ELLA: The very one.
JOSH: What happened? I thought you were dead-set against me meeting them. I was willing to, I'll remind you.
ELLA: I pretended I was dating a guy called Keith who was a bicycle courier who worked in the building. Of course, who did we run into but Keith...
JOSH: Ahh. Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive...
ELLA: Tell me about it. When we were meeting people from the office, my mother mentioned me dating Keith to Becca and of course, she had to correct my mother's mistake. I denied it, but my mother faked out my supposed best friend forever and she confirmed my mother's suspicions. My dad wants to meet you the next time he's in town.
JOSH: Does this mean rapiers at dawn? Do I need to perform six feats of strength and bravery lik
e Heracles?
ELLA: Probably just answer a dozen questions successfully about your father's expose on my dad's business partner, Matt Harrison.
JOSH: I'll read up on the case and prepare. Does your father favor the Socratic method, or will there be a multiple-choice questionnaire?
ELLA: Well, he was in the Military Police before he went to law school, so I expect the thumbscrews and bamboo under the fingernails approach is more likely.
JOSH: I'll make sure to do one hundred sit-ups and pull-ups a day in preparation.
ELLA: I'm so sorry about this. You can bow out if you like and I'll totally understand.
JOSH: Relax. I've been wanting to meet your father since I learned who he was.
ELLA: Really?
JOSH: Oh, yeah. He's notorious. A rainmaker as they call politicians who bring in lots of business to their states. I don't plan on going into politics, but Christian wants to run for public office. Your dad could be a good contact.
ELLA: Okay, but you should be prepared.
JOSH: I'm always prepared. Speaking of which, what are you wearing? *Hint hint*
ELLA: Right now?
JOSH: Yes. Please describe in exquisite detail. Better yet, Skype me. I have a serious need to see you pleasuring yourself.
ELLA: You're in need, are you? *Slowly pulls off her sweatpants and baggy t-shirt to reveal creamy naked skin*
JOSH: That's what I wanted to hear...
After that, we didn't speak about my father again, caught up as we were trying to get the proper angle with our laptops and cellphones, so we could watch each other masturbate to completion.
After my day of stress and frantically trying to deny I was dating Josh, it was a needed distraction.
10
Josh
Each day saw more progress and by day five of his being released from the hospital, David was sitting up for long stretches of the day, eating far better and being more talkative. He was still preoccupied with being a survivor while his friend and the other driver had died, but he seemed better overall. I had almost wrapped up the work I had planned to finish while in LA at the new office, and so I felt confident that Christian could handle David until the therapist we hired to come in daily and check on him started the following Monday.
I didn't want to leave David, but at the same time, I had meetings and important deadlines back home and needed to leave. Christian was capable, so I knew I could leave and be assured that whatever happened, he could handle it.
"Thanks for coming and spending time with me. And for being there when I needed you."
"Hey," I said and bent down to give David a hug. "Don't mention it. We're brothers. I'm always there for you or any of the brothers if you need me. Seriously. If you want me to come back out at any time, or if you want to come and stay with me out East, you just have to say the word."
David nodded but he looked a bit down in the mouth that I was leaving. We'd been through the event together and I understood how he felt about it, even if I didn't lose anyone close to me.