Chapter 13
Paisley’s eyes opened with a start when she heard the car door slamming shut. She didn’t think she’d ever been so tired in her life. The way she and Kydrick went at it last night should have been a criminal offense, and he knew he wasn’t right for dragging her out of his comfortable bed at eight that morning to get ready for some mysterious day adventure he had planned for them.
Despite drowsiness tugging at her, a slow smile spread across her face when she realized where they were. When Kydrick opened her door, she beamed up at him and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes.
The first thing she said was, “I don’t have a swimsuit.”
Biscuit whined from the back seat, causing Paisley to giggle and Kydrick to open the back door to let him out. Paisley and Biscuit became fast buddies, and up until they parked, he had been asleep in the back seat, snoring right along with Paisley.
“I got you, baby. Come on.” Kydrick reached out for her, and she happily grabbed his hand and allowed him to help her out of the car.
She stretched and yawned, squinting her eyes against the sun, before she smiled. “This is the big adventure, huh?”
They turned to face the ocean lapping against the beach. It was pretty empty this early in the morning, but they both knew by noon it would be packed. One thing about Ellwood, people loved the beach in the summertime.
Neither Paisley nor Kydrick had been since they were teenagers, and the scenery caused a flood of memories to surface as they breathed in the salty air while Biscuit jumped around at their feet.
“I figured we could use a lazy day at the beach.” Kydrick looked down at her with a grin and excitement dancing in his eyes.
“Okay, but seriously, Kyd, I don’t have a suit, and I’m wearing your clothes,” she whined.
He chuckled and pulled a bag out of the back seat. “I stopped at your house and grabbed you a few things.”
He pulled a picnic basket out as well as a few towels. He’d really thought of everything.
She blinked slowly at him. “I didn’t even hear you get out of the car. I was knocked out.”
He smirked. “My dick got melatonin in it.”
She burst into a fit of giggles. “You might be onto something there.”
She tried to grab a bag from his hands, but he swatted her away and nodded toward Biscuit.
“Just put his leash on and get him.”
Paisley did as she was asked, and together they walked across the parking lot toward the beach. As soon as they got to the sand, they stopped to take their shoes off before finding the perfect spot to set up shop.
When they were young, they loved being as close to the water as possible because they spent most of their time in the ocean, so they needed easy and quick access to their things. Today seemed to prove that hadn’t changed as they both agreed on a spot just a few feet from where the water lapped at the shore.
“Can I let him off the leash?” Paisley asked after they laid their towels off and placed their bags and picnic basket on them.
“Go ’head. There ain’t too many people here, and he don’t seem like he wants to bother anyone but us anyway.”
Paisley giggled as she kneeled down to unhook Biscuit’s leash. “Leave this baby alone. He is not a bother.”
She stroked his ears with her fingers, and he tried to lick her face.
Kydrick grunted. “Coulda fooled me. He was a big ass cock blocker last night.”
“To be fair, you forgot to feed him.”
“Can you blame me? My dick has melatonin, but that pussy has amnesia in it. Came up out of that shit not knowing what year it was, who the president was, or my own damn name, girl.”
Paisley howled with laughter as she covered her face while Biscuit jumped on her, panting happily.
“Nah, don’t act shy now.”
Kydrick pulled her hands from her face and then pulled her into his arms. They shared a passionate kiss, and when they pulled away, Paisley couldn’t believe they had arrived at this moment. It felt so surreal for her.
She looked out at the ocean. “Swimming is what brought us together.”
“A miracle really. Black people swimming? Wild concept, but our parents were on to something.” Kydrick cracked a smile, causing Paisley to shriek with laughter.
“Kydrick! Black people swim.”
He looked around dramatically. “Shit, where?”
She giggled as she looked around and noticed they were the only people with melanin in their skin.
“You’re a fool. Seriously, though. I can’t believe we’re right back where we started, but even better than ever.”
He cocked his head to the side. “We gotta go back to the YMCA to be back where we started, Pooh. You want to pack up and go there instead?”
She punched his shoulder with a laugh. “Will you be serious?”
He chuckled. She loved this version of him. Kydrick was back to his old, jokester self. This was the boy she fell in love with, and she was so glad he was still in there, under the hardened man society built.
“Aight, for real, though.” He tucked her hair behind her ear and stared into her eyes. “I think you always knew we would be here like this one day.”
Paisley cocked her head to the side in thought. “I had a lot of doubts, honestly.”
Kydrick lifted her chin. “Nah. You had just enough hope and understanding for the both of us. I’ll spend the rest of my life thanking you for always knowing what’s best for me.”
“I only wanted you to be okay and to feel loved, Kydrick. You were never alone. Not since we were four years old and you were too scared to get into the water. What I do?”
His eyes crinkled in the corners as he recalled the memory. “You grabbed my hand and pulled me into the pool, almost making me drown.”
“Boy, bye. You had floaties on. I taught you not to be afraid of the unknown. That’s what I did.”
“Oh, is that what you did?” he asked, leaning down to kiss her lips.
“Yup.” She smiled as he kissed her all over her face.
“Come on and change into this swimsuit so I can look at you.”
She covered her mouth and giggled. “You’ve seen me in a swimsuit a thousand times.”
He slapped her on the ass before bending down to grab the bag with her clothes and swimsuit. “Yeah, but never as my woman. I want to look at that ass and titties in this two piece.”
Paisley stilled. It was the first time she heard him refer to him as his woman. When he realized she was no longer moving, he looked at her in concern.
“What’s wrong?”
“Your woman?”
