“I think I like the thrill of the chase.” He drops another kiss on my lips.
“What happens if you catch it then? Do you get bored? Look for something new?”
“No, princess. I keep you.” He squeezes my ass. “I’ll put the cart back. You get in the truck.” I get in, and it doesn't take us long to get to my place. Excitement fills me as I think about what this place really means for me. It will be the first time that I don’t have my mom looking over my shoulder. A sense of relief fills me knowing that.
“Go on up. Eric and I got this.” I almost lean in for a kiss, forgetting for a moment that no one else knows about this thing between Josh and me. I step back, but not before Eric notices. His eyes bounce between the two of us.
“Thanks.” I give a stupid wave to them before I head up to our place. “Holy cow,” I say as I enter the room and see Daisy. “Someone has been working overtime.”
“Eric.” She informs me.
“How are things with Eric?”
She gives a small shrug. “Confusing. I thought he was going to kiss me.”
“Would you have let him?”
“I think so. Maybe things have changed? He sees me as a woman now?”
“Maybe.” It’s on the tip of my tongue to remind her that he told her he’d wait for her and that lasted a whole day when they were younger. But maybe things have changed or Daisy misheard him back then. I know Eric isn't a bad guy. The whole thing is still a little shocking to me. Everyone has always thought that Daisy and Eric would be together. It was a foregone conclusion.
We stop talking when the guys walk in, taking some of my boxes toward my bedroom.
“The ones labeled office can go in that center room.” I tell Josh.
“On it, princess.” I roll my eyes. “Call Mom. She said you’re not picking up your phone.”
Daisy looks around for her phone, finally finding it in the couch cushions. “Sorry, Mom. It was switched to silent.” Daisy wanders around telling her mom how everything is going. I pull my phone out. Not shocked that my parents haven’t checked in. “Yeah, she’s right here.” Daisy walks over, handing me the phone. “She wants to talk to you.”
“Hey, Bunny,” I answer.
“How was the drive, sweetheart? Was Josh a gentleman?”
“The drive was good.” I skip right over the gentleman comment. I’m finding I enjoy it more when Josh isn't a gentleman. I don’t want to lie to Bunny either. I respect her.
“That’s good. I’m glad everything is fine. I’m sorry to be pestering you. I just miss my girls already.”
A lump forms in my throat at her including me. I don’t know why I still get surprised when she treats me like I’m her daughter. “I miss you too.”
“I’m going to stop by tomorrow. If you need anything, let me know and I’ll grab it.”
“Thanks, Bunny.”
“You're welcome, sweetheart. I love you.”
“Love you too,” I say before ending the call. Josh is staring right at me leaning up against the wall with a smile on his face.
“All this shit is going to take time to put together. More than just tonight. I’m not driving back home and then out here again, so Eric and I are crashing here tonight.”
“You’re supposed to ask,” Daisy huffs at her brother.
“Wasn't really a question.”
She rolls her eyes, going into the kitchen to start unpacking some of the groceries. I think about pointing out that the drive isn't that long, but to be honest, I don’t want Josh to leave.
“I’ll take the sofa,” Eric volunteers.
“There is a daybed in the office. I think it still needs to be put together, but the mattress is there,” Daisy says.
“Then I’ll take that.” Josh’s eyes never leave mine. I have a feeling he has no intention of keeping his ass in the spare room.4JoshI run my hand down my face, telling myself to wait. Everyone went to bed thirty minutes ago. We got a ton done for the girls. It felt good helping Noelle and her letting me do it. The way her face lit up when she was talking to my mom almost killed me. I’ll never understand how her parents don’t see what an incredible woman she is.
I stand up from the tiny-ass bed, going over to the door to listen. I don’t hear shit. My sister sleeps like the dead, so that part will be easy. Eric hears every fucking thing, but I know he’s not going to call me out on this. I still need to have a talk with him about him and my sister. It’s not going to end well when he finds out what I did all those years ago.
At the time I thought I’d been helping. I’d been so fucking wrong. It’s not Eric’s reaction that I’m worried about. He’ll probably punch me and then let it go. How Daisy is going to react is what scares me the most. I don’t do well with tears or the silent treatment that she’s probably going to give me.