by T L Swan
I give him a sad smile. “Am I wrecking your plans?”
He shakes his head. “No, I’m just glad you two are working your shit out. I will probably live with Murph, that’s if he gets rid of his wanker boyfriend.”
I frown. “Murph, who’s Murph?”
“Adrian, his last name is Murphy.”
“Don’t you like his boyfriend either?”
“I can’t stand him. I think I hate him more than Josh.”
“Why do you all hate him so much?” He shakes his head as he drains his cup. “Spend some time with him and you will see. I don’t get what Adrian sees in him. He’s not even a good sort.” I smile. The boys really are good friends with Adrian—their affection is obvious. Joshua walks into the kitchen with a towel around him and saunters up to me as he gives me a lopsided smile.
“Sorry baby,” he runs his thumb over my bottom lip and bends down to give me a tender kiss. I temporarily forget that Cam is here and return his kiss.
Cameron puts his hands up to his temples. “Fuck. It’s spinning me out seeing you two together. I know you’re together, but I haven’t seen you together, together.”
Josh rolls his eyes. “Aren’t you going out?”
Cam smiles. “Yes. I’m going to find a certain kind of Mrs Tonight.” He winks at me.
I frown. “Mrs Stanton?” I ask and Josh laughs.
“God no… Mrs Give–Me–Head Baby.”
My eyes bulge. “Oh right. How stupid of me. Have fun,” I smirk.
He raises his eyebrows. “I always do.” And within a second he is gone. Josh blows out a breath and gives me a resigned smile.
I go to speak but he puts a finger up to my lip. “You don’t have to come again. It was a mistake making you go. But in my defence it isn’t normally that bad.” I nod as I listen. “How do you know that guy?” he asks.
“I told you he’s a prison warden at the jail I go to.” Josh listens and then narrows his eyes.
“I want you to resign.”
I smile. “I am anyway, dopey.” I roll my eyes. “I’m sort of moving away with this thug I’ve started dating.” He looks relieved and smiles.
“So you are.” He yawns as he goes to my freezer and removes a bag of peas.
“Are you hurt?” I ask.
He gives me a sly smile, “Yes and I need nurse Natasha to give me some tender loving care.” He grabs me roughly on the behind.
“Are you hungry?” I ask.
“Starving.”
“I don’t have any food so I’ll order some Thai takeout. Go to bed and ice your knee and I will be in after I shower.” He nods and bends to give me another gentle kiss as he leaves the kitchen. Twenty minutes later after I shower I walk into my bedroom to find my beautiful thug fast asleep in a towel on top of the bed complete with frozen peas. I imagine cage fighting must be exhausting. Actually you know what? Watching it is too.
I wake to feel two eyes on me and I roll toward him. To my surprise he isn’t in bed with me. He’s sitting on the side of the bed drinking a protein shake.
“I made you breakfast.” He smiles as he gestures to my bedside table. I look over to see a chocolate protein shake in a large glass with ice.
I frown. “Is this a sick joke?” It’s too early for this superhero workout shit. “Josh, I would like two eggs on toast, please.”
He frowns. “You don’t like protein.”
I look at him deadpan. “No.”
He shrugs his shoulders and smiles. “Tough shit. That’s what I’m making today and we have to go to my house for a while. I want to check on Adrian.”
I smile. “Aren’t you supposed to be fussing over me and stuff like in all the romance novels? I never heard anyone say tough shit to their girlfriends in my books.”
His eyes twinkle and he raises his eyebrows. “Yes, but remember that the book about you is called Gagging for it.” I slap him on the arm and he dives over me to hold my hands above my head.
“What are you wearing to the wedding today?” I ask.
He pulls back in horror. “That’s today?” I nod and smile. “We don’t really have to go, do we? I hate weddings.”
“Since when?”
“Since I don’t know anyone there.” I smile. This is the shy thing Adrian was talking about—it’s kind of endearing that he has such a hang up.
“I’ll be there, Josh; it can be our date night.”
He frowns. “That’s a shit date. If you want to go on a date I can arrange something, like the other night.” He smiles a sly smile. “Actually, let’s stay home and watch a movie. I have a really good one that I planned on watching this weekend. It’s called, let me see, Beautiful Slut.” Oh crap, I know what movie he is talking about. The frigging porno staring yours truly.
“Let’s not,” I snap as I get out of bed. I shower and am thoroughly peeved to find that I have my period. How annoying it really is, a fault in the female body. And on the weekend—that’s just rude. Half an hour later we pull up out the front of Josh’s and as we get closer to the wide–open front door I can hear the boys all laughing loudly and bantering with each other. I haven’t been here before and I am feeling a little nervous and out of my comfort zone. The house is huge and impressive and it looks like it backs onto the water. There is a stone table out the front and two security guards are sitting playing cards. I turn and look at the car pulling up behind us to see another two bodyguards pull up who have obviously been following us. How do I keep forgetting we are being followed everywhere? Josh nods as he walks past them and I hang back, a little unsure about whether I should have come. Joshua must sense my apprehension and he turns and walks back towards me.
“What’s wrong baby?” He gently puts his arm around me.
“Nothing. I haven’t been here before and I feel like I might be intruding.”
He frowns and smiles at me. “How could anyone as perfect as you ever intrude on me.” I nod and give him a shy smile. He’s right. If I am going to move to the other side of the world with him I have to get used to his friends. We walk in and my eyes go straight to the beautiful high ornate ceiling. This place is stunning. He follows my eyes to the ceiling and he smiles.
