Chapter 25
Natasha
I STORM up the stairs and push through the crowd until I get to the door.
“Some creepy guys are following me. Keep them here till I get a cab, will you?” I ask the bouncers.
“Sure thing,” the huge bouncer replies as he crosses his arms in a definite tough guy gesture looking for a challenge.
I exit the club and run straight out onto the road. As I lift my hand for a cab, I turn and see my three bodyguards in a scuffle with the bouncers as they try to get out of the doors and follow me. A cab pulls up and I immediately jump in.
“Where to, love?” the driver turns to me and smiles warmly. My eyes flick to the door of the Ivy. “Umm, Rose Bay, please.”
I am furious, how dare he keep another secret from me? He obviously doesn’t give a damn about my feelings. My phone rings and the name Lambo lights up the screen.
Should I answer it? I tap my tooth as I think. Shit. “Hello,” I snap.
“Get your fucking ass back here now!” Joshua growls.
My blood boils…is he serious?
“You have got to be kidding,” I snap. “Why didn’t you tell me about this?”
“Because I knew you would be a drama queen.”
“Drama queen?” I yell.
“Well, seeing as you are on your way home without your guards and you have just jeopardized your career by assaulting a lunatic, yes I would say you are a drama queen. Get your ass back here now!” he screams and then he hangs up.
I start to hear my pulse in my ears and put my hands over my mouth.
Shit, he’s right. If that lunatic presses assault charges my career is screwed.
What an idiot. He’s right, I am a drama queen.
I close my eyes in disbelief at the turn of events.
Why is my first instinct to run? I sit in silence as I stare out the window. Should I go back?
I can’t believe this shit, bloody TC. Abbie said she was trouble. My phone rings and I jump and look at the screen. Bridget.
“Hello,” I answer.
“Tash, what the hell is going on? Abbie and Cameron are having a screaming match and Joshua just told Ben off when he told him he couldn’t catch you. Where in the hell are you?’
I shake my head in anger. “Did you know that TC is bribing Joshua for millions of dollars?”
“What?” she stammers.
“She has video footage of her and Joshua having sex before we got together and Abbie the bitch knew and didn’t tell me.”
“What the hell?” she whispers. “That’s why she and Cam must be fighting. Cameron must have told her, and she let the cat out of the bag.”
“What’s Joshua doing?” I ask.
“Looking super pissed off with his hands on his hips and talking to the guards.”
“Sorry to bail. I just can’t believe he didn’t tell me,” I sigh. “You can’t blame the poor bastard. Look how you reacted.”
Regret hits my stomach and I blow out a breath. Why didn’t I stay and talk to him like an adult?
“I know,” I sigh. “I can’t come back, I’m too embarrassed. I feel like an idiot.”
“Do you want me to come home with you?” she asks
“No, you stay with the others and call me tomorrow,” I sigh. “Ok, chick, love you.” She hangs up.
The cab pulls up out the front of my apartment ten minutes later and Max is waiting out on the footpath. He opens the door for me and ushers me out.
“You know better than to run off like that,” he sighs.
“Get lost, Max, don’t lecture me unless you want a black eye,” I snap as I storm toward my apartment.
He smirks as he pulls out his phone. “Hi Josh, I have her… no, she’s fine.” His eyes flick to me. “Do you want to speak to her?” He turns his back to me, and I frown. “Okay.” He answers and he hangs up.
“Why didn’t you put me on the phone?” I ask.
“Um, he didn’t want to speak to you,” he answers nervously.
“What?” I snap as I narrow my eyes. Oh, that’s it, I storm toward my apartment with renewed vigor. He didn’t want to speak to me…well, I didn’t want to speak to him, asshole. I get into my apartment and ring Bridget straight away.
“Hi,” she answers.
“Joshua just didn’t want to speak to me, when he’s the asshole,” I snap.
“Hmm,” she answers.
“He is the one keeping secrets and now I’m the one not being spoken to. He can kiss my ass!” I scream.
“Okay,” she murmurs.
“What does okay mean?” I scream.
“Okay, I think you are acting crazy. It was before he even was with you. You just lost your grandmother so of course he wanted to protect you.”
“But do you see my point?” I scream.
“Stop yelling. Yes, I see your point,” she snaps. “Just don’t worry about it till tomorrow, I don’t think Joshua is.”
I frown. “Why do you say that?” I ask.
“He has just come back from the bar with a tray of tequilas,” she whispers.
“Oh really,” I fume.
“Yes, really, and since I have been on the phone, he has drunk three of them.”
“Oh really,” I fume again.
“I will stay with him and the boys and call you tomorrow,” she replies flatly.
My stomach drops. “Okay, don’t let him out of your sight,” I snap.
“Alright,” she snaps. “Calm down.” She hangs up.
