Stanton Adore (10 page)

“What?” I snap. She hands me the binoculars. I look to the stage and see him deep in conversation with his trainer, what are they going on about? He turns and all of the blood drains from my face. The ink isn’t a picture as I first thought. Joshua has the word Natasha in running writing down the whole length of his body.

Holy Fuck.

Chapter 7

My eyes are
seeing it, but I don’t believe it. Why in the hell would he do that? Before I can apply my brain to mouth filter, I call Will over to me.

“When did he get that?”

He shrugs. “A couple of years ago.”

“How many?”

“How many what?”

“Years?”

“Umm, I don’t know three or four.”

“Is it me?” I frown.

“Of course it’s you.” I sit back down, my mind now officially in overdrive. We haven’t been together for seven years, why three or four years ago. Abbie comes over, cuddles me and whispers in my ear.

“Looks like you’re not the only fucked up one Tash.” The crowd goes wild and I immediately stand to see what’s going on. Joshua is going ballistic kicking and punching this guy. I think he’s trying to kill him. Good grief, he’s so aggressive. I sit back down and put my hands over my eyes. This is unbearable. He’s going to jail again tonight, probably for life. After what seems like an eternity the fight finishes and Joshua is announced the victor to the once again screaming crowd. I however, am furious. What in god’s name does he think he’s doing here? This is definitely not a sport, this is barbaric. The kind of shit you see on cable.

“Can we go?” I ask Cameron.

He smiles and nods. “I’m just going to go to the bathroom then we will head,” he disappears up the steps two at a time. Abbie and Bridge flop down onto the chairs either side of me.

“OMG,” Bridget whispers. “Let’s talk about Josh’s tatt.”

“Let’s not,” I reply.

“Why are you so pissy?” she asks.

“Are you serious,” I snap. “This is bullshit.”

“What’s bullshit?”

“This,” I gesture at the arena around us. “This isn’t fucking kickboxing, this is how to kill a person in fifteen minutes.”

She nods, “but it’s totally hot, right.” I shake my head in disgust at her.

“You’re an imbecile.” I snap. Wills phone rings and he smiles and talks to someone on the other end and hangs up.

“Cams too lazy to walk back we have to meet him at the door.” We nod and join the queue to get out. Ten minutes later I have a tipsy friend on either side of me linking my arms as we head towards the exit. Abbie is still going on about banging Mr Italy and asking Will to go and find him to tell him the mother of his children is waiting for him, presuming that’s her. Will is very wisely declining to do it, although he is finding it quite funny.

“I thought you were the mother of my children” he elbows her in the stomach.

“Hell no” she repeats “I’m way, way, way, way” she moves her hand around in the air “too hot for you,” she pokes him in the chest. Abbie and I are in fits of giggles, she really does know how to take my mind off things. Cameron joins us from the left and Bridget grabs his arm to link with hers, we walk a little bit further before Cam stops and turns around.

“What are you doing?” he yells out. We all turn at once to see who he is talking to. Joshua is standing still in the middle of the crowd, glaring at us. He is in faded blue jeans and a white tshirt and has an exercise bag with the strap across his body on one shoulder. Perspiration is still beading on his forehead, a side effect from the exertion of the fight. He takes a sip from the bottle of water in his hand. The veins in his forearms are pumping, no doubt from the adrenaline in his system. My mouth goes dry. Why does he have to be so damn attractive? His piercing blue eyes bore into me and he has a slight sheen of perspiration all over his skin adding to the whole alluring affect. Damn it. He is radiating anger and glares at Cam as he storms past us.

“What’s wrong with you?” Cam asks. He turns to talk to Cam, but speaks directly to me.

“What in the fuck is she doing here?”

Will steps in front of me. “Stop being a prick Josh, she’s here with us.” My cheeks heat with embarrassment. I turn and start storming to the cab rank, I have never been so humiliated. Abbie and Bridget scuttle after me, both of the boys stay with Josh.

“You’re not to hang with her, I told you that.” I stop and turn. That’s it. My blood has boiled. Who in the hell does this guy think he is? Master of the universe. I will not take one more fucking minute of his shit. I storm back to where he is standing and push him hard in the chest.

“What is your problem?” I yell, he staggers back.

“You are actually!” he yells back.

I scowl. “Who in the fuck are you, and what have you done with my Josh?” I scream.

He comes up really close to my face and yells. “He isn’t your Josh.”

“No, I know he isn’t. This version is a giant, aggressive, stripper groping prick who I can’t stand the sight of.” Everyone falls silent.

