Finding Paige: (The Paige Diaries #1)

by D. K Lake

  "Boring! You’re sooo boring. No wonder my sister ran away from you." I cross my arms and scowl at him.

  He just chuckles.

  "I need another drink."

  "Uh, no! What you need is fresh air and some water."

  "No. Fresh air is boring!" I slur.

  "Wait here." Mitchel tells me and he moves in a blur and is suddenly in front of me again, handing me a water bottle. Where did he get this from?

  "I need you to not be so drunk otherwise he's going to blow a gasket. I told him I would look out for you until he got here and now, you’re fucking wasted." He crouches down in front of me and uncaps the water bottle for me and pushes it toward my mouth and makes me take a mouthful.

  "What? Who's going to blow a what? Who's here?"

  "Boston just showed up."

  "What? He's here?!" I stand up and spin around too fast and wobble over, Mitchel catches me. "I need to hide." I panic.

  "Too late. He's already here." Mitchel mutters.

  I look up at the house and see Dario stalking this way. He looks like thunder. Sexy thunder. Dressed in baggy jeans that are riding low on his waist and a white t-shirt that hugs his body in all the right places, a pair of beige worker boots, and there's a black sweatshirt tied around his waist. His hair is tied back so I can see his eyes and he looks mad, but that doesn't stop me. Instead of hiding, I bounce out of my seat as though I have no control over my body and jump into Dario's arms. He lifts me up as I wrap my legs around his waist and hug him around his neck, squeezing him tight. I don't know why I'm hugging him. Wasn't I supposed to be hiding?

  Whatever.

  "Rio!" I squeal excitedly.

  I am very excited to see him for some reason.

  "I missed you," I say, leaning back and kissing his cheek before burying my face in his neck and hugging him again.

  "I'm sorry, man. I lost her for a bit and found her with Rye getting high and she's a bit drunk." Mitchel says from somewhere behind me.

  "What the fuck is she doing here?" Dario growls as I slide down his body.

  "Ask Em," Mitchel replies.

  "It's fine. I was having fun until this Debbie Downer decided to ruin it." I stick my thumb in Mitchel's direction.

  "A bit drunk?" Dario gives Mitchel a questioning look. "I thought you said you were gonna keep an eye on her until I got here?"

  "I was. I mean, I was until I lost her, but she was perfectly fine when I found her with Rye. She's just..." Mitchel points at me. "A lightweight." he finishes.

  "I am pretty light. Oooooh, piggyback!" I zip around behind Dario and grab his shoulders.

  "Paige, I don't think- Okay, we're really doing this." Dario says, hooking his arms around my legs as I scramble up his back.

  Mitchel laughs and finishes his drink.

  "Good job you called. I wasn't gonna bother comin’ over." Dario says.

  "Yeah, I figured you might change your mind." Mitchel lets out a long sigh as he tosses his bottle away. "She's kinda fun with a few drinks inside her." Mitchel comments. "So, are you good?"

  "We'll be fine. Thanks, Mitch." Dario answers.

  "It's okay. Make sure she drinks some more."

  "Yes! More beer!" I sing.

  "No!" Both boys say in unison.

  "Water only for you." Dario laughs.

  Mitchel holds out a phone to Dario and I realize it's my phone.

  "How'd you get that?" I ask with a curious frown.

  "You dropped it inside." Mitchel answers and Dario slips it into his pocket. "See ya tomorrow," Mitchel starts to walk away.

  "Hey, Mitchel?" I call.

  "Yeah?" He spins around and walks backward.

  "You should tell her you love her."

  "Who?" he asks, holding up his hands.

  "My sister, duh! Tell her you can't live without her and all that other shit. Tell her you want her back and don't take no for an answer."

  Mitchel smiles at me.

  "I like her when she's drunk." he says to Dario.

  "Byeeeee!" I wave goodbye to Mitchel.

  "Bye, Paige." Mitchel says before walking back inside.

  "What am I going to do with you, huh?" Dario asks.

  "Hmmmmm," I giggle. "You could do a lot of things with me," I say playfully.

  "I didn't mean like that."

