Page 56 of Faking Forever 1
Josh held my hand as if he were afraid somebody was about to steal me from him. He was already making shady faces to Nick, and they’d barely exchanged words yet. Each of us was hesitating to say anything. I didn’t want to look at either of them. Darcy was looking at everyone but us. Josh was eyeballing Nick, and Nick—well, he was eyeballingme. At first, it wasn’t that intimidating, but it became creepy the more it went on. We’d been waiting in line for a coaster, my favorite coaster, actually. I learned at a young age how to be patient for this line in particular, but Nick was making me antsy with every glance.
Josh tugs on my hand, pulling me in front of him to fold his long arms around me, resting his chin on my head. He was playing the role better than I thought he could. He was touching and feeling on me like we’d been dating for months.
I’m scared of how seriously he’s taking this silly little lie. It gets my mind going—I want to ask him what he thinks about it now that we’re committing to the bit, but when he’s doing all of this, it has to mean that he doesn’t mind that much.
“So, how long have you guys been together again?” Darcy finally looks at Josh and me, lazily pointing her finger.
“A while.” I nod, grabbing hold of his arms.
“Why haven’t you guys said anything? You’re saying you were dating when Paisley was away?” Darcy waves her finger around, squinting her eyes.
“We keep things private. Some couples still do that, you know?” I can feel him talking above my head and giving her a sarcastic smile.
Nick chuckles to himself, hiding his mouth behind a balled-130
GONNA GET CAUGHT
up hand, clearing his throat.
“Maybe you guys should take some tips.” Josh shrugs. “I’ve never been this happy and in love at the same time if you ask me.” He squeezes my hands, holding me closer as he leans against the metal bars behind us.
Nick forces a smile while Darcy resumes ignoring us and paying attention to every other stranger in the area. They were so weird together. Josh and I seemed like more of a couple than they did. Nick looks like he’s dying for this to be over while Darcy couldn’t care less about him being there with her.
It goes to show that I have nothing to be envious of when it comes to them being together. She’s giving him a taste of his own medicine and I hope his dosage is a healthy one.
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9
disco
JOSHUA
The best way to get rid of your troubles is food. Cooking it is a pretty great deal, but eating it is my favorite part. I didn’t have that much of an enormous appetite before caring about the gymor anything related to that matter. I ate if I thought about it or maybe had the munchies, which heavily contributed to me being a twig. Putting in the work taught me that I needed to eat if I wanted the gains, so now I’m like a human vacuum.
After standing in multiple lines for rides, begging Paisley for a pit stop for food resulted in her groaning, but saying yes.
I ordered my usual, but I made it double-disco fries—
oven-baked, crispy fries topped with homemade gravy and mozzarella cheese. I could feel Paisley leering at me as she took tiny bites of her corn dog. Meanwhile, I was shoving my face like the last supper. I never really cared what anyone thought about how I eat like a lousy pig, and I wasn’t about to start now. I pick up a handful of my last bite and throw it 132
DISCO
back.
“You don’t even let yourself breathe, Josh. C’mere,” Paisley says, grabbing a handful of napkins and taking them right to my mouth, wiping gravy and cheese from my face.
“I’m hungry, Pea—you don’t get it,” I say, letting her wipe away whatever she could. It was cute that she cared. She keeps all judgment—if any, and puts it aside. It’s a lovely quality.
“You baby him,too, I see,” Nick says swiftly before attach-ing his straw to his lips again.
Paisley’s hand slowly drops to the table, dropping the napkins along with her corn dog in the fry basket. I have every reason to want to punt-kick him into a different century each time he says something foolish.
I lean over to Pea, kissing her cheek with a whisper, “I love you. Ignore him.” I kiss her once more and grab some napkins for myself to wipe my hands.
“I have to use the bathroom. I’ll be back?” Paisley gestures to the nearby bathrooms, standing up.
“Go. I’m watching,” I say, nodding at her.
