Page 119 of Hope & Harmony

“What?” She gazed up at me. “Really?”

“Mmm-hmm.”

“Wow. You’re just full of surprises, huh?”

I peered deep into her eyes. “Sweetness, you have no idea.”

HAYLEY

After we cleaned up the boat which I learned was actually his parents’, Joshua grabbed my hand and led us back to the fair where it felt as though all our classmates were in attendance. Girls were looking at us, more like glaring everywhere we went. I was at the fair with Joshua Co, and it was a big deal in and of itself.

There we were, holding hands throughout the carnival, and he didn’t do this. He wasn’t this guy who was winning stuffed animals and kissing my lips every chance he had.

It was as much of a shock to me as it was to our classmates, the open affection he was showing me. He wasn’t trying to hide the fact that we were hanging out.

When my eyes shifted to the photo booth by the trees, Joshua didn’t hesitate to take me over there.

I smiled, knowing he was doing this for me.

“Come here,” he ordered, sitting me on his lap once the curtain was closed and no one could see us. We were both facing the camera in front of us.

“You feel good on top of me, sweetness.”

“I thought you didn’t like taking pictures?” I asked, trying to calm my racing heart.

“I don’t,” he whispered in my ear from behind me. “I’m doing this for you.”

I smiled wide, my stomach fluttering.

We took five pictures in different positions. The first was with us facing the camera. His arms were around my waist, and his face was nuzzled in my neck. I could feel his breath on my skin, igniting tingles to stir down my spine.

The next one he started tickling me, both of us laughing like fools as the camera clicked for another photo. The third picture was a funny one, where we were both sticking out our tongues. The fourth photo caught me by surprise, as Joshua spun me around so that we were now facing each other.

I gasped when I realized I was straddling his waist, making him grin. Pulling back my hair, he kissed my lips, and the next two images were just of us kissing.

He rasped against my lips, “I’m going to like taking pictures with you.”

Everything was perfect.

He was perfect.

“Come on.” He stood us up. “Let’s go on the Ferris wheel. It’s my favorite ride. You get to see the whole town from the sky, and there isn’t anything like it.”

I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing came out. I didn’t have to wait long until he kissed my lips. His mouth felt different this time. It was soft, tender, caring. I didn’t know how long we kissed. All I knew was that my reckless thoughts were fading into the background, and I was consumed by the way he was able to bring me peace.

CHAPTER 5

JOSHUA

“Congratulations! We’re so proud of you guys! Just one more picture!” Mom celebrated, much to my annoyance, but I played nice for her.

We had just graduated from high school, so it was the least I could do.

“Honey,” Dad reasoned. “You have like three hundred pictures already.”

“I know, but our babies are growing up.”

“Oh, honey …” Dad pulled her into a tight hug.

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