Chapter 21
Natasha
My eyes bulge from their sockets. Oh, tell me he did not just say that.
Everybody collectively takes a breath and Cameron and Ben quickly grab me and put me behind them.
Josh drops his bag. “You really want to die tonight, fucker, don’t you?
” He walks over and punches him straight in the face.
They grab each other and slam into the wall behind them, and security starts to run from everywhere to separate the two.
Adrian and the girls are all in silent shock, as am I.
Cameron turns to Ben. “Get Natasha to the car.”
Ben nods and grabs my arm.
“Let me go.” I yank my arm out of his grip. “Joshua,” I yell. They continue fighting.
”Joshua,” I yell again. He seems to remember I’m here and backs off from the kamikaze who is obviously on a death wish.
He shakes his head. The guy is still being held by security.
Joshua turns and takes my hand and starts to storm toward the car.
Abbie and Bridget and Adrian are practically running to catch up.
“Oohh! Smell that adrenaline. It’s frigging hot,” Abbie slurs.
“Your vagina must be on fire, Natasha.” She giggles.
“All these hot guys fighting over you.” Everybody bursts out laughing and Cameron laughs but turns and puts his finger up to his lips to signify silence.
I turn around as Joshua drags me forward by the hand like a naughty child.
I do wide eyes at the girls, signifying for them to shut the hell up.
Bridget nods. “Yes, from now on you will be called Dr. Flaming Vagina.” Everybody bursts out laughing again.
Joshua stops and turns. “Enough,” he yells. Even I am having trouble stifling my giggles and the three stooges drop behind us to laugh out loud at their stupid flaming vagina joke. Cameron wisely stays straight faced and with us.
“How the fuck do you know him, Natasha?” Joshua snaps.
“Um, he’s a prison warden at the jail I visit through work.”
He stops still and Cameron and Ben both turn to see what he’s doing.
“You go to the fucking male prison?” I swallow and nod.
“You will be handing in your resignation on Monday!” he screams. His order to leave work is like waving a red flag in front of a bull to me, but he is way too mad for me to even think about fighting with him now.
Cameron must sense my agitation and steps in.
“Josh, mate, let’s just get home in one piece, huh.” I am grateful I have Cameron here to calm him down.
Cameron turns to Ben. “You go to the Ivy with them and I will go with Tash and Josh. I will meet you there in about an hour.” Ben nods and then pulls out his phone and texts someone and, in a few seconds, the two Audis come around the corner.
The four others pile into the first car and Josh, Cam and I get into the second.
Cam squeezes my hand reassuringly as I get into the car.
We sit in silence on the way to my apartment and I come to the realization that Cam has come with us to make sure Josh isn’t so mad he starts to fight with me.
He’s making sure I’m safe or maybe making sure Josh doesn’t go out and continue fighting, either way I’m impressed with his loyalty.
We get back to my apartment and Josh bales straight out of the car and storms toward the door.
Cam looks at me and smiles as we both slowly climb out of the car. “I would ask you to come out with us but we both know he won’t let you come without him and if he goes out tonight, he will definitely get into trouble.” Cam raises his eyebrows and gives me a sympathetic smile.
I blow out a breath and nod. “Is he going to try and fight with me now?”
“I don’t think so. He hates fighting with you.”
“How do you know that?” I’m puzzled to find out how much Joshua tells Cam, how deep their friendship is.
“Because he doesn’t eat or sleep when you’re fighting with him and he follows me around, stressing me out.”
I smile, oh crap. Cameron does know everything. “How much does he tell you, Cam?”
He smiles. “Probably more than you would like.” I nod again as we enter the lift. Josh has obviously stormed up without us. I suddenly feel uncertain about the info he has on me and Cameron must be able to sense my apprehension.
“Don’t worry, Tash, you’ve got him by the balls.”
I smile and link my arm through Cam’s and roll my eyes. “Really. Balls? I’m honored. Here I was thinking that maybe I had him by the heart.”
He laughs. “That too.” He winks as we enter my level and approach my wide-open door. I look at the door and frown at Cameron.
He shakes his head. “It’s just the adrenaline, Tash. He would still be full of it. He will be back to normal in the morning.” I nod. This is ridiculous, I am dealing with a tantrum-throwing two-year-old here. I can hear him in the shower, and I flick the jug on.
“White and one,” Cam says as he bites into an apple out of my fruit bowl.
“So, Dr. Stanton, hey?” I tease.
He smiles. “Yep, three months to go.”
“What are your plans when you finish?” I pass him his tea.
“I’m moving to LA as soon as university finishes in November.”
My eyes go wide. This is news.