  "Why not? Don't you want me?" I pout.

  "Paige," Dario sighs, and I slide off his back. "Where's your boyfriend?"

  "I don't have a boyfriend." I say automatically.

  "Fine. Then where's Maverick tonight?"

  "He's at some football game for the night, he'll be back in the morning." I reach for his hand and twirl under his arm but trip over my own feet.

  "Careful," Dario catches me.

  "Ohmigawd!" I squeak, noticing something across the garden. "Are they? Is she? Ohmigawd!" I gawk at the girl on her knees giving some guy a blowjob behind the tree. "Do they know we can see them?" I whisper, still staring.

  "I don't think they care." Dario laughs, steering me away.

  We slow down near the house and Dario looks at me and rubs his forehead, unsure what to do with me.

  "I think I need to take you back to your dorm."

  "What? No. My dorm is boring!"

  "Okay, fine, but I really think we should get you out of here."

  I roll my eyes and pull away from him and stumble through the door to the sunroom and see Mitchel and Rye sitting on the couch both laughing and messing around, and then Mitchel leans over to the coffee table and sniffs the top of it.

  "Why is Mitchel sniffing the table?" I ask, confused.

  The room is spinning. Or maybe I am?

  "Okay, you’re done. We're leaving." Dario says firmly, hand on my arm.

  "But I want to sniff the table too!" I pout.

  "Noooo." Dario pulls me away. "Fuck me." he mutters under his breath.

  "I can if you want me to." I flutter my eyelashes at him and reach over and poke his cheek.

  "We're leaving." Dario takes my hand and guides me to the door.

  "Good luck with that one!" Mitchel calls loudly and starts laughing behind us as we step back into the kitchen.

  "Mmm. I want some more cake." I pull away from Dario and beeline for the cake and grab a piece and eat it out of my hand.

  "Wow. You are really on one tonight." Dario says, watching me.

  "Want some?" I offer and he shakes his head with a smile.

  After I've finished Dario steers me to the sink and rinses my hands off for me.

  "Come on, let's get you back to the dorms."

  "Noooo! I don't want to go." I try to escape but he catches me. "Can't I stay with you?" I find myself asking. I turn around in his arms and wrap my arms around his neck. "I want to stay with you tonight." I whine.

  "I live at the garage." he reminds.

  "I don't care. I want to sleep in your bed. I only have a single back at my dorm."

  "You're going to regret this in the morning."

  "No, I won't. No regrets. Only fun Paige is allowed out to play tonight."

  "You're so drunk you don't know what you're saying." Dario leads me through the house.

  Inside the music is pumping. People are jumping. The living room is alive with activity. More people sniffing tables. Why is everyone doing that? Is it a thing now? I don't know. Whatever. I feel so good.

  "Let's dance!" I squeal, grabbing onto Dario and pressing up against him in all the naughty places I know will drive him wild. I never dance like this. I press my butt into his crotch and his hands tighten on my hips.

  "Paige," he groans in my ear which makes me giggle.

  Do what feels right, Em's little voice reminds me.

  I turn around and wrap my arms around Dario's neck, pushing myself up against him.

  "Paige," he says my name again, only this time, it's a warning.

  I just shake my head in response and lean closer, pressing my lips to his. It takes him a moment to respond, but soon he's running his hands up my
back, bringing us closer together. I get lost in the kiss. The way his lips move against mine with so much familiarity. The way his tongue searches out mine.

  I pull away smiling. "I like kissing you," I tell him.

  "Come on," Dario takes my hand and leads me to the front door and someone bumps into me on the way.

  "Paige?" I think I hear Ethan’s voice…but maybe I’m wrong. I don't look back and soon we're outside again and Dario's helping me into the van. He climbs in and starts the van, and everything starts moving. Time blurs together again and soon enough, we're pulling up outside the garage, and then we're inside the office space where his bed is set up. I don't even remember getting out of the van. I head straight to the fridge in the corner and help myself to a can of beer.

  "Paige, I don't think you need any more-"

  "Just one." I hug it protectively as I retreat to the bed.

