Page 48 of Before You
His head tilts, the corners of his mouth curling into a smile. “Well, my family has a house here, but I’d have to insist we get married if we’re going to stay here.”
“Should I be concerned about you?” I ask, wondering why the fuck I’m not more freaked out by a guy I met a few hours ago suggesting we get married.
“Concerned about what?”
“You just said I could live with you and we’d get married. Do you need me to call someone for you? JJ, you barely know me.”
He flops back onto the ground with a huff. “Haven’t you heard of love at first sight?”
I can’t help it. I snort. And then I’m so mortified by the sound coming out of my mouth, I cover my face with my hands as I wait for the sound of JJ laughing.
But it doesn’t come. I peek between my fingers to see him staring seriously at me, and it throws me off. From JJ’s easy smile, the constant stream of jokes, the confidence he exudes, seriousness is something I wasn’t expecting. “You’re not serious, are you?”
“I think I need another hour to decide, but just Marley, I think you’re making me fall in love with you, and I think you’re going to fall in love with me too.”
See, now this should freak me out. A boy I met hours ago is telling me I’m making him fall in love with me and I’m going to fall in love with him too? It’s pure insanity, but he doesn’t look crazy. Maybe I’m jaded from the vicious social circles in New York where everyone is always angling for something, but he has no idea who I am. All I know is this level of honesty is refreshing.
I can’t think of anything to say because my brain is so flabbergasted. So instead I focus on the sound of the grass swaying in the breeze for a while as we lie there, falling into a comfortable silence. His hand brushes against mine, and I inch closer to him until my arm is pressed against his. JJ loops our pinkies together, exhaling as he does. My heart is beating fasterin my chest at pinky holding than it did the entire time I dated my last boyfriend.
What is it about JJ causing me to be affected like this?
“I promise, I had no ulterior motives when I approached you this morning,” JJ says, breaking the quiet. I hold my breath, waiting for him to continue. “You looked lost and I wanted to help, but once I looked into your eyes, I knew I’d follow you to the ends of the Earth if you asked me to. It probably sounds stupid, but I’ll tell you anything you want to know.”
I try to make it a habit not to chew my nails in front of other people but especially now because I have no desire to break apart our pinkies. “Even if I wanted to know your last name?” I ask, turning my head to look into his vibrant green eyes almost the same shade as the grass his head is resting on.
“Anything does include my last name if you want to know it. I’m following your lead.”
“What’s something you’ve never told someone before?” I ask. He pulls his bottom lip into his mouth as he thinks, and honestly, if I didn’t want to hear what JJ says, I’d probably lean over and kiss him.
“When I was younger, I think . . . around four, my parents were inside feeding my older sister and my little brothers. We had a pool in our backyard and I really wanted to go swimming, but I knew I wasn’t allowed in the pool without my parents so I was waiting. Except I dropped the toy I was playing with in the water, and when I tried to grab it, I fell into the deep end.” I inhale, concerned about the direction this story is headed in. Obviously he didn’t drown if he’s in front of me, but I guess he could be a ghost for all I know. It wouldn’t be the craziest thing to happen today.
I reach over, pressing my hand to his forehead, and to my relief, JJ feels real. Then I pinch myself and I can definitely feel it. I am for sure awake.
“What are you doing?” he asks, seeming puzzled by my actions.
“Making sure you’re not a ghost and I’m not dreaming.”
JJ smiles widely, and it’s beautiful. His smile transforms his whole face from something handsome to dangerously beautiful “I’m not a ghost and you’re not dreaming.”
I turn on my side to face him completely, holding tight to his pinky. “What happened next?”
“I didn’t know how to swim, but I remember this woman helping me. She helped me swim back to the surface before lifting me onto the side of the pool. I swear I felt a kiss on my forehead and then she said goodbye. My parents came out and found me completely drenched, holding the toy in my hand on the concrete next to the deep end. They asked what happened, and I told them I fell in, but Carly saved me,” he says, a wistful smile on his face.
“Wait—and she just left you there after helping you out of the water?” I ask, astonished by the direction this has taken. I really wasn’t expecting this.
“I’m getting there,” he says, chuckling. “My parents looked at each other in shock because Carly was my dad’s mother’s name, but she died when he was three in a car crash with my grandfather. So while I’m not a ghost, I do believe they exist, and you’re the first person I’ve ever told. I know it probably makes me sound crazy, but. . .” JJ trails off, and if it were anyone else, I’d think they were lying, but I genuinely think he’s telling me the truth. “Your eyes are a remarkable shade of blue. Stunning,” he says, abruptly changing topics, and my cheeks flush in response. Doubt rears its ugly head, creeping into my mind.
“JJ, are you even real?”
I regret my question the moment he removes his pinky from mine to pinch himself. “Last time I checked.”
“Guys don’t say stuff like that! They don’t lie in perfect picture meadows with a girl they hardly know, and they really don’t tell the girl she’s making him fall in love with her,” I say, sitting up while feeling utterly ridiculous I’m letting a cute boy play me. I’m smarter than this. I stand, walking away before I sink any further into this hole. I need to leave before I’m in too deep.
JJ’s hand catches mine, stopping me despite his grip being loose enough I could pull away if I wanted to.
“Marley, I promise I’m real. If I didn’t want to be here, I wouldn’t be. For some unknown reason, I feel this connection with you, and I . . .” he trails off, doubt seeping into his confidence for the first time all day.
“You what?” My tone softens, and JJ drags his other hand through his hair.