I strip off and head straight to my therapy of choice, a steaming hot shower where I sink to the floor and wallow in self-pity.
“Shhh, shhh.” I wake as I hear laughter echoing through my apartment.
I look at my bedside clock. 4.45 am, frigging idiot.
Then I hear Bridget’s laugh and then Cameron’s voice.
Oh great, they have all come back here. I feel a wave of relief hit me.
I have been over-analyzing my drama queen behavior all night and Bridget is right, I should have stayed and talked to him.
With the relief that he is here I snuggle back into my pillow to try to go back to sleep.
My door opens and I hear them all laughing.
I smile to myself while I pretend to be asleep.
What are the idiots doing? I look in the mirror doors and Joshua is hanging by one arm from the door frame holding something out and Bridget and Cameron are hysterical with laughter behind him, pushing each other into the room as if I am a monster.
“It’s not working,” Joshua laughs.
“Hold it out to her,” Bridget giggles.
“I’m just going to throw it at her head,” Joshua whispers loudly. Bridget burst out laughing. “I’m telling you, once she gets that McDonald’s she will forget she ever had the shits.”
Oh my God, they have McDonald’s and are trying to hold it out to me to be funny. I find myself smiling into my pillow, trying to act asleep.
I feel something small hit my head and Cameron and Joshua burst out laughing again as Bridget shushes them.
I feel something hit me again and then again while they kill themselves laughing. Cameron is on the floor on his hands and knees trying to compose himself.
“We are so funny.” He laughs as he slaps his hand onto the carpet.
What the hell? I put my hand to my head in question. Oh my God, they are throwing fries at my head.
“What the fuck?” I yell.
The light turns on and Joshua bounds onto the bed and Cameron throws his whole packet of fries over the two of us.
“Cameron,” I scream.
Joshua smiles cheekily as he lies next to me on the bed propped up on an elbow. He picks up a fry from the bed and eats it.
“I bought you a Big Mac as a peace offering.” He holds out his hand and in it is a mangled Big Mac with half the wrapper missing.
I frown at his hand. “I’m good,” I mutter.
“It’s really good, I had three,” he slurs.
I can’t help it. I smile. “You had three Big Macs?” I ask. He does an over exaggerated nod, boy he really is drunk.
“Oh Hell,” Bridget whines. “The room is spinning. I don’t feel so good,” she slurs.
“How much have you idiots drunk?” I ask.
“Way too much,” Joshua sighs as he closes his eyes and throws the back of his forearm over his eyes.
“Joshua, put the food in the trash before you go to sleep,” I snap.
He shakes his head. “No,” he says flatly.
“Just save it for breakfast,” Cameron answers as he walks into my living room and flops onto the lounge.
Joshua immediately starts to drift off and Bridget goes to the bathroom.
“I’m going to throw up,” she moans.
I stand in annoyance and go to my linen closet and grab a blanket and throw it over Cam on the lounge and grab a bag and start picking up the fools’ fries that are scattered throughout my bed. Joshua is out cold, asleep on his back, and Bridget is in the bathroom throwing up.
I walk down the hall to her. “Are you ok Didge?” I ask.
“No, call me an ambulance,” she mutters from her seat on the floor.
I smile. “Come on into my spare bed.” I try to pull her up. “No, just leave me here. I’m fine.”
“Are you sure, baby?” I wipe her forehead.
“Mmm.” She puts her head onto her arms over her knees.
I hate that spinning room feeling. I leave the lights on for Didge and go back to bed and I screw my face up in disgust as I enter my room. Joshua smells like he has been tipping the tequila all over himself…and he’s been smoking, he stinks.
I smile as I drift off to sleep, at least he’s here. Drunk as a skunk and incoherent…but here, nonetheless.
I’m hot and crowded on my bed, and it is still very dark.
Those expensive drapes are without a doubt the best thing I have ever purchased.
I feel Joshua’s large erection in my back as I lie on my side and I can tell by his breathing he is still asleep.
Bloody hell, he’s always up for it…conscious or not.
I wriggle away from him. I’m exhausted and need to sleep some more.
Fifteen minutes later, I feel Joshua’s hand grab my hipbone and bring my body back down to meet his.
“Mmm,” I grumble as I try to move away from him. He’s got to be kidding. I am way too tired. “Don’t,” I mumble again.
He kisses my neck from behind and grinds his erection into my behind as he grabs my hip…when did he take his clothes off?
“Don’t ever say ‘don’t’ to me,” he whispers as he kisses the back of my neck again and pulls me harder back onto him.
My eyelids are still too heavy to open and I smirk. “Joshua, I’m off you, remember?”
I can feel him smile into my neck. “I’m off you too. Fuck now, fight later.”
I smirk. “Shut up and go back to sleep.”