Chapter 22 #3
I lie on my back. “Take note, I just put out an invitation and I got a decline,” I yell.
He calls back from the bathroom. “Not a decline, just a rain check.” I roll my eyes, same shit.
I make my way to the kitchen and start to make my coffee.
I need to ask him about that comment last night.
It’s weighing heavily on my mind. Joshua walks through my apartment with a towel around his waist and opens up the front door.
A bag is sitting outside waiting for him.
Who put it there and why do I keep forgetting about those bloody bodyguards lurking around my apartment?
He scoops it up and saunters back to my room as he smirks at me.
Hmm what did he say again? I narrow my eyes as I try to think of the exact wording, nothing is wrong that’s what’s wrong.
What in the hell does that mean? Does he want something to be wrong between us, haven’t we had enough wrong?
I’m ready for right. I make him a protein shake, put some toast in the toaster and pour our coffee while deep in thought.
How am I going to handle this? I can demand an explanation, or I can try and work it out in time.
Maybe he didn’t mean it. Five minutes later he walks out in a pale blue tank and black sports shorts and sneakers. I hand him his shake.
He raises his eyebrows and smiles broadly. “Good service.” He gives me a wink as he takes a sip.
I turn and start to butter the toast and he sits on the stool at the counter.
“What did you mean by that comment last night, Josh?” I ask as I turn. Oh great, just blurt it out why don’t you, so much for not saying anything. Idiot.
“What comment?”
“Nothing is wrong, that’s what is wrong,” I ask as I raise an eyebrow.
“Tash, don’t, I’m not in the mood for this shit today.” He shakes his head in frustration.
I frown. “What does that mean?”
“It means I don’t want to talk about it, it was nothing.”
I give him a small smile as unease starts to fill me. He’s giving me mixed signals again.
We sit in silence for a while. “What are you doing today?” he asks.
I shrug. “Nothing really, grocery shopping and laundry. I am going to the hospital this afternoon.”
He nods as he drinks his shake.
“Do you want me to invite Cam and Adrian over with the girls for dinner? I can cook,”
I ask as I give him a hopeful smile.
He shakes his head. “No,” he replies flatly. “Oh.” My face drops.
He smirks sexily at me. “I want you,” he tucks my hair behind my ear, “to cook me dinner and then put that edible white nightdress on and spoon on the lounge with me while we watch the game in peace. I want you to myself.”
I smile broadly as relief fills me. “You do?”
He stands and kisses me gently as he brushes his fingers down my face. “I do. I will meet you at the hospital about four then?” he asks softly.
“Ok, sounds good.” I give him a weak smile but as he disappears, I stare at the closed door he has just exited through.
What’s going on with me? Why do I once again feel insecure?
I sit in the car in the hospital parking lot waiting for Bridget to arrive.
I didn’t want to risk being alone with Margaret.
I’m such a wimp. I know I have to tell him…
but when is the right time? I don’t even know what’s going on between us, without adding paternity into the mix.
Joshua’s car procession comes around the corner and I smile.
I watch in slow motion as he gets out of the car and walks around and leans on the hood as he speaks.
His body language is tense, who is he talking to?
He seems stressed as he hangs up. He then immediately dials a number as he stands legs wide and one hand on his hip.
My eyes flick to the security behind me and I see one of them answer the phone.
Joshua has just rung them, he is keeping tabs on me.
He does know I went to lunch with Jesten…
shit, shit, shit. His eyes scan the car park until they find my car and he smiles and makes his way to my car as I slowly get out of it.
“Miss Marx.” He smiles as he kisses me gently on the cheek.
I smile nervously as my eyes flick to the ten men
surrounding us. “Hi,” I answer quietly.
“What are you doing out here?” he asks as we turn and start walking into the hospital, the guards dropping behind us as he takes my hand in his.
“I was waiting for Bridget,” I answer.
Cameron has been waiting there. “Hey Tash,” he smiles. “Hi Cam.”
We walk silently into the hospital, hand in hand, and then into the lift where the security drop behind.
“You guys are coming out tonight, yeah?” Cameron asks. “No,” Joshua answers flatly.
“We’re staying at home.” He picks my hand up that he is holding and kisses the back of it again and I find myself melting at his feet. Maybe I am just imagining the mixed signals thing?
Cameron screws up his face. “Oh God, how boring staying home on a Saturday night.”
“I suppose it depends on who you are staying home with. Staying home with Natasha is anything but boring.” Joshua smirks and I smile like a little kid, this man really is divine.
“I’m going out with Abbie and Didge then,” Cameron says flatly.
“I think Didge has a date,” I answer.
Cameron raises both of his eyebrows at Joshua as he smirks. “Looks like it’s just me and Abbie then.”
Joshua shakes his head. “No,” he says flatly. I giggle.
Cameron screws up his face. “What do you mean no?” he asks affronted as he puts his hands on his hips.
“I’ve told you not to touch her,” Joshua snaps as the lift door opens and he pulls me through the door by the hand.
“I will do what I want,” Cameron smirks. “To who I want. And she will fucking love it just quietly.”
I smile and Joshua rolls his eyes as he drops my hand like a hot potato. Huh? I look up to see why he has just dropped my hand and I see his mother standing at the end of the hall looking down at us as we approach. He obviously still hasn’t bloody told her about us.
I walk to the lounge area and take a seat opposite Joshua and Bridget comes up in a rush.
“Oh, guys, they just put a sign up in reception. There has been a car accident and they need someone with blood type AB, at the children’s ward immediately. Does anyone know of anyone with that blood type? Apparently, it’s rare.”
My eyes snap up to Joshua and I stare at him, shit.
My eyes nervously glance over to Cameron.
He narrows his eyes in return as he folds his arms and leans back onto the wall.
Holy fuck, that’s Joshua’s blood type…should I say something?
No, let Cameron say something. For ten minutes I sit silently next to Joshua, praying for him to remember his blood type.
How can someone so smart not even remember his blood type?
What am I going to do? If I don’t tell him a child could die and I already know that less than two per cent of the population have this type of blood, the chances of finding some immediately are slim to none.
Why isn’t Cameron saying something? Maybe he doesn’t know? No, he knows alright. Shit.
I sit and listen to Bridget and Joshua talking about some hotel in France that they have both gone to, but my mind is in overdrive.
Time is ticking and I am starting to sweat. I start to fidget in my chair and try to work out what to do. My eyes flick to Cameron who is sitting as calm as anything, watching me. What’s he watching?
I have no choice. I have to say something. “Joshua, I think that is your blood type, baby,” I whisper to him.
He frowns at me. “What?” he asks.
I swallow the nervous lump in my throat. “The child that needs blood has the same rare blood as you.”
Joshua frowns and looks at Cameron who is staring at me blank faced…oh crap.
“She’s right, it is your blood type. We had better go to the children’s ward.”
Joshua shrugs and stands immediately, and Cameron stands. “I’ll come with you.” His eyes flick to me. “Natasha, come with us.”
Oh shit, no way am I going. “No, I will wait for you here.”
Cameron narrows his eyes at me. “I insist.” He fakes a smile at me and holds out his hand.
I swallow again and look at his outstretched hand.
Now I’ve done it. I stand and follow the two boys down the corridor in silence.
We get to the children’s ward. “Hello, I’m a doctor, and my brother here has blood type AB,
I understand you need a donation.”
The nurse puts her hand on her chest in relief. “Oh, thank God, yes please come this way.” She ushers Joshua away down the hall.
Cameron turns to me. “What do you know, Natasha, and I want the fucking truth.”