Suddenly I felt guilty, like I should be more of a responsible adult and pay for my own flight. Mom saw my look and put her hand upon mine.
“Don’t even think about it,” she warned. “I don’t know how I would have gotten through this holiday without you here. You know that.”
“Yeah.” I looked down, happy that Mom didn’t think I was a bum. “So, what can I help with?”
Mom smiled at that and then looked at Payton. “Do you think we should trust her with the pies?”
I laughed, as I looked at Pay; he had that funny, teasing look on his face, so I swatted him.
“Okay, okay,” he said, laughing. “Yes. I think she’ll do a great job.”
I grinned. “That’s a good boyfriend,” I said, and then bumped my shoulder against his.
“Oh, boy, Payton, you’re in trouble,” Mom said, grinning.
Payton winked at me. “Don’t I know it.”
Chapter Thirteen
*Thanksgiving*
I was just putting the final touches on the table decorating when Payton and his parents came through the door. We’d invited them over since it was just us two girls, and it really felt odd without men at the table. Payton came to me and kissed me on the cheek and I grinned at him. Both his mom and dad and my mom exchanged happy glances. I giggled and then showed them where their seats were.
Payton’s parents, Charles and Shelia, were consequently my mom and dad’s best friends. Mom hugged Shelia, as she handed her her famous oatmeal/honey bread, and Charlie held a large dish of green bean casserole.
“That smells great, Mr. Taylor,” I said as I peeked into the dish. The smell of green beans mixed with cream of mushroom soup was amazing.
“Why thank you, young lady.” Charles put the dish on one of the hot pads on the table and then looked back at me. “So, you and my son?”
I could feel my face go a brilliant shade of red. It was hot. “Uh, yeah.”
Mom laughed. “It’s about time, right?”
“No kidding,” Shelia agreed.
I couldn’t help it, I snorted.
Me and my damn nose. Payton winked at me and we sat down at the table. It was an amazing feeling, being in love.
“I thought it would be good if you would do the prayers this year, Keri,” Mom said.
I looked up, completely off guard. I didn’t know what to say, because I hadn’t prayed or been to church since dad died. I didn’t want to. I could feel my nerves in my body as I came up with a decent excuse. Payton saved me.
“I’d like to, if that’s okay?” Payton offered. “I have a lot to be thankful for this year.”
I blew out a quick breath, and at that moment I silently thanked God for Pay. Mom’s stare was focused on me, and I kept my head down, nervous that she would see right through me as usual.
Payton grabbed my hand, and my mother grabbed my other one, and then we all bowed our heads.
“Heavenly Father, I want to thank you for bringing our two families together this Thanksgiving. This year, even though it may seem like there’s nothing to be grateful for, there’s many things that have fallen to the side. I’m grateful for Mrs. Richards and this table of food, I’m grateful for my dad, and his ability to build things, more specifically, the tree fort.”
I laughed softly, as Payton meant for me to, and the others joined in as well.
“I’m grateful for Mr. Richards for helping me so many times this year with my truck. He is one person that I don’t think I will ever get over leaving us. He left way too soon. But you know what they say about good people? God takes them fast and early because they don’t deserve to be down here with the rest of us bastards. Amen.”
We all looked up at Payton, and laughed. Mom had tears coming down her face, and Mr. and Mrs. Taylor had shocked expressions on theirs.
“That was nice, Payton, thank you,” Mom said.
I wiped at my eyes and then got out of my chair. “Stand up,” I said to Payton. Please?”
He stood, and looked a bit worried. “I love you. So much.”
“I love you, too,” he said, and kissed me on the lips in front of our parents.
We sat back down a minute later and everyone was looking at us. I grinned and said, “Let’s eat.”
“Dinner was great,”Payton said as we climbed the ladder to the fort.
I was feeling every ounce of food that I ate with each step. “I ate entirely way too much.”
Payton laughed. “Me, too, I feel awesome.”
“I feel like a bloated whale,” I admitted with a laugh. I went over to the chest and pulled out the sleeping bags and tossed them to where Payton was standing. He unraveled them one by one until they all were on the air mattress, making it more comfortable.
“That’s sexy,” Payton said, chuckling.
I grinned and took two blankets from the chest and put it on top of the bed. “That’s what I’m here for. Whatever you do, don’t poke my belly.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Payton said dryly.
“So, what do you think our parents think we do in here?”
“I know I’ve been warned by your mother and my mom and dad not to do anything they wouldn’t do. So, I really don’t know what that is; since we’re both here, I think we’re safe.”
“Ha! I guess they didn’t think that one through.” I sat on the bed and Payton joined me. He looked to his right and picked up a magazine.