  "Okay, fine, but no more. I'm cutting you off after that."

  "All right, dad." I laugh, trying to detangle the wings from my arms and Dario assists me. "Come and sit with me." I say and crawl onto his bed.

  He sits on the edge and watches me carefully.

  "What are you doing all the way over there?" I pout playfully.

  "I'm trying to do the right thing."

  I sip my beer and decide I'm too hot and climb off the bed again, falling into Dario's lap on the way. I stand up and wobble a little, spin around and try to reach the zip and get dizzy.

  "What are you trying to do?"

  "I need this off. It's too hot in here."

  "Stop. You're going to hurt yourself."

  Dario stops me from spinning and unzips me and I tug the outfit down my arms. I sit on the bed with the outfit around my waist and kick off my heels and lay back on the bed and point a foot in Dario's direction. "Get these off me."

  Dario studies me for a moment before helping me out of my fishnet tights. I wiggle the outfit off until I'm free of all clothing apart from my bra and the lacy black panties I borrowed from Em.

  "Here, put this on." Dario holds out a t-shirt for me.

  I shake my head and stand up and reach for the t-shirt he’s wearing

  "Paige," he warns as I try to lift it over his chest. "We can't. You're too drunk."

  "Am not!"

  "I disagree." he says, pulling his shirt back down.

  "You're no fun." I step around him and pick up my beer and go over to the desk and sit on the edge.

  "I'd prefer it if you put some clothes on." he says.

  "I'd prefer it if you took some off." I counter and it gains me a smile. "All right. I'm just gonna come right out and say it." (Hiccup)

  He folds his arms, watching me and listening intently.

  "I think you're hot." I tell him.

  "Right." he laughs under his breath.

  "And I know you think I'm hot too...so why don't we be hot together?"

  "Okay?" he says with a confused look on his face.

  "I meant we should fuck."

  "You really just said that, huh?" he says with a smile on his pretty lips and then he covers his face with his hands.

  "Offer expires in five minutes." (Hiccup) "Actually, make that two." I lift my beer to my lips, smiling at him over the rim. "So, what do you say, Boston?"

  Chapter 25

  - Dario -

  Fuck.

  She can't be serious?

  She starts to reach around to her back to undo her bra, and I stop myself from going over there and throwing her down on the desk. She unclasps her bra and flings it at me, and it lands on my head which causes her to burst out in giggles. I reach up and lift it off and toss it on the bed.

  "You're killing me here, P." I tell her.

  "Time's running out." she sings, walking toward me and falling into my arms.

  "This isn't a good idea." I say, but I'm trying to convince myself more than anything.

  She's practically offering herself up on a plate for me.

  "You talk too much." She reaches up on her tiptoes and holds onto my shoulders to steady herself and tries to kiss me again.

  "Paige,"

  "Kiss me. Or I swear I will never speak to you again."

  I let out a frustrated breath. She knows she’s won. She smiles in response and crushes her lips to mine roughly and I let her kiss me but somewhere along the way, I get swept up in her and end up kissing her back and we end up backing into the bed. We fall onto the bed and I hold my weight off her tiny frame as we carry on kissing. "Tick. Tock." she murmurs against my lips. "I won't ask again. It's now or never," she whispers and nibbles on my ear and I growl in response.

  Screw it.

  She's drunk but she's still in control, she knows what she's doing on some level, but we both know she'll regret this tomorrow.

  I slide my hand into her panties and a little gasp escapes her lips. She's already wet for me. She moans as I slide a finger inside and gently suck on her neck, making sure I leave a mark. She'll hate me for it, but I'm done playing games. She's mine and it's time everyone knew it. Maverick is just a distraction and we both know it.

  "Have you got any..." (Hiccup) "Condoms?" she asks, tangling her fingers through my hair as I let go of her skin with a pop, smiling at the deep, reddish mark I've left behind. There's no way he won't notice that.

  "Rio?" she urges.

  "Hmm."

  I add another finger and she moans even louder.

  "Do you have any condoms?" she breathes out.