“Burned” Will giggles. Josh and I both look at him and yell “Shut up,” in perfect timing.

“Stripper groping.” He repeats. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Natasha leave it,” Bridget steps in. “Let’s go.” She can see this is about to get ugly, really ugly.

“I mean, asshole.” I scream in his face. “I was at the strip club last week, I saw your little display with the blonde whore. How was the threesome?” He narrows his eyes and steps back as he weighs up my words.

“What, are you spying on me now?” he sneers.

“Don’t flatter yourself,” I scream. “It seems to me you are spying on me, what’s with the nightclub caveman act Josh, Why in the hell did you hit Todd like that?”

He stops still and stays deathly silent.

“Todd is it?” he sneers. I don’t answer. Ok that was the wrong thing to say.

“So Todd is the poor bastard your currently fucking is he? I thought as much.”

Cameron steps in, “Josh just go home, you’re being a dick.”

“Fuck off Cameron. I’m talking to Natasha, this is a private conversation,” his voice dripping with sarcasm.

He leans in to my face. “You can go and tell your little friend Todd, that if I see him again I’m going to beat the living shit out of him, I hope you were worth it.”

“Fuck off Josh, I’m not seeing him. You’re acting crazy, I’ve a good mind to get you sectioned.”

He fumes. “Oh yes, I bet your little fuck buddy from work would love that too.”

“What so, I’m fucking everybody in Sydney now am I? You idiot,” I yell.

“It wouldn’t surprise me,” he yells, and that’s it I snap. That is the last straw, I no longer have any control. I slap him hard across the face, the sound echoing back as it hits the buildings on either side of us. He grabs me by the shoulders and shakes me, his fury erupting as mine has. The others quickly step in and break us up, pushing us apart. I glare at him and he glares at me.

“Stay the fuck away from me!” I yell.

He folds his arms. “Now who’s flattering themselves, you couldn’t pay me enough to touch you.” I don’t know why I’m shocked he just said that, but I am.

I shake my head at him. “Nice Josh, nice. You must be so proud of the person you’ve turned into, you were a lot nicer when you were poor. What a mean pretentious prick you’ve turned into.” I turn and storm off. In the distance I can hear Cam and Will giving Josh a hard time about what he has said to me. The girls quickly catch up and we join the cab line. We hear Cam yell out, “Sorry girls,” as they get into the back of a Limo waiting outside the arena for them, it drives off. We all stay silent for a few minutes.

“That went well,” Abbie smiles. “Isn’t it a shame he can talk, he’s so pretty with his mouth closed.” We all burst out laughing.

“Seriously Abbs, I love you” I smile.

I’m warm and crumpled and sleepy, my eyes refusing to open. Why is she so frigging early? My door bell buzzes again. “Go away, I’m too tired” I mumble into my pillow. BUZZZ BUUUUUUZZZZZZZZZZZZ BZ, BZ, BZ, BZ, BZ. It’s still pitch black in my bedroom, those expensive drapes were worth every cent. It buzzes again. For Pete’s sake. Alright. I pull my weary ass out of bed and stagger to the foyer. I hit the door button to unlock my front door as I head to the bathroom for my morning wee. I hear Bridget come in and I instantly yell to her

“Why are you up so early? Did you wet the bed? Make me some coffee bitch and you can forget it. I’m not going to Mum and Dad’s this morning.” I look at my watch on the bathroom cavity

“Bridget it’s only 7.30am, have you gone frigging mad?” I know why she’s here so early. She thinks I’m a donkey on the edge, and to be honest she could be onto something, I feel scattered. She doesn’t reply. I hear the teaspoon hit three times on the side of the coffee cup. I waltz out of my bathroom while stretching and yawning. I feel like shit. I open my eyes from my stretch to see Joshua standing in my lounge room with two cups of coffee. What the.

“Joshua………… what are you doing here?” He looks me up and down and smirks.

“Nice pj’s.” Oh my fuck. I look down to realize I am wearing odd flannelette pyjamas. Check bottoms and Bunny Tops and to top off the whole alluring look the buttons are done up in the wrong button holes. I scratch my head in embarrassment only to feel my hair standing up on end like the Paddle Pop Lion. I bet I have raccoon mascara eyes too. I must look a treat. I’m too busy being mortified and self-conscious to remember how mad I am at him. I stay silent waiting for him to say something, while praying for the earth to swallow me up.

“Umm,” he shuffles on his feet and passes me my coffee.

“Thanks,” I whisper as I take it. He takes a sip while carefully choosing his words.

