Page 65 of Faking Forever 1
Josh hushes him.
It was little, quick-witted comebacks like that that never ceased to give me the giggles so highly that it hurt.
With time, the number of people who showed up was greater than I anticipated. I think Josh feels the same way. People keep wanting to talk to him and ask him questions about his dad and even about him. Someone even called the local news station, which resulted in pictures being taken heavily. He was obviously uncomfortable, even though he kept it classy, which was never his style.
It’s not my job, but I feel it’s up to me to ensure he’s okay.
Nobody gets him or can pick up on his social cues, or in this case, his masking. I’m hoping it remains a friendly game—
for his sake. According to Beau, each team will have an equal amount of guys and girls. It’s helpful, but someone always finds an issue with anything they can. At least we’re all on the same team, I guess.
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HEY NICKY
The game was getting ready to start, so Sierra and I each were getting beers ready to chug for us and the guys. We opted to take turns putting on our sunscreen while waiting for them to finish hyping each other up. Beau had agreed to only one beer, so we all wanted to take advantage. He probably won’t have another for acouple of weeks, which is not negotiable, and we weren’t fighting that. It’s a vast improvement.
“Please tell me you told Josh about London. Or are we still in your suffocating limbo?” Sierra asks, applying sunscreen to the back of my neck.
“I haven’t gotten that far?” I close my eyes, nervous about the backlash.
“Paisley!’
“I’m scared!”
She turns me around, griping my shoulders.
“You have to, like soon. It would suck if you guys spent the next few years just like the previous year and a half. You guys are the ultimate duo. Healsotold me about the other night.”
She smiled, and she let me go, punching my arm softly.
“Yeah. My dad is kind of not talking to me now. I’m stuck in the middle.” I tuck my hair behind my ear on one side.
“Just tell him how you feel. He spoils you.” she shrugs.
“It’s different with boys, Sierra. Nick never even got past the coming over stage until we were close to breaking up.” I say quietly, looking around until my eyes find Josh.
The ultimate duo would be much more put together than Josh and I. We’re becoming as dysfunctional as Sierra and Beau, and that’s not something I’m particularly proud of.
There’s no endpoint to their tactics with each other because nobody knows what they want, yet they keep flirting and egging on the idea. Josh iswaytoo good for that. Now we 151
FAKING FOREVER
have to face the big man in my house.
Is it wrong to say that I likeourdysfunction? I want him chasing me, and I enjoy making him. It’s not like Sierra being a tease to Beau—very different. In my head, the endgame would be him on top of me, fingers tangled in my hair while his huge body pins me down. My brain is fried from how he breathes down my neck to thinking about what else his lips can do. I’ve never been desperate, but this temptation feels close enough.
* * *
Volleyball was a genius way of getting a chance to stare at him while we played. I love playing, but let’s be honest, I wasn’t too worried about winning at this moment. Everyone was getting ready on each team, wrapping bandanas on different parts of our bodies to differentiate which team was which.
Beau gave Sierra, Josh, and me the color green.
While people still got ready, my only mission was to get one last drink in before I had to fling my body around over a tiny ball. The drink station was finally empty, so it was the perfect chance for me to take my time and find something good, which was an iced cold White Claw. I’d already finished half of it and was on my way back to my blanket.
“Hey.” a jolting arm grabs mine.
Gulping down my mouthful of seltzer, I turn to respond.