  "I thought you were on the pill?" I ask, sliding my fingers out and brushing them across her soft skin and finding the ticklish spot on her tummy.

  "Nope," She shakes her head. "I've never been on birth control."

  Wait. What?

  "Well? Do you have any or not?" She playfully shakes my arm, but I'm still caught up on the whole...I've never been on birth control.

  "So, you’re not on the pill?" I ask to be sure.

  "Huh?" She sits up and tries to crawl onto my lap.

  "Paige, can you stay with me for a minute," I try to get her to look at me but she's more interested in removing my clothes. "Paige-" She tugs my shirt up and pulls it over my head.

  "Dario," she mimics. "Stop talking and just kiss me." She presses her hands against my chest and leans down to kiss me. I tangle my fingers into her hair and hold her in place. My other hand slides down her back and around her perfectly shaped ass that I can't get enough of. She gently rocks against my crotch, creating enough friction to drive me crazy. I reach down and she leans up on her knees as I unzip my jeans and push them down my legs and kick them off along with my boots before she positions herself on top of me again. All that's left between us is a layer of clothes that I want gone. I reach for her panties.

  "Condom!" she reminds again and I’m surprised she can remember anything in the current state she’s in.

  I kiss her once more and slide her off my lap and climb off the bed.

  "One sec," I tell her as she lays down behind me with her hair sprayed across my pillow. She looks so damn beautiful. She doesn't know how beautiful she is. She never did. She doesn't know the way boys look at her and the dirty thoughts they have about her. I was one of them…still am. She can't see what everyone else sees. She's still the same girl. She's still a little unsure of everything and shy around boys, even if she pretends otherwise.

  I hurry to the door, knowing JT has left his Mustang parked in the garage and I spotted a whole stash of condoms in the glovebox, but just before I get the door open, Paige mumbles, "My mom will kill me if I get pregnant again."

  My whole body tenses up at her words.

  What the…?

  I stop dead in my tracks and turn to look at her as she snuggles into my pillow and closes her eyes.

  "Paige?" I walk back over to her and see she’s already asleep. "Hey," I try gently nudging her but she's out for the count. I want to shake her awake and ask her what she meant but she’s so drunk I doubt I’ll get anything out of her.

  Pregnant? />
  Again?!

  I sit on the edge of the bed with my head in my hands. Paige's words replay over and over in my head, and the shitty pieces of last year start to fall into place.

  Fuck.

  Paige was never on birth control. We never used a condom last time. Paige fell pregnant. That's why she never called. That's why I heard nothing from her. But what about the baby?

  I look back at her and notice how smooth her skin is and there aren't any stretch marks or anything that suggests she's had a child. I have her body seared into my brain and I would notice if there was even the slightest mark. Which means Paige got an abortion. I don't want to believe it. She got rid of our baby. I just can't believe Paige would happily go along with an abortion. Paige gets upset if she sees a dead animal on the road. No. This doesn't add up. I shake my head, finally understanding what happened last year. Paige's mom is the reason I never heard from her again. She made Paige get an abortion, and she kept her away from me. I fucking hate her mom.

  ***

  After discovering the truth, there was no way I was falling asleep without anything to help. I downed a few beers and then found a whiskey bottle in the cupboard and started on that, and eventually passed out sometime after three.

  I wake up sometime later to find Paige climbing over me in a hurry to get off the bed. I rub my eyes and follow her movements as she grabs her phone off the side and scrolls through it.

  "Shit," she mutters, looking back at me having noticed I'm awake.

  She ignores me and looks down at the t-shirt she's wearing. My t-shirt. I didn't feel right letting her sleep half-naked, so I put a shirt on her. She scans the floor for her clothes and then remembers she came here in fancy-dress and she curses again. I sit up at the edge of the bed and watch as she goes over to the kitchen area and finds a carrier bag in a cupboard and uses it to stuff her costume into, along with her heels. I can hear the garage doors opening and I remember Mitchel was supposed to come by today and we were going to work on the Mustang together. I check the clock on the wall and see it's already 10.25 a.m. Where did the time go?

  "Paige," I start, slowly approaching her. She looks about ready to bolt.