Pieces of Paisley Read Free

cells hitting your bong. How do you find this idea even remotely sane?”
    “Oh, goodness Paisley. He got into a fight . . . it’s not like he murdered someone. When you are in the military you are considered government property; your ass can get in trouble for having a sunburn if they want to bust you for it. It was a fight, no big deal.”
    I am sixteen years old, this grown up shit is not for me. Chad butts in, “Yeah, he was holding his own with three guys, but then three more came in, and it was over when he got sucker punched. His jaw was wired shut for four weeks.” How does he think this makes things better?
    “Krista, I just wanna go home,” I whine at her. Not my finest moment, but I don’t care. He makes me think and feel things that are foreign to me and that edge of danger he represents may make my heart pitter-patter and my stomach feel like I am on a roller coaster, but my sane mind reminds me, this will end badly.
    Before she can respond, Jake comes out, and the way he fills out a pair of basketball shorts should be illegal. “I will drive, and first thing on the agenda is Mexican food. I am starved.” And lo and behold, those two jackasses follow his lead and head out, leaving me standing there wondering what kind of alternate universe I am in.

Chapter 2
    Jake
    Love isn't something you find. Love is something that finds you.
    Loretta Young
     
    Finally being out of the brig and heading back to the beach house for the first time in six weeks made me realize how much I missed freedom. My temper gets the best of me and mixing alcohol with it is a disaster. Which is exactly what happened that night. Some idiots running their mouth, me having too much to drink and running my mouth back. I have no problem admitting my wrongdoing . . . after the fact. By then, it is usually too late.
    Of course, the house is full, and a party is in full swing. Only four of us guys live here, myself, Chad, Rick and his fiancé Kara, and Toby, but there are always about ten to twenty extra people here. I love it and hate it at the same time. I love being surrounded by people and having a great time, but I think about the day I get a girl. Do I really want her subjected to this? I know I won’t be getting a girlfriend while I am still enlisted, which is two more years, so I guess I will just love the chaos for now.
    I want to get in the shower and leave for a little bit. I want some real food, fresh air, and freedom; I don’t want to be cooped up inside. Chad has his new girl here. I guess he has forgotten about the one back home waiting on his sorry ass, and has agreed we can all go out and eat and chill. I am making my way through greetings and drunken cheers when I see her. She almost makes my steps falter and my heartbeat go irregular, but I keep going. Her eyes meet mine, and I curse myself for making plans to leave the house tonight. As Chad gets to me, I tell him to meet me in my room. First, I want to change our plans and stay in and then second, I want to find out about her.
    I think I am finally being rewarded, and I don’t know what for when I turn around and see Chad, his girl, and the girl of my every wicked fantasy. She is a tiny thing, and I think about the ways I could throw her around and do naughty things with her. I see her checking me out and I can’t help but eat up her appreciation. When it dawns on me she is with Krista, my night reaches a new level of perfection and my mind works overtime figuring out how to get some alone time with her. Before I can formulate a plan she asks me what branch of the military I am in.
    When I give her the smart-ass answer laced with an insult, I immediately see some spark in her eyes. She comes right back at me and with that show of fire, she has sealed her fate. She will be mine, for a night, a week, a month, a year . . . maybe a fucking eternity. I announce to them I am taking a shower, and we are heading out, and when her brows furrow together, she is adorable. I