Page 45 of Love Set Me Free

“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.

Kydrick realized he hated being late. Prison had made him a very punctual person and also a man of habit. He thrived on routine and being mindful of time. The issue with that was the predictability of the free world didn’t always promise that he could stick to his timely habits.

“Come on, Pooh! We have to be there in five minutes,” he shouted from the bottom of her stairs.

Over the past couple of days, they had taken turns at each other’s houses, which got old to him really quick. He glanced down at Biscuit and could tell he was sick of it too. Puppies thrived off routine, and Biscuit was forgetting some of his training because of the unpredictable schedule.

That was okay, though, because he planned to talk to Paisley that day about buying a home together. He wanted their relationship to feel more permanent. It was past time for that, and Paisley deserved that comfort. Hell, he deserved that comfort.

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