“What you thought this was? You thought I was just talking to talk last night?”
“I… I don’t know. I mean, no. It’s just the first time I heard you say it like that.”
Kydrick dropped the items in his hands and grabbed her face. “Let me be really clear, and I need you to listen, okay?” She nodded. “Good girl.” He kissed her nose. “I love you. You’re mine. I’m all yours. We clear?”
She blushed fiercely. “We’re clear.”
Her heart felt full in the best way. She blinked back the happy tears that wanted to spring free and simply watched as he grabbed her swimsuit again. After he handed it to her, he held a towel around her so she could change, just like they used to do when they were kids.
“Don’t be shy now. I’m not turning away like I used to. I’m looking at it all.”
Paisley laughed. Kydrick had the ability to pull the little girl with a crush out of her. Since last night, she found herself blushing and giggling uncontrollably, but it was a good change from the past six months. Hell, the past couple of decades, really.
When she was finally in her swimsuit she glared at him in fake irritation. “You would choose the smallest one.” He only grinned in response, causing her to shake her head.
“You’re impossible.” She gestured toward Biscuit. “Has he been swimming yet?”
“Nope.”
“Good thing he has the best swimmers in Ellwood to teach him. Come on, boy!” Paisley called out to Biscuit, slapping her thighs and running toward the water.
“You talking to me or the dog?” Kydrick teased as he followed her and Biscuit.
The water was warm as it hit their feet and then their thighs and up to their stomach. The waves were calm, allowing them to swim far out into the water close to the first buoys.
Paisley encouraged Biscuit the entire way. Poor puppy was reluctant at first, but it didn’t take him long to get the hang of swimming right alongside them while Kydrick couldn’t keep his hands off Paisley.
Swimming had always been the purest form of release for them. All their issues, pain, and heartache were always left in the water. When they emerged, they felt brand new. Their parents always called them little fishes. Paisley couldn’t believe it had been so long since she allowed herself this luxury. She promised to make more time for the things she loved going forward.
They spent the better part of the morning in the water. At some points, they were quiet while they floated on their backs in deep thought. Other times, Paisley worried they might get arrested for public indecency the way they made out in the water. Kydrick tried encouraging her to slide down on his dick, but she drew the line there.
Finally, they swam back to the shore, exhaustion plaguing them from spending so much time in the sun and water.
“I’m starving,” Paisley complained as she plopped down on her towel. The beach was now packed, but everyone kept pretty separate, making it feel like they were still in their own bubble. Biscuit laid down beside her after shaking the water off his fur, and he was snoring within ten seconds.
“Awww, poor puppy is pooped.”
“Yeah, so am I. How did we used to spend all day out here?” Kydrick asked as he sat down next to her, pulling the picnic basket toward them.
“No idea,” Paisley mumbled as she laid back on her towel.
Kydrick opened a can of food for Biscuit, who stayed asleep but would no doubt devour the food when he woke. Next, he pulled out the sandwiches, water, and chips he packed for them.
“You gon’ eat?”
“Feed me?” Paisley poked her bottom lip out and looked up at him.
He chuckled. “Spoiled much?”
“Very.”
“I don’t mind.”
He unwrapped her sandwich and held it to her so she could take a bite. He rotated between them, feeding them both until they were full. When he finished cleaning up around them, he leaned down on his forearm, looking down into her sleepy eyes.
“You tappin’ out, baby?”
She smiled weakly at him.
“I think so.” She tugged on his beard. “I’m sorry. I’m exhausted, but this has been the best morning of my life hands down.”
“Better than those mornings you and Janelle used to spend together after sleepovers?”
“Way better.” She giggled, and she realized how easy it was to talk about Janelle now. Anger no longer resided within her, and she was able to hold onto their memories without disdain.
A grin split his face.
“Mission accomplished.” He stood, causing Biscuit to open one eye and peer up at him. “Come on, beach bums.”
Paisley rolled her head to look at Biscuit. “See how he talks about us?”
Biscuit sighed heavily before slowly standing and stretching before letting out a yawn. When he used his nose to nudge Paisley’s arm, she knew she needed to get up too. It was time to go home, shower, and take the world’s longest nap.
They made quick work of packing up the rest of their things before they made the trek to the car. As soon as they were situated and pulling away from the beach, she turned to Kydrick.
“Let’s make sure we come here at least once a week this summer. I missed this.”
“That was already the plan, Pooh.”
Paisley smiled as her phone rang from the cupholder where she left it earlier. When she saw it was her mom, she quickly answered.
“Hey, Mama.”
“Oh, don’t you sound refreshed.”
Paisley blushed. “How can I help you, ma’am?”
Alyssa’s laugh was light and airy, causing Paisley to giggle.
“I was just calling to remind you of Linda’s birthday on Sunday. Is it safe to assume you and Kydrick will come?”
Paisley glanced at him. “Do you want to go to Linda’s birthday celebration on Sunday?”
Kydrick grabbed her hand and kissed her knuckles while he steered the car. “If you’re going to be there, then that’s where I want to be.”
She blushed and returned to the call with her mother. “Yeah, Mama. We’ll be there.”
There was a silence before Alyssa said, “I’m happy for you, Paisley. I’ll see you Sunday.”
“Thank you, Mama. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
When she disconnected the call, Paisley sighed in relief at how right things felt for her. She felt safe, secure, and loved. It was all she’d ever wanted, and she couldn’t be happier.
She pressed her head against the glass window, watching her city pass her by. It wasn’t long before sleep claimed her, and her dreams were filled with hope for the future.