Pieces of Paisley by Leigh Ann Lunsford Read Free Book Online

instead I am thinking of how my capabilities in picking friends is seriously lacking, and how I must have been stolen at birth because anyone can see this family and I don’t mesh. Mind your business, people.
    I hear the door shut and then Krista, in her sweet sing-song voice, “Night, Pais. Love you.”
    “Fuck you, Krista.”
    “You know they say never to go to bed mad.”
    “That is in marriage and relationships, and right now I am reconsidering the relationship we have.”
    “You love me.”
    “Like a dog loves fleas. Shut up, Krista. I love you, go to bed, and no more speaking tonight.” I hear her sigh and get comfortable and thankfully not another sound.
    I wake up not knowing how I feel about the events of last night. I really like kissing Jake, and I really like being around him, but what does that mean? I asked him last night if it was worth finding out, now it is time I use that advice on myself. Hurrying through the morning so we can get to the beach, I continuously tell myself it is because I want the sand, sun, and surf with a side of Jake’s lips. Having to tell myself he is secondary on my rush to get out of the house isn’t doing much to make myself believe it.
    “You aren’t going to put on make-up?”
    “No, mom, we are going to the beach.”
    “Aren’t you going to see this Jake-boy?”
    “Krista, come on. The faster you get out here the quicker I can clean your blood off the floor because I am about to gut you.” I grab my keys and walk outside.
    When Krista opens the door, I hear my mom yell, “Don’t forget about dinner tonight, and invite your friends.”
    Krista is looking at me biting her lip, not moving towards me. “Oh for fuck’s sake, get in the car, I am not going to kill you.”
    She beams at me, kisses me on the cheek as she jumps in my Jeep, and we continue on to the beach. As we get closer, my heart picks up speed and my palms are about to slip off the steering wheel because they are sweating so badly. I keep telling myself that it is no big deal. My head and my stomach aren’t agreeing.
    “Pais, breathe. Go with your gut.”
    “Well then we need to pull over and empty it because right now it is revolting every mile we go.”
    “You have it bad.” She almost sounds far away, and when I steal a quick glance at her, I can tell she is remembering. She has the telltale signs with her eyes staring but not focused and her eyes are watery. I let her remember in silence.
    She takes a deep breath, “I am almost jealous you are experiencing this. I miss it, that anxious yet calm feeling. The questions in your mind asking yourself if it was as good as you remember, what if he ignores you, but yet wanting to feel what you felt last night so bad you want to throw caution to the wind and speed to get to him faster. Enjoy it, Paisley. Revel in the feeling, you never know when it will be taken away.”
    Before I can comfort her with some sort of inadequate words, she flips the radio and ‘The Best Days of Your Life’ by Kellie Pickler comes blaring through, and we both sing as loud we can, and it is amazing how one song can have so many different meanings for each person. I don’t realize our mini-karaoke session is still going on and we are sitting in the driveway and Jake, Chad, Kara, and Toby are all on the deck watching and listening.
    When the song ends and I hear whistles and clapping, I am mortified. I am about three seconds away from throwing this bitch in reverse when I glance up and see him. Smiling, laughing, and thoroughly amused.
    “Embrace it, Pais. Just go with it.” Krista whispers and hops out. I am still contemplating leaving, and she can find her own way home when I see him descending the steps. He comes to a stop right by my door and gazes at me.
    “You getting out or planning an encore?” I can’t look at him. I want to slide down and hope my seat swallows me. I immediately pull the ends of my hair into my mouth and feel my face on fire. I am beyond