Page 96 of Faking Forever 1
“About?” I ask.
“You…” she rocks on the heels of her feet, “He’s not happy 227
FAKING FOREVER
about us. I wanted to get out. Away from him.”
He hates me, and I’m making it worse by merely existing.
I can’t say it surprises me. He’s never been privy to my existence, but I assumed everybody got that treatment. Joey has no welcoming bone in his body—only cold stares and cigarette smoke.
“Does that mean I lost all my chances?” I raise an eyebrow.
“Never. He can’t controleverythingI do.” she sways a little.
No, but he can interfere indefinitely. For any other girl, I probably would’ve ignored that testament and went on to keep pursuing her even harder. I can’t bring myself to do that with Paisley or to disrespect her dad to such a degree. He’s seen things that I probably wouldn’t last a ten-minute span through. The man would take each of my limbs and twist them off like a Ken doll. If I care about my safety enough, I owe it to myself to talk to the man. I might even gain a few points of respect for it if I do. I’ll just let me handle it and keep it man to man.
“A little disobedient, don’t you think?” I provoke her with a sly smile.
“Is there a problem with that?” she simpers, pleased with herself.
“No, ma’am. I like a little edge with my girl. A side of doll-face, too.” I shrug.
She rolls her eyes with a wide-open smile, letting out an airy giggle.
“I saw you with Beau at lunch. I was going to see Sierra too, but,” she sucks her teeth, “Naturally, when I have something on my mind, I always seem to find my way back to you.”
“So what? I’m your safe space?” I lock my fingers together, leaning on the work table with a sly half-smile.
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“Is it really that shocking?” she furrows her eyebrows before giggling after her question.
Shocking? No. Relatable? Damn right.
Based on her lingering stare on the sandy floor and her fidgeting for comfort, I could tell there was more to lay on the table. I know she knows what we both want to say. It’s not a mystery, especially with the humid tension that you could cut like a hot knife to butter. It’s just that that’s what we do. We ignore the gigantic plot hole in our story because we both are trying to refrain from hurting the other’s feelings.
However, I’m not sure if this is that kind of debacle since we both have clearly established our attraction to each other.
“Whatever you want to say—it’s alright with me. I think we should unpacka lot,actually,” I look at my hands on the table,
“Y’know, after the other night…” I gulp down the afterthought of the waterfall.
“Right—no, I agree.” She bobs her head with a quick nod. I hope you aren’t feeling regretful, I mean.” She adds.
“Why would I be regretful?” I push myself up from the table, standing tall.
Should I start feeling regretful now?
“It just seems in character for any guy I know. I’m not the greatest prize, Josh.” she shrugs, pulling her tube top up to fix herself.
“Maybe not to yourself, but to me? I am in pure paradise, Paisley.” my face shifts to pure displeasure as she says that.
She sticks with her eyeballs on the table between us, opting for silence as a response. I dread this, but it won’t ever get addressed if I don’t bring it up.
“I’m guessing it’s not the same for you…” my confidence sinks back into my bloodstream with my words.
