California Sunshine (8 page)

              I chewed on the inside of my lip. "Why?" I asked. I had to know before answering.

              "'Cause I think he has feelings for you. Just a hunch I have, but tonight all he's talked about is how he wishes you were here. Now, tell me. Do you have feelings for him?"

              I nodded. "Yes. I do. But you can not tell him! Please! Just send him down here. I know you're an expert at this crap."

              She giggled. "You two are gonna be great together."

              "So you've told us a million times!" I exclaimed as she turned and disappeared into the crowd.

              I paid for my drink and stood off to the side, waiting for Josh. In that moment, I felt like Cinderella, only, in a darker version.

              I spotted him walking towards the bar. My heart was beating like a caged bird in my chest. I took another sip of my drink to calm my nerves and stepped forward as he got closer.

              "I'm sorry. Excuse me," he said, going to walk around me.

              "No. Please excuse me." I replied.

              His eyes widened and he just stared at me. "Jo?" he asked.

              I laughed. "Yup. Surprise." I said, winking at him.

              "Was Ashley and Mike in on it the entire time?"

              I shook my head. "No. Ashley complimented my dress and found out it was me. I asked her to send you down here. I've been lookin' for y'all for what seems like forever."

              "I'm so glad you're here. This has definitely made my night. How long are you in town?"

              "Until tomorrow night, unfortunately."

              "Think you could make an exception?"

              I bit my bottom lip, mulling the idea over in my head. "We'll talk about it." I said winking at him.

              "Well, would you care to dance?" he asked, holding his hand out for me to take.

              I smiled. "I'd love to." I replied, placing my hand in his as he led me out to the dance floor.

              After our dance, he led me back to the bar and bought me a drink. While we were waiting I looked up at him. "So I hope you like my surprise."

              "I love your surprise." I caught something in his voice that told me he wanted to say something else, but I ignored it.

              "There's the beautiful should be couple." Ashley said, walking up.

              I gently pushed her. "Would you shut up?" I asked.

              She giggled. "Y'all looked good dancin' together."

              "Are you buzzed?" Josh asked, cocking an eyebrow. My heart sank.

              "Kinda. How'd ya guess?" she asked.

              He smiled. "Southern twang came out. You're starting to sound more California every day, but when you start getting buzzed you can't hide it anymore."

              She laughed. "I know. Shh." she said, holding her index finger up to her lips.

              Just then Mike came walking up. "Well, well, well. Ash told me you were here. I almost didn't believe her until I saw Josh dancing with someone and I knew she was telling me the truth."

              Josh placed his hand gently on the small of my back, making me look up at him. He smiled, and I returned the smile. "I wouldn't dance with anyone else. I came for the drinks, but her being here made my night." I blushed, looking down momentarily until he leaned in and whispered. "I knew you would look ravishing in red."

              My blush deepened. "Thank you." I whispered in reply.

              The night flew by, Josh and I had danced several more times. Sipping from each other's drinks when we were sitting with Mike and Ashley. I could tell that they were catching on to something I wasn't. Either I wasn't, or I was doing what I was good at, which was ignoring the obvious. I always tried my hardest to not expect much from life, because when I thought it was going my way, it always took a hard left at 'fuck-you-ville'.

              "So where are you staying?" Mike asked, obviously noticing that I had been quiet.

              "Millennium Biltmore."

              "Well, you should stay with us," Ashley added.

              Josh leaned over. "I think you should stay with me." he whispered.

              I looked at him, our eyes meeting. "Well, I have missed that bed." I whispered in reply.

              "They don't have to know. Just say you're still staying at the hotel."

              I smiled.

              "What are you two love birds talkin' about?" Ashley asked.

              I turned, facing her once more. "Nothing. We ain't love birds."

              "Not yet." she replied.

              I groaned. "Ashley. Leave her alone." Josh said, staring straight at her.

              "You know it's gonna happen!" She exclaimed.

              "Maybe. Who knows? For now, though, we're only friends. Stop trying to set us up--"

              Before Josh could say anything else, she held her hand up and stopped. "I know, I know. If ya'll want to date you will. I get it. I just see how ya'll look at each other, and sometimes I wonder if you're both oblivious."

              I had had enough of this. "We're not oblivious. I ain't stayin' with ya'll I'm gonna stay with Josh. Think what ya'll want, but I'll stay in the spare bedroom. Nothin's gonna happen unless we both want it to. Now I'm done! I'm done with this stupid conversation that comes up every time Josh and I are around each other. I like him, he likes me. We know that! We've known that for a while! It ain't no damn secret, but there, it's out in the open now. We talk about more than y'all give us credit for. We text, we've Skyped a couple of times. We. Are. Friends! If somethin' more happens, well then it happens. But I don't need you meddlin' anymore!" I exclaimed, grabbing my clutch and finishing my drink before walking away from her. And away from so many things that had been holding me back.

