7. APRIL #2
“You don’t need to,” I objected, secretly relieved he offered.
“It’s no biggie, we live together anyways.”
Kev coughed on his drink.
“Not together, together,” Josh spit out, realizing what he said. “You know, in the same building.” He glared at Kev, who was a shade of deep red from inhaling his drink into his windpipe.
“Then it’s settled, you take her home.” There seemed to be an insinuation there that Josh was glaring at him for.
“How about you?” I nodded to Kev.
“Meh. I see a pretty thing to the right that might just keep me awake.”
“Ewe.” I rolled my eyes.
Kev laughed. “Have a good night. I hope I will,” he said, leaving Josh and I alone as he strolled over to the brunette making eyes at him.
The cool night air was refreshing compared to the stale bar. I clutched my bag for no other reason than I wasn’t sure what else to do with my hands while we walked in silence. Josh seemed unusually stiff, with his hands jammed into the pocket of his jeans, our elbows barely brushing.
The silence hung between us. It was odd, different from inside the restaurant when we were laughing and joking.
This felt cold, awkward almost, but why was this weird?
He offered to walk with me. Maybe he was annoyed that he felt obligated?
Although Josh wasn’t the type to do anything he didn’t want to.
Maybe I was reading too much into it. Probably because I had never spent any time with Josh outside of the team stuff, except for that one night way back when, and then we pretended it didn’t happen.
“Despite being stood up, tonight was fun.” I agreed.
Josh’s shoulders relaxed a little. “It was. You’re a good time.”
There was a swell of pride in my chest. For once, I felt like I got to be myself and enjoy my night without judgement.
“Do you want me to flag a ride?” Josh asked.
“No. I’d rather not be in a vehicle right now.” I could already feel the contents of my stomach rolling at the thought. Vodka was not a good choice for me. Damn nerves. “I can walk. It’s only a few more blocks. But you should grab a ride.”
Josh stopped, shaking his head while staring at me. “I’m not leaving you.”
“Why? I’m all goooooddd.” My voice pitched before I gave him a thumbs up and wobbled.
Josh caught my elbow, electricity jolting through me. For a moment, I just stood there, mesmerized by his eyes and the way they twinkled under the city lights. Could he be my date? Damn Nora, putting ideas in my head that had no place being there.
“What?” Josh asked, when I continued to stare at him.
“Um, you have nice eyes.” I sighed before I could stop myself. Nice. Even worse than asking about being my fake boyfriend. Can this night end already? He smirked and somehow, it was hot. Stop it. His arm stayed snug around my waist as we walked for another minute and I hated that it was comforting.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
He barely smiled and then dropped his arm from my waist. A moment of disappointment washed over me. But then he looped them together at the elbow, like an old-fashioned walkabout. There was something about it that was romantic. Or maybe I’d watched too much Bridgerton lately.
“Thanks for tonight,” I whispered, catching a reflection of us in a window, noting I was still in his shirt. And not hating it. “Oh! I’ll wash your shirt and bring it back tomorrow.”
“Don’t mention it.” Josh shrugged. A stoic expression on his face. “There’s no rush. I like it on you.”
There was playfulness in his tone. His demeanor had changed since we started walking. He was giving me whiplash with his mood swings. One minute he was playful and flirty, and the next he was annoyed or irritated with me.
I stopped in my tracks. “Are you mad?”
His face scrunched up. “What?”
“You’re being weird right now.”
“No.”
“Doesn’t seem like it.”
“I’m fine, April.” He huffed.
He was a terrible liar. Anyone who said they were fine, was the very opposite of that.
Thankfully, by this point, we got to the building and I dug in my purse for my keys.
Josh fished out his key card faster than me, which wasn’t a bad thing, considering how much stuff I’d need to rummage through at the bottom of my bag.
Josh leaned over to press the button to my floor.
The scent of his cologne had faded from earlier, yet still left a subtle hint that made me want to jump him like a feral raccoon.
Without realizing it, I had moved in closer.
He cocked his head toward me with a sinister grin as we now stood nose to chest.
“Something you like?”
“Your cologne,” I admitted with a small sniff that I instantly regretted. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to sniff you.” Get a grip.
“I remember you saying something like that,” his voice trailed off.
A flash from that night slammed into me.
Tipsy and so close to him, I’d said the same thing.
And then he’d kissed me. One of those kisses that could melt you in place.
This time, Josh simply chuckled and stepped back, taking the air we shared with him.
He winked, “Let’s chalk it up to the vodka, again. ”
I swallowed hard and nodded, letting the memory fade away like the distance growing between us. “Yup. Not one for it.” I saluted. “Apparently, I do stupid shit.”
He raised an eyebrow, trying to hold in a laugh.
He was cute when he smiled like that. A little lopsided and utterly adorable.
I rocked on my heels, nearly losing my balance as the elevator stopped.
Josh reached out and caught me again, so I wouldn’t smack my head on the wall. Wonderful! Another graceful moment.
I was surprised to see him move to follow me once the doors opened. “You don’t need to walk me to my door.”
“Why stop now?” He shrugged.
Josh wrapped his arm around my waist and guided me into the long corridor to my apartment. I wanted to tell him I could walk on my own, but considering the past few moments, I wasn’t willing to risk it.
I felt ridiculous for not being able to hold my liquor better.
And for my mouth betraying me, letting slip that I thought he smelled great.
And the thing about his eyes. I dug deep into my purse wanting to duck inside and have it swallow me up.
Except, I couldn’t find my keys once we reached my door.
“You sure you have them?” Josh leaned against the wall.
“Yes. I locked up this morning,” I huffed, riffling through my bag; pulling out tissues, a lipstick, two ChapSticks, three pens, my phone, and my wallet. I was running out of hands. Thrusting the items at Josh, panic clawed at my throat. Where the fuck were my keys?
My arm was nearly elbow deep in the gigantic bag. Rooting past my agenda, a water bottle, and an endless supply of “why was this in here”, I came up short. Then it dawned on me. They were in my work bag, which I left in my office since I was going on a date.
“Fuck,” I groaned.
Josh shook his head. “You don’t have them, I take it?”
“I’ll get Nora to let me in.” I knocked. “You don’t need to wait. I’m sure she’s home.”
Josh seemed skeptical as he huffed. “I’ll wait.”
I texted Nora. After three messages and two calls, she finally called me back.
“Girl, this better be good,” she said breathlessly.
“I’m locked out and need you to let me in!”
“Shit. Sorry, girl. I’m not home. I am out with…” Nora paused, as if she was recalling his name.
“Tyler,” I heard him grunt in the background, which led me to believe they were still mid-activity.
“Can you wait for like an—” a small moan escaped her.
“Never mind,” I groaned, not wanting to hear anymore.
“Come on,” Josh said, peeling himself from the wall and slinging my bag over his shoulder. He guided us to the elevator. “Unless sleeping in the hall is a thing for you?”
This topped my list of embarrassing nights. Stood up and locked out. Just batting a thousand. The ding of the elevator sounded at the end of the hall, making me hurry to find Josh holding the door open. He gestured for me to get inside. This should be interesting.