Page 4 of Faking Forever 1
15
FAKING FOREVER
Out of all the reminders that I was on a fast track to growing up, this wasn’t my favorite. I was never in favor oftryingto look sexy. Each day, I turn more and more into my mother: a Jersey, guidette wife with huge tits and a bad attitude. In hindsight, I guess that sounds cool, but not this soon.
“Paisley, I need you to come to the garage when you’re done, sweetheart.” my dad says, pausing as he passes my room.
I turn to face him, already ready to be on the go.
“Yeah, sure. But, I had a question first.”
“Yeah, that’s fine, doll, but what the hell is that?” he tilts his head, gazing over his glasses lenses, right at my outfit.
“What? It’s a bathing suit, daddy, relax.”
“Who told you that?”
“Victoria’s Secret.” I smile confidently, broadening my shoulders.
“Well, it doesn’t look like you’re keeping any secrets from anyone—in fact, it looks like you’re on the verge of telling the whole world. Put a shirt on, would you?” he says gruffly, removing his glasses as he continues his stride down the hall.
Buzz kill, much?
I grab a random T-shirt from my pile of clothes on my bed, shove it into my kånken bag, and zip it up before running out ofmy bedroom to meet my dad downstairs. One step closer to the beach, milliseconds closer to finally touching the water, it’s like goosebumps central to my entire body.
When I reached the basement, my dad was already waiting for me. I could see him standing in the garage, through the door window, sucking down a cigarette while he complimented it with a beer. These were twohugesigns that it was summertime. Good signs. This meant that he was up to something good, and you have to see it for yourself.
16
SEASIDE
When I entered through the open door, I was immediately met with a giant, red Toyota Land Rover—an old one at that.
“Woah, who’s is this?” I say, immediately checking it out.
The paint job was fresh, extra reddened, and new tires.
“It’s yours,” he says, flicking his cigarette nonchalantly.
My jaw drops. I’m still looking at it, stuck on its aura.
“Okay, I know it’s a lot, but listen, I thought you were coming home sooner—your mother said to get a present.”
he babbles.
“Daddy, it’s awesome!” I boast, dropping my bag to hug him tightly.
The one thing that I was always able to admit proudly was that my dad was a hard worker. Not the kind that has to know a guy who knows a guy, though. The type thatisthe guy you need to know, if that makes sense. He always has an answer and a solution.
He steps away to take a good look at me, drawing the conversation to a serious note.
“Now, I’m just warning you, the car is a shit pile. I bought it to fix it up and use it as a chance to bond—or make it our project.” he says, turning to face the car, “When I realized you were gonna be gone longer, I started the job. She doesn’t always want to cooperate.”
He ashes his cigarette once more. I can’t help but grin in excitement.
“She’s reliable, though, right?” I ask, already planning trips in my head.
“Yeah—well, I wouldn’t necessarilyrelyon the car, Paisley.