“I……I just came to apologize for last night.” I stay silent.

“What exactly are you apologizing for?” I ask as I raise my brow.

He thinks about his answer as he rubs his chin. “The insinuations,” he drops his head in shame.

“The insinuation I’m a whore,” I whisper.

He hangs his head. “Yes.”

I sit down and gesture for him to sit down, he stays standing. “Josh, why are you so angry with me?”

“I’m not.”

I raise my brows. “Are you going to continue to lie to me?”

He narrows his eyes. “Stay the hell out of my head Natasha, I didn’t come here to be psycho analysed.”

“What did you come here for?”

“I told you, to apologize.”

“Is that for my benefit or your conscience?”

“Stop it, you’re doing it again.”

“Doing what?” I snap.

“The psychology shit,” he frowns. “Just forget it” he puts his coffee down on my table so fast it spills. “I knew there was no point.” Oh shit he’s going. I have to stop him.

“Josh wait, I’m sorry. I’m just really mad at you.” he stops and turns.

“For what?” he puts his head on an angle.

“I saw you last week at the strip joint.” He rubs his chin again, ah my first sign he’s uncomfortable. I’m really not playing fair, I’m totally psycho analysing him.

“Tash what were you doing there?” His voice has gone soft, cajoling.

I look to the ground in embarrassment. “We were there to spy on Bridget’s boyfriend, never in a million years did I think I would see you.” He nods as he listens. I stay silent, trying to gather in my head what to say next.

“Natasha, I’m single.” He murmurs.

“I know,” I’m starting to feel emotional, cut it out cry baby. “Would you have gone up the stairs if you knew I was there?”

“You know I wouldn’t have.” He says gently.

“Josh I can’t handle you being so aggressive towards me.”

He nods. “Me neither. I’m sorry. I’ve been acting like a prick.” I smile, he smirks back in return.

“You have. You can take me out to breakfast to apologise if you want.”

He frowns as he looks me up and down. “I might just take you pyjama shopping too.”

“What’s wrong with my pyjamas?” I smirk.

“Nothing if you live in a nursing home.” He does wide eyes to accentuate his point.

“Give me ten minutes,” I smile. He nods and flops onto the couch.

Ten minutes later I am showered and in my room hyperventilating about what I am going to wear. Alluring and sexy without trying hard, it’s a fine line, one that I have to execute to perfection. Shit where are my favourite jeans? Damn it, in the washing basket dirty. It doesn’t pay to be lazy. I settle on a pair of faded worn blue jeans, a slouchy white t-shirt that hangs off one shoulder, white thongs and a swad of chunky gold bangles. My chocolate brown hair that is midway between my shoulders and elbows and layered is loose and my makeup is natural.

“Ready?” I ask as I head into the lounge room where he is waiting. He smiles and nods. His eyes scan me up and down, his jaw ticks and he gently cracks his neck. Hmm. As he stands my heart jumps a beat. Dear god, he really is divine. He is wearing dark green army style cargo pants and a black slim fit plain t-shirt with a v-neck. I can see every damn muscle in his arms. His big blue eyes lock onto mine and I feel it impossible to look away. The sexual energy beaming from his body is demanding attention from mine. His dark tanned skin and square jaw only highlight his big bee stung lips. Everything about him is silently screaming sex to my body. My stomach flutters with nerves. How in the hell am I going to get through breakfast without jumping him? Bridget is right, he does smell fucking awesome. I made myself a promise years ago, that if I ever had a chance to spend time with Joshua again, I would be nothing but totally honest. Can I really do this? Never again in my life am I going through the disappointment in myself for lying to him, I couldn’t bear it. He smiles.

“Let’s go then.”

“I’m nervous Josh.”

He stops and turns to me. “Nervous,” he repeats on a frown. I nod again. “What about?” he gently asks.

“Do you think we still have anything in common?”

He shrugs. “I don’t know. I think it’s pretty obvious we both have hot tempers.”

I smile. “Yes.”

“And I’m hungry and tired because I didn’t sleep much last night” he smiles.

“Me too,” I whisper. He holds up his arm for me to take.

“I think that’s a good start don’t you?” I nod. I link my arm with his.

“Let’s go,” I smile. I feel better already. His eyes twinkle as he gives me a warm smile, one that melt the whole of Antarctica and I instantly feel at ease. The unseen tension has immediately disappeared and we have both noticeably relaxed. Honesty. He wants honesty. As soon as I told him I was nervous the tension disappeared. I need to remember this for future reference. We head down the stairs.