Page 168 of Champagne Nights

Dinner was over, and after we all helped my mom clean up, I heard Keaton call my name from the living room.

“Hey, Paisley, come here.”

I set the dish towel on the counter and walked into the living room, where “Somebody To Love” by Queen started playing. Keaton held out his hand to me from across the room.

“Remember this?” He smiled.

I bit down on my bottom lip as I smiled and took his hand. We began singing loudly and laughing while we danced. Piper and Charlotte walked into the room and joined us. Ben stood there, next to my parents, Liam and Ryan, with a smile on his face.

Ben

I stood across the room and watched Paisley as she danced and sang with her siblings. As I stared at her, I couldn’t help but think about how much I was falling for her. Every time I saw her, it intensified. She was on my mind every second of every day, and I couldn’t stop it. Leah was smiling, and I caught her staring at Keaton. I looked over at her and tapped her on the shoulder.

“What do you think of Paisley?” I signed.

“I think she’s beautiful, and she puts a smile on your face. I already love her, and that brother of hers is super hot.”

“He’s twenty-one, Leah.”

“What’s your point, Ben?”

I shook my head, and she smiled at me. As soon as the singing and dancing were over, Keaton walked up to me andwhispered, “Why don’t you and Paisley go talk alone out on the patio? I’ll keep Leah entertained. She reads lips, right?”

“Yeah, she does,” I said as I gave him a warning look.

“Dude, don’t worry. She’s your sister, and I would never. I was just going to ask her if she wanted to play a board game. Paisley had an episode this morning. I think she might want to tell you about it.”

“Thanks, Keaton.”

“What are you thanking my little brother for?” Paisley smiled as she walked over to where we were standing.

“I was just thanking him for being so nice to Leah. He wants to play a board game with her, so I thought maybe we could get a glass of wine and sit outside for a bit.”

“That sounds good. I’d like that.” She smiled.

After pouring us a glass of wine, she led me outside to the patio, and we sat on the canopy swing. I took hold of her hand and interlaced our fingers.

“How are you today?”

She sipped her wine and looked at me with her big, beautiful eyes. “I’m better now. I sort of had a freak-out this morning.”

“What do you mean?”

She took another sip before setting her glass on the table. “I woke up and — I don’t know,” she said as she looked down in sadness.

I gently squeezed her hand. “It’s okay. It’s truly okay.”

“I had a panic attack and accidentally knocked over the lamp on my nightstand. Keaton came running in and calmed me down.”

She laid her head on my shoulder as we lightly moved the swing back and forth with our feet. “Thank you for spending Thanksgiving with my family and me.”

“Thank you for having Leah and me. It really meant a lot. I think my sister has a crush on your brother.”

She sighed. “I think Keaton has a crush on your sister.”

“I have to work tomorrow,” I spoke.

“I thought you had the weekend off.”

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