He laughs. “Don’t worry, I’m not moving in with you and Josh.
” My eyes drop to my tea. Shit, if I was a better person, I would tell him it’s OK to move in with us, but the reality is I want Josh to myself.
“I got offered a job six months ago in LA Public Hospital and as Josh has been trying to get me to move over for years, I thought it was now or never.”
I give him a sad smile. “Am I wrecking your plans?”
He shakes his head. “No, I’m just glad you two are working your shit out. I will probably live with Murph, that’s if he gets rid of his wanker boyfriend.”
I frown. “Murph, who’s Murph?”
“Adrian, his last name is Murphy.”
“Don’t you like his boyfriend either?”
“I can’t stand him. I think I hate him more than Josh.”
“Why do you all hate him so much?”
He shakes his head as he drains his cup.
“Spend some time with him and you will see. I don’t get what Adrian sees in him.
He’s not even a good sort.” I smile. The boys really are good friends with Adrian—their affection is obvious.
Joshua walks into the kitchen with a towel around him and saunters up to me as he gives me a lopsided smile.
“Sorry baby.” He runs his thumb over my bottom lip and bends down to give me a tender kiss. I temporarily forget that Cam is here and return his kiss.
Cameron puts his hands up to his temples. “Fuck. It’s spinning me out seeing you two together. I know you’re together, but I haven’t seen you together together.”
Josh rolls his eyes. “Aren’t you going out?”
Cam smiles. “Yes. I’m going to find a certain kind of Mrs. Tonight.” He winks at me.
I frown. “Mrs. Stanton?” I ask and Josh laughs.
“God no…. Mrs. Give-Me-Head, Baby.”
My eyes bulge. “Oh, right. How stupid of me. Have fun.” I smirk.
He raises his eyebrows. “I always do.” And within a second he is gone. Josh blows out a breath and gives me a resigned smile.
I go to speak but he puts a finger up to my lip. “You don’t have to come again. It was a mistake making you go. But in my defense it isn’t normally that bad.” I nod as I listen. “How do you know that guy?” he asks.
“I told you he’s a prison warden at the jail I go to.”
Josh listens and then narrows his eyes. “I want you to resign.”
I smile. “I am anyway, dopey.” I roll my eyes. “I’m sort of moving away with this thug I’ve started dating.”
He looks relieved and smiles. “So you are.” He yawns as he goes to my freezer and removes a bag of peas.
“Are you hurt?” I ask.
He gives me a sly smile, “Yes, and I need Nurse Natasha to give me some tender loving care.” He grabs me roughly on the behind.
“Are you hungry?” I ask.
“Starving.”
“I don’t have any food so I’ll order some Thai takeout.
Go to bed and ice your knee and I will be in after I shower.
” He nods and bends to give me another gentle kiss as he leaves the kitchen.
Twenty minutes later after I shower, I walk into my bedroom to find my beautiful thug fast asleep in a towel on top of the bed complete with frozen peas.
I imagine cage-fighting must be exhausting.
Actually, you know what? Watching it is too.
I wake to feel two eyes on me, and I roll toward him. To my surprise he isn’t in bed with me. He’s sitting on the side of the bed drinking a protein shake.
“I made you breakfast.” He smiles as he gestures to my bedside table. I look over to see a chocolate protein shake in a large glass with ice.
I frown. “Is this a sick joke?” It’s too early for this superhero workout shit. “Josh, I would like two eggs on toast, please.”
He frowns. “You don’t like protein.”
I look at him deadpan. “No.”
He shrugs his shoulders and smiles. “Tough shit. That’s what I’m making today, and we have to go to my house for a while. I want to check on Adrian.”
I smile. “Aren’t you supposed to be fussing over me and stuff like in all the romance novels? I never heard anyone say tough shit to their girlfriends in my books.”
His eyes twinkle and he raises his eyebrows. “Yes, but remember that the book about you is called Gagging for It.” I slap him on the arm, and he dives over me to hold my hands above my head.
“What are you wearing to the wedding today?” I ask.
He pulls back in horror. “That’s today?” I nod and smile. “We don’t really have to go, do we? I hate weddings.”
“Since when?”
“Since I don’t know anyone there.”
I smile. This is the shy thing Adrian was talking about—it’s kind of endearing that he has such a hangup.
“I’ll be there, Josh. It can be our date night.”
He frowns. “That’s a shit date. If you want to go on a date, I can arrange something, like the other night.” He smiles a sly smile. “Actually, let’s stay home and watch a movie. I have a really good one that I planned on watching this weekend. It’s called, let me see, Beautiful Slut.”