Chapter 13 #2
Young Josh’s face fills the shot. He’s looking away, packing up costumes. His jaw is tight, his hands methodical.
“Of course,” he says, his voice low but steady.
“Dude,” Sam says, softer now, almost sympathetic. “She loves Brad.”
“I know.” Josh doesn’t stop folding.
“You gonna tell her?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“For goodness’ sake, Sam, just drop it, okay?” Josh swings toward the camera, his arms folding defensively across his chest.
“I’d be okay with it,” Sam says, the camera shifting slightly. “We’d all be cool. You’re a good guy. She deserves someone who’ll love her.”
Josh’s young jaw clenches, the muscle ticking as he stares down the lens. “I’m not going to tell her because I want her to be happy.”
“And she can’t be with you?”
Josh shrugs, his voice quieter now. “God knows no one thinks so. Besides, we’ve got plans.”
“Yeah, we do!” Sam cheers, his fist suddenly appearing on the screen for a fist bump.
Josh bumps it, but Sam isn’t done. “But seriously, why can’t she be with you? We all know Brad’s hung up on Erika.”
“Because he’s an idiot,” Josh mutters. “And when he finally wakes up, Molly’ll be there, getting everything she wants.”
“But—”
The video cuts off abruptly.
I turn, seeing Josh’s hand on the remote.
“That’s enough,” he says, his voice firm but quiet.
“Josh….” I stare at him, my heart pounding, seeing him with fresh eyes.
The silence stretches between us, heavy and charged.
“How old were you?” I ask finally. “Do you remember?”
“Fourteen. Or fifteen. I don’t know.” He runs a hand through his hair, avoiding my gaze.
“No, I mean… when you… I… Do you still feel like that?” I stammer, my voice wavering as I watch him flinch.
He lifts his gaze to meet mine, his trademark crooked smile slipping into place. “Don’t worry, Pahe. I haven’t spent the past fifteen years pining for you.”
We both fall silent, the tension between us thick and unspoken.
I tilt my head, watching him carefully. “You were my first kiss, you know?”
His grin widens. “Oh, I know.”
I gesture at the screen. “Captured in Technicolor brilliance.”
“It was a killer first kiss,” he says, his voice teasing.
I laugh softly. “True.”
The silence stretches again, neither of us looking away.
“You love me now?” I whisper.
“Maybe,” he says, his lips twitching at the corners. But his eyes give him away, the truth burning bright and undeniable.
“How long?”
He hums, tilting his head back in thought. “A while.”
“How long?”
“Long.”
“How long is long?”
“Long, long.”
“Joshua,” I say, poking him in the gut.
He captures my hand, raising it to his lips and pressing a soft kiss to my palm. His voice drops to a murmur. “Maleficent.”
“Please?”
He sighs, running his free hand over his face. “You were eleven.”
I blink, stunned. “I… what?”
“I was twelve. Sam invited me to stay the night, and you handed me a box of chocolates. I fell hard.”
The memory flickers faintly in my mind.
“You loved me all this time?”
He shrugs, glancing away. “You were adorable and looked at me like I hung the moon.” A frustrated sigh escapes him before he looks back at me, his smile turning wry.
“And then you started looking at Brad like he was the source of everything you loved.” He shakes his head.
“But you always looked at me like I could do anything.”
“You can,” I say firmly, meaning every word.
“What you’ve achieved, all that you are?
Sure, Sam’s there too, but he wouldn’t have done half as well without you.
You’re driven, determined, focused. You’re amazing, Josh.
” I bite my lip, my voice softening. “And knowing all that, I don’t understand why you waited so long. ”
“Because this isn’t a job. This is you,” he says, his laugh quiet and almost disbelieving. “I waited. I expected your crush to die off. It just….”
“Never did?” I offer him a small, knowing smile.
He nods, his eyes holding mine.
“He was…” I start, searching for the right words. “Like vanilla ice cream.”
Josh raises an eyebrow. “What?”
“Brad was like cheap vanilla ice cream,” I explain, laughing. “Inoffensive, yummy, a fallback. He was the safe choice—or so I thought.”
“And me?”
“Dark chocolate. Raspberry. Chili-chocolate,” I say, leaning closer, my hand resting on his thigh. “You were deliciously indulgent and not for me.”
“Why?” he asks, his voice low, his eyes burning as he leans into me.
“Because you’re gorgeous. You’re smart. Ambitious. You were going places, and I thought I was staying put.”
“I always looked at you,” he says softly.
I laugh, rolling my eyes. “Oh really? So, Lauren and Kylie and Tiffany and Sophie and Huda and Kiki and Imani and—”
He groans, holding up a hand. “Ahlemna, fine. I had some girlfriends. We all get lonely.” His eyes meet mine, serious now. “But none of them were you.”
“You never did anything. Not once,” I say, my voice softening. “I didn’t even know you felt that way until the speed date.”
He exhales, running a hand through his hair. “Truth? No one wants to be second choice. I didn’t want to be your backup. I wanted you to choose me.”
I open my mouth to reply, but nothing comes out. I close it again, nodding slowly. I can’t argue with that.
“You undersell yourself, you know,” he says, inching closer. “You’re so much more than you think. The charities, the people you help.” His hand covers mine, his thumb brushing across my knuckles. “You’re kind. Genuine. It’s rare in our circles.” His voice softens. “You’re extraordinary, Molly.”
“Josh,” I whisper, my throat tight.
His fingers slip under my chin, tilting my face up to his. His eyes search mine, his focus so intense it steals my breath.
“So, what now?” he murmurs.
I meet his gaze, my heart pounding as I finally see everything I’ve ever needed in his eyes.
“You love me.”
“Oh yeah,” he says, his voice steady and sure.
I bite my lip, my decision already made.
“Josh?”
“Yes, Pahe?”
“Make love to me.”