Summerfield: Chapter 25

I couldn’t sleep that night. I felt horrible for how I treated Josh, but the more I thought about it, I realized he never asked me out for a date. He never even said that he was interested in me. Was he hoping it would just magically happen? That’s how it happens in the movies, but not in real life. He never explicitly stated his intentions. How did he expect me to react?

I was agitated, and began to toss and turn more. I was determined to give Josh a piece of my mind soon. So, after dressing in the morning, I marched right up to the bookstore door and started knocking way before opening time. In a few minutes, Josh opened the door.

He was in plaid pajama bottoms and a white T-shirt, his hair sticking out all over his head. “Yes, what do you want?” he muttered and yawned.

“I should be asking you the same question!”

“Huh?” Josh glanced down at his attire and then waved me in.

“I’ll be right back,” he said as he went upstairs to his apartment to change.

I waited impatiently; arms crossed, tapping my foot.

He came down in dark blue jeans and a faded band T-shirt and started making coffee in the store's back office as I joined him.

“You want some coffee?”

His nonchalant attitude was getting on my nerves. “No.”

He shrugged and then poured some for himself after it brewed. Then he headed out to the main floor of the store and gestured toward some leather chairs that were there for customers. I sat down reluctantly as he did the same.

Apparently, I had calmed down enough to speak like a rational adult. “You don’t have a right to be mad.”

“Mad about what?”

I swear I was about to run out the door, slamming it as I did. Instead, I inhaled and exhaled a few times.

“About my changing emotions; I mean you’ve never even told me you wanted to be with me!”

In response, Josh’s face grew red. I wasn't sure if he was blushing from embarrassment or about to go into a fit of rage. He took a sip of his coffee and put his mug down gently on the small side table. He sighed and said, “I’m sorry. I haven’t been in a relationship since high school and that wasn’t a real one. I don’t know how it’s supposed to work, and I didn’t mean to blow up on you. Can you forgive me?” His eyes looked sad and sincere. I didn't want to disappoint him. My anger and frustration left quickly as I peered into his eyes, noticing their chocolate hue turn to honey brown as the morning sun washed over them through a window.

A sense of awe and attraction washed over me. I couldn’t talk, so I responded by putting my hand on top of his. He looked down at my hand and then looked briefly at me. Next, slowly and gently, he took hold of my hand so it was underneath his for a few seconds.

Then he removed his hand quickly to pick up his mug, covering his face as he sipped. He was blushing and it was adorable.

I slowly drew in to give him a swift peck on the cheek. Then I escaped out the door and into my own business before he could respond.