“I can’t believe this one is still here. I think I’ve read it four times now.”
“Really? What’s it about?”
“I have no idea.”
I laughed. “Good reading, I take it?”
“Hell, I’ve been coming out here a lot to write you emails. I don’t think I’ve paid much attention to anything else.”
I grinned. “I know what you mean. Those emails, you… you mean a lot to me.”
“I know. You love me,” Payton said, tongue in cheek.
“I sure do,” I agreed.
“Okay, honey, time to come in,” Mom yelled from below.
I looked at Payton and then got up and put my head above where the ladder came. “Mom?”
“Yep, it’s me. The virginity police. I’m here to bring you home for the night.”
I laughed and then could feel my face redden. “You’re serious?”
“I surely am.”
“But I’ve stayed here a million and one times.”
“Yeah, and you didn’t love him back then, either.”
I looked back at Payton and shrugged my shoulders. “I think she’s serious.”
Payton gave me a pained look and leaned back into the mattress with his hand on his forehead.
“Can’t I stay out a bit longer?”
“Nope. I’m ready for bed, and I don’t want to have to worry about you.”
“Mom, seriously? I’m 19.”
“And I’m 52. My house, my rules. Climb down, young lady.”
“Okay,” I said, shaking my head. I turned around and pecked Payton on the lips and then made my way down the ladder.
“Bye, Payton,” Mom called from below.
“Bye, Mrs. Richards.”
I laughed. Mom was serious. This week would probably be the longest one in history. And here I was worried about not experiencing the things daughters had with their fathers. Mom was worse than dad probably would have ever been.
Chapter Twelve
*All of me*
It was Sunday morning, and I texted Payton early. Like before his chores early. If Mom thought what she was doing to Payton and I was a good thing, she had another think coming. It made my feelings for him stronger. You know what they say about forbidden love? Yeah, it’s true. It’s like the biggest dick tease in the world. I know, nice, Keri. But, it was so true.
I waited for his response to my text and then I saw him. He was running across his lawn, and then a minute, if that, later, I saw the light turn on in the fort. I had already gotten up, brushed my teeth, and did my makeup. I liste
ned for my mom, but knew that she was in her bed, fast asleep, and wouldn’t be up for at least another hour.
I slipped out of my room, quietly closed the door and crept down the steps and ran as fast as I could to the front door.
Once outside, I looked up toward my mom’s bedroom window and noted that she wasn’t up. There was nobody at the curtain. “Praise Jesus,” I said quietly, and then I ran.
When I finally made it to the fort, Payton was already leaning down, lending me a hand. I took it, and I climbed and he pulled. When I was in, he moved me into him, and we fell onto the already made bed.
“God, I’ve missed you,” Payton said, and I sighed into his lips.
“I’ve missed you. Get the lights.”
Payton reached for the lamp and pushed the button. I made fast work of my shirt. We were past the excitement of second, and I was ready to move on to a whole new ballgame.
Payton looked up at me, his chest moved up and down fast. He was breathing hard.
“I want you so badly,” he said.
I closed my eyes, and pulled a condom out of my pocket. “I want you, too.”
To be continued….
(I know, right?)
About the Author Danielle Lee Zwissler is from a small town in Ohio, and enjoys reading about cowboys, writing about cowboys and looking at them. (Do you see a theme here?) She loves Harry Potter, Sam Smith’s music, and Caramel Macchiato creamer in her coffee. She has two wonderful children, a sexy husband, two guinea pigs—Pudding Cup and Flower, a turtle named Lilly and a minivan filled with books and kid stuff. She loves to hear from people that actually read her books, and she will be forever grateful if you mention her books to anyone…
If you’d like a signed copy of any of her books, please email her at: [email protected] or you can find her on facebook at: www.facebook.com/danielleleezwissler or on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/danielleleezwis She can also be found signing books around the US at several different comic cons. All author visits will be posted on her Amazon page or on her homepage at: www.danielleleezwissler.com
Turn to the next page for a sneak peek of the next book in the series!
Chapter One
* Another first…*
Payton looked at me once more and I nodded. I was ready. This was it, it was time. “I want all my firsts with you, Pay.”
Payton’s jaw tensed and he smiled. “I want all of my first with you, too.”
He put his lips against mine and I felt his tongue slide alongside my own. I moaned, and his hands moved slowly up…
AVAILABLE Valentine’s Day, 2016 ON AMAZON KINDLE
http://www.amazon.com/Boy-Love-Falling-You-Book-ebook/dp/B018IYXNQC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1453354066&sr=8-1&keywords=the+boy+i+love+danielle+lee+zwissler%27
Coming October of 2016!
The Boy Next Door (Falling for You Book 1) Page 8