              I was standing outside when I felt Josh's hand on my back. "Are you okay?" he asked, sounding worried.

              "I'm fine. I'm sorry. I cain't take her bein' so, so, ugh!" I exclaimed. I was too frustrated to even say how I was feeling at that exact moment in time.

              "Come on. Let's get out of here."

              "Thank you, but I've gotta go back to the hotel to get my stuff first."

              "Well mind if I tag along?"

              "Not at all," I replied as a cab pulled up in front of us.

              Before I changed at the hotel Josh had asked to get a picture with me, and if he could post it to his Facebook. I had agreed. After all was said and done, I was in sweats and a white t-shirt.

              "It ain't glamorous, but it's me." I said, walking out of the bathroom.

              "I think you're beautiful no matter what." He replied as my phone dinged. I turned the screen on and noticed that he had tagged me in his post: 

                            "Look who flew all the way from Nashville just to go to a Halloween party                             with me? #Besties #MostGorgeousGirlInTheWorld."

              I giggled and quickly liked it, adding my own hashtag to the comments:

                            "#BestiesForLife."

              His phone dinged. I watched the smile spread to his eyes, and part of me fell even more in love. Wait...what? Love. No. Like. I reminded myself but then got upset for not allowing the love to let it's way in.

              "We ready?" I asked, grabbing my suitcase.

              "When you are. I'm just along for the ride remember?"

              I smiled. "I do remember. I'll come back in the mornin' and get my rental."

              "Sounds like a good idea." he replied, leading me to the door and down the hallway to the elevator.

              Once we were back at his place, I realized that it was later than I thought. It was close to 3 AM. He took my suitcase into the spare room and I followed him. I flopped down on the bed on my stomach. I could hear him chuckle. I turned to look at him.

              "I missed this bed."

              "Yeah, I've missed you," he replied.

              My heart began beating rapidly. "You missed me?" I asked, making sure he'd really said that.

              "Like crazy." He sat down on the bed and I sat up next to him.

              "Well, I don't feel crazy for missin' you now," I whispered, our eyes locked on each other.

              "It isn't the liquor talking either."

              I nodded. "Good. 'Cause I mean it."

              "Think we should still take it slow?" he asked.

              I nodded once again, slower this time. "Please."

              "But I want to kiss you."

              "Then kiss me." I whispered, barely loud enough for me to understand over my rapid heartbeat.

              He gently put his hand on the side of my face and moved in. I met him in the middle, our lips colliding with the others. It was a passionate kiss. Full of want and desire. His fingers slid into my hair and pulled me further into the kiss. I could feel myself falling, falling further into the darkness. But this time, the darkness wasn't so scary.

Chapter 9

              I woke up the next morning, the kiss replaying over and over in my mind. It was something I wouldn't soon forget, and with any luck, he wouldn't either. I rolled over and grabbed my phone off the side table to check the time. The digital clock read 7:30 AM. I laid there for a few minutes, trying to figure out if I wanted to get up or not. Finally, I slid out of bed, grabbed my toiletries, and headed to the bathroom. I had just finished brushing my teeth and hair when I heard a knock on the bedroom door.

              I made my way out of the bathroom and slowly opened the door.

              "Good morning beautiful." Josh said, handing me a cup of coffee.

              I smiled, taking the cup. "Good morning handsome."

              "So I gotta ask, are you leaving tonight?"

              I sat down on the bed. "I don't know yet. I'm torn, on one hand I know I need to get back so I can get back to work, but on the other I just want to stay here."

              "Forever?" he asked, smiling.

              I couldn't help but laugh. "Somethin' like that." I replied, blushing.

              "I can arrange that." he said, sitting down next to me.

              "Whoa--"

              He stopped me. "I'm kidding. Kind of. You're pace. I've got to tell you, though. You're breaking down walls I never allowed anyone to break down. Ever."

              "Mmhmm. Yeah, you're doin' that to me. I find myself thinkin' of you way more than I probably should and it's scary. I'm tryin' to let my heart free, but I just cain't. Not yet, maybe not ever. And I ain't sure you deserve that. I know you don't, you deserve somebody that can love you without question. And I'll always question my feelin's, my thoughts. I'm full of doubts and insecurities."