wouldn't have caught her if she fell.
"Those rocks at the bottom would hurt," I said. "But only for a moment or two." Then you'd be dead, floating down the river and out to sea.
Blaise snorted a laugh and pulled Paisley down to the blanket with him.
Morgan opened the cooler, pulled out sandwiches and tossed one to each of us, along with a can of soda each.
"Sorry it's not a gourmet lunch," I said.
"We're all surprised ‘gourmet’ is in your vocabulary," Morgan teased.
I flipped him off. "You spend too much time in cities, bro." I sat down on the other side of Paisley and opened my sandwich.
"You don't see me complaining about having a picnic, do you?" Morgan settled down opposite us.
"Not right now, no," I said.
"Give it a minute." Blaise bit into his sandwich.
"This is what I love about Aurora Hollow," Morgan said. "People in the city, they feel like they need to be polite. But you two…"
"I'm polite," I argued. "It's more fun to give you shit, that's all. So you can feel at home."
"Exactly." Blaise drank half his soda in a gulp or two. For a slim guy, he ate a lot and drank a lot of sugar. He burnt it off just as fast.
"Thank you, I think," Morgan said sarcastically. "I love you guys too." His eyes shifted back and forth playfully.
"You three have known each other for a long time," Paisley said. "That must be nice."
She looked wistful, like she missed out on too much by not growing up in a place like this.
Morgan hadn't either, but he was here often enough that it felt as though he had. Both him and Blaise were like brothers to me.
"You don't have any friends you've known since you were a kid?" I asked.
"I've known some people for a long time," she said slowly. "I wouldn't call them friends. More like, connections I made, then, when we moved on to different schools and different opportunities, we lost contact. No one ever wanted to be the person who contacted the others first. Unless they needed something from someone else."
"That's a bullshit way to live," Blaise said. "But you know what, it doesn't matter. You're here now. We'll introduce you to everyone and help you settle in." He seemed very certain she'd stay.
"I'm not sure if…" She started, her brow creased. "I mean, I'd need a new job."
"There's a new bookshop opening in town," I said. "I know the owner. I could get you an interview, if you like."
"Do it," Blaise said. "That would be perfect." He didn't even blink. He'd made up his mind how things were going to go.
I wasn't sure anyone would be able to stand in his way. Not even her. I'd never seen him so fixated on anyone before. Especially after such a short time.
"I suppose an interview wouldn't hurt," Paisley said slowly. "I do like books."
"We like you," Blaise said softly. "I know you only got to town yesterday, but… I dunno. When you know, you know." His cheeks were slightly pink under his stubble, a hint of discomfort at being even that close to talking about his feelings.
"I mean, I like all of you too." Paisley looked around at us. "I don't want to rush into anything."
I could see what she was thinking. She was supposed to be married to someone else right now. But she hadn't. She was here instead.
I believed everything happened for a reason. She was here because she was supposed to be ours. I wasn't sure what Blaise would do if she tried to leave. He was invested already. Me? Iwas getting there at breakneck speed, and I didn't want to slow down.