“Nice ceiling huh? The rest of the place is pretty dated though. I’m not really a fan.” I raise my eyebrows—if he doesn’t like this place what in the hell is his house like. “Actually can you get a week off work the week after next? I want to take you to LA to see a few houses.”
I frown. “What’s wrong with the house you have?”
He smiles and puts his hands in his pockets. “Nothing. I just want to start our new life together in a new house, one that you pick. I want you to be happy.”
My heart swells. “As long as I’m with you, baby, I’ll be happy,” I breathe.
He smiles and bends to run his lips gently over mine. “Me too,” he whispers. We walk through large double doors out into a massive kitchen and lounge area. Adrian is sitting on a barstool at the kitchen bench in a pair of board shorts. Cameron is lying on the lounge in a pair of boxer shorts and Ben looks as though he has been for a swim and has a towel wrapped around his waist. Jeez, these guys are buff. This could easily pass as a scene from Magic Mike. Josh grabs me by the hand as we enter.
“Hi.” He smiles at his friends.
“Oh yeah. Mike Tyson is back,” Cameron laughs in a husky I’ve–had–too–many – tequilas voice. He’s talking really loud, obviously still a little deaf from the loud music last night.
Adrian smiles as he walks over, puts his arm around me and kisses me on the temple.
“Good morning, beautiful. How did you put up with this idiot last night?” He smiles and winks at Josh.
“Ha, ha.” Joshua fakes a smile as he pulls me from Adrian’s grip and sits me up on the bench. His little burst of possessiveness doesn’t go unnoticed and I have to say I kind of like it.
“The girls are coming over to go out for breakfast,” states Adrian.
Joshua frowns. “What girls?�
�� he asks.
“Bridget and Abbie. I like your friends, Tash. They’re good value.”
I roll my eyes. “Of course, do you think I would have boring friends?”
Joshua laughs. “Why not? I do.” Adrian whips him with a tea towel. Cameron is lying on the lounge with the back of his forearm over his face. I never realised how hot he actually is. He has the same olive skin as Josh, same height, same dark eyes, but his hair is longer on top with a bit of a curl to it. He’s not as big as Josh and he doesn’t have the tattoo—that tattoo that I love. But jeez he could definitely hold his own. I smile at the thought of all the poor women out there that end up having Cameron as their doctor. They don’t stand a bloody chance. Abbie and Bridget come through the door laughing and Abbie trips over her own feet and stumbles into the kitchen.
“Crap,” she snaps.
“How did you go last night?” Joshua smiles at the girls but continues his conversation with Cameron.
Cameron shakes his head. “I went to bed with a ten and woke up with a two.” Everyone laughs. “I’m not joking, man. I couldn’t get out of there fast enough when I woke up this morning. I left my fucking shoes there.”
Joshua laughs out loud. “What was so bad with her?”
“It was total false advertising. When a girl bats her eyelashes at me, I kind of expect them to be real. She must have been really good with the makeup shit because the girl I went to bed with looked nothing like the monster I woke up with.” He scrubs his hand over his face and does a fake cold shiver.
Adrian winces. “I hate to break it to you, but those beer goggles you had on last night didn’t help.” Cameron screws up his face and nods with his eyes closed.
“Oh my god!” Cameron yells way too loud. “How big were that dude’s balls last night telling Tash to think of him when she had sex?” Everybody, including myself, laughs out loud. I do have to admit it was pretty ballsy.
“That fucker is going to die next time I see him,” Josh says deadpan.
Bridget walks over to Adrian and affectionately cuddles him. “Thanks for getting me home safely.” He smiles and kisses her temple. “No worries, baby.”
“Abbs, what went on with those two guys last night fighting over you?” Cameron asks as he makes his way over to the fridge. Joshua has now settled in between my legs as I sit on the edge of the bench. He discreetly pulls my hips towards his groin and gives me a sly smile. I do wide eyes at him. “Stop it,” I mouth. Abbie rolls her eyes.
“What? Tell me what happened?” I ask, the shock in my voice evident.
Abbie scrubs her face with her hands. “Number four challenged number one.”
I narrow my eyes at her. “Who won?”
“Army guy,” Bridget chimes in.
“So what number is he now?” I ask, confused.
“One. Definitely one,” Abbie snaps.
Cameron frowns as he opens his bottle of water with his back to the girls but facing Josh and me.
“How many do you have?” Cameron asks as he makes eye contact with Josh and takes a drink of his water.
“A few,” Abbie answers. Cameron smiles and raises his eyebrows at Josh. Josh glares at him and mouths the word “No.” Cameron smiles and shrugs as he goes back to his position on the lounge. Hmm, that was an interesting exchange—is Cam interested in Abbie? I’ll have to remember to ask Josh later. Everybody goes into the lounge room and flops onto the chairs as they start to reminisce about last night’s shenanigans. Joshua leans in and lifts my chin to give me a gentle kiss and I put my arms around his neck and breathe in his beautiful scent. He always smells so frigging hot.
“Oh god!” Cameron yells in that damn tequila voice. “They’re all kissy and shit.” Everyone’s eyes shoot back to us on the bench.
“I went to bed with a ten and woke up with a twelve. Why wouldn’t I be kissy?” Joshua snaps as he leans in and kisses me again. I smile into his face. This man really is all kinds of wonderful.
We walk into the reception venue and Joshua goes over to look at the seating arrangements. The church service was beautiful and thankfully short. I don’t know many people. Alyssa and I went to university together but have not mixed much since. It’s one of those weddings that you go to because you have to. It would be rude not to attend. However, in hindