Chapter 29 #2
“I will see you again on Monday, Natasha. I said a week.” “Josh, no. It’s only Thursday. I can’t wait that long. I feel sick being without you.”
“So, you are okay?”
“Just,” I murmur. “I love you,” I whisper. He stays silent as I hear him inhale deeply.
“Josh, what’s wrong?” Panic sets in, why didn’t he say it back?
“Nothing. I will see you Monday night, okay?”
My face drops. “Do you love me?” I whisper.
“Don’t ask stupid questions,” he sighs.
I smile. “I miss you.”
“Bye, Presh.” He hangs up.
Relief fills me, he called me Presh. It’s ok, it’s all going to be okay.
Joshua
It’s eight o’clock and I am at a Thai restaurant with the boys discussing the two stooges’ breaking and entering today.
We are at at table set up in the back corner.
Ben had to break the locks to get them out.
They were so lucky that they didn’t get caught.
On the upside, they found a whole case of disks and another laptop.
Ben is going to go through them tonight and then destroy them.
I wonder how many other poor bastards’ films are in that box?
“I still cannot believe they broke into her apartment.” Adrian shakes his head in shock.
“I know,” Cameron splutters. “Ballsy.”
Ben shakes his head. “It would have been imbecile Abbie’s idea. She is a bad influence on Bridget.”
I smirk at Ben.
“What?” he says dryly as he raises an eyebrow.
“You have a soft spot for Didge, just admit it.” I pick my teeth with a toothpick as I lean back with my arm slung across the back of the chairs. He rolls his eyes. “She’s a cool chick, that’s all.”
Cameron shakes his head and glares at him. “I told you not to touch her unless you plan on marrying her.”
Ben hold his hands up in defense. “Nobody’s touching anybody. Calm down.”
I smile as I raise my hand for the bill.
“And nobody is getting married,” he snaps. “So, stop worrying.”
“Good,” Cameron snaps. “I would hate to have to kick your ass.”
Ben laughs.
“I would love to see that,” Adrian smiles.
“Ben would kill you with a smile on his face and his hands tied behind his back.” I smile as I listen to the meaningless banter and my mind wanders to Tash.
Hearing her tell me she loved me today has somehow made me relax.
That and the fact I am so physically exhausted from fighting every motherfucker in Australia over the last two days.
Ben knows me well. He knew I needed to kick some serious ass to stay sane, and that is just what I have done.
I actually feel sorry for the poor bastards I fought on Tuesday night, I totally lost my shit.
“Let’s go out.” Cameron stretches as he cranes his neck to eye off one of the waitresses walking past.
“Yeah, ok,” Murph replies. “I could do with a drink.” Ben’s eyes flick to me.
“I’m going to go and see Tash. You go, Ben. There are enough guards over there.”
He smiles at me and gives me a wink. “I will drop you off there first.”
I smirk. “Ok.”
Natasha
I lie on my lounge half asleep. It’s nine o’clock.
I am wearing my white nightgown. After a week of not sleeping, I have finally relaxed after speaking to my beautiful Joshua today.
He called me Presh. It’s going to be ok.
I wish he was here. A knock sounds at my door and I smile, thank God he’s here.
He’s forgotten his key. I bound to the door and open it in a rush.
My eyes widen at the sight of Jesten, not my beautiful man as I had hoped.
My face drops. “Hi Jes,” I whisper. “What are you doing here?” This is uncomfortable.
“Can I come in?” His nervous eyes lock on mine.
I scratch my head in discomfort. “Umm.” I look around nervously for an excuse for him not to enter. Good manners overtake my common sense and I stand back and hold my arm out. “Sure.”
He walks in and stands next to my dining table. This is awkward.
“What are you doing here?” I ask gently, even though I already know the answer.
“I know you explained the situation with your boyfriend.” “I did.” I cut him off. “Loud and clear.”
He nods nervously and his eyes search mine. “I want to know if you will reconsider and perhaps, we could…” He hesitates.
“Could what?” I snap.
“Try to make a go of it. Me and you.” He grabs my hands. I frown. “Jes, don’t.”
“Tash, I care about you and when I rang you on Monday night and you told me you got back with your boyfriend I was gutted, and it has made me realize I have real feelings for you.” I shake my head.
“Jess, don’t. I’m in love with him, it will only ever be him.”
He narrows his eyes. “Does this idiot have any idea how lucky he is?” he says softly.
I smile sadly and shrug. “I hope so or else I am making a huge mistake. If there was going to be someone else Jes…it would be you.” I gently run my hand down his cheek, and he turns and kisses the inside of my palm.
“We could be good together,” he says softly.
“I know,” I whisper. “But it’s not going to happen, I’m sorry.” He steps forward and pulls me into an embrace and cuddles me, his lips dust my temple. “There is a chemistry between us, can you feel it?” he whispers into my forehead.
My eyes widen as I feel his arousal against my body.
I do feel the chemistry. It has never been in question.
“Jes, don’t,” I whisper into his neck. He puts his finger under my chin and pulls it up to meet his face, and he kisses me gently.
“Jes,” I whisper. He kisses me again, running his tongue through my lips more urgently and my hands rise to the back of his neck.
The key turns in the door and I jump back from Jesten in a rush. Holy shit.
Joshua opens the door and does a double take between Jesten and me. His eyes drop down my body to my nightgown.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” he growls at Jesten. My eyes widen in horror. OH. MY. GOD.
“You,” Jesten snaps. “This is your boyfriend?” he screams at me.
Joshua storms into the apartment and punches Jesten straight in the face and he drops to the ground and I scream.
“Joshua! What the hell?” Holy shit!
He picks him up off the floor and they start to punch each other and Joshua throws him across the table and the vase of flowers smashes everywhere.
“I swear to God I am going to tear you from limb to limb!” Joshua screams.
I have never seen Joshua so crazy. He’s going ballistic and throwing Jesten around like a rag doll. I think he’s going to kill him.
“This is the fucking guy?” Joshua screams at me.
I shake my head as I burst into tears. He thinks I slept with Jesten. I can’t believe I even contemplated it. What in the hell is the matter with me?
“You know I hate him. How could you?” Joshua is so mad that he looks like the incredible hulk and is scaring even me.
“No, no, no.” I shake my head violently. What the hell have I done?
“She loved every minute of it,” Jesten baits. My eyes widen in horror. Not now Jesten, you are going to get yourself killed.
Joshua punches him violently again three times in succession. “Joshua!” I scream. “Stop it!”
Jesten fights back and kicks Joshua in the stomach and they roll until the lounge tips over. Oh shit, this is really bad. I run to the front door and open it in a rush.
“Get in here,” I scream to the guards who are all standing around listening, obviously letting Joshua kill Jesten on purpose.
“Max,” I scream as I turn to see Joshua throw Jesten over his shoulder. “Joshua no. Stop it!” Oh my God, he’s going to kill him. “I will get a knife and cut your fucking throat,” Joshua screams as he smashes Jesten’s head on the ground.
Ok, he’s getting unstable and the stupid bodyguards are just standing around watching. I run down the hall and bang on Max’s door. Max opens the door in a rush. His eyes widen when he sees me. “What’s wrong?” A smash comes from the apartment and he frowns and runs past me into my apartment.
“Jesus,” he yells. “What are you idiots doing? Stop this immediately.”
The guards finally step in and break them up and start to drag Jesten from the apartment.
“I’m not leaving her here with this psychopath,” Jesten yells at Max.
Max’s nervous eyes flick to me and I think he agrees with Jesten. “I’m ok. He won’t hurt me,” I whisper.
“Tash, come with me,” Jesten pleads.
My terrified eyes meet Joshua’s. “It’s ok, Josh, calm down, baby.” I walk slowly over to him as he sucks precious air into his lungs. He’s furious. He thinks I slept with Jesten. I slowly slide my hand up his perspiration clad arm as his dark eyes meet mine.
“Sshhh,” I whisper to try and calm him. “Goodbye, Jesten,” I snap, “Max show him out.”
The guards leave the room, and I am left with my broken wild animal.
“Sshhh, it’s ok, baby,” I whisper. “He’s gone.”