Page 43

“Not today, at least,” she said, her voice dry. “Sorry. Just… nothing. Forget it.”

“Hey. Tell me.”

She shook her head. “Seriously. It’s nothing.”

“You’re gonna tell little old Paisley, right?”

“You’re younger than me.”

“Ugh. One of these days I’m gonna be older than you.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Good luck with that, Pais.”

“So? You’re gonna tell little young Paisley, right?”

She sighed, falling back in her chair, looking out the window. “It’s nice of you to just… bring me food sometimes. Unprompted. Even if I wish you’d use the door. I, uh… I’m going to miss your cooking, is all.”

My throat felt tight, and I kicked at the floor. “Well, you could just not go. I mean, how can you pass up spending time with me?”

She closed her eyes, taking a long, shaky breath. “Sorry. I know it… sucks. For everyone. And I know I should tell everybody, but I… I will. When I’m ready.”

“What’s keeping you from being ready?”

“Look, I don’t know, Pais. I just know I… can’t, yet.”

I shifted forwards. “I can tell everyone for you.”

“Don’t,” she said, cutting in too quickly. Something flashed over her eyes. “Please.”

“Okay.” I slumped back in my seat. “Okay. Fine. But you cannot just put it off forever. If you don’t tell anyone before you go, then you’re not allowed to go. I’ll tie you down and make you stay.”

She forced a thin smile at me before she went back to the food. “I know. I’ll… I’ll do it. I promise.”

“You’d better,” I muttered, picking at my potato salad. She sighed.

“Hey… Paisley. I need to ask you something.”

“Thirty-three.”

“Thank you. That’s very helpful. Now that that’s settled, can I ask you another question?”

Damn. Looked like I wasn’t dodging it. “Shoot.”

She coughed lightly. “Do you, um… Christ, this is harder than I thought.”

“Do you want to write it down and pass it to me all secret-agent style?”

“No…”

“Write it down and leave the room and I’ll read it once you’re not here?”

She sighed hard. “Paisley—why did you kiss me?”

“Oh. Uh.” I blanked, the only thing coming to my head how it had felt to kiss her. The fact that I wanted to kiss her again. “Because I… wanted to?”

“So you were just having fun.”

“Uh…” My face burned. I didn’t know why my heart was racing so hard. “Well… I’m sorry. I guess it’s polite to ask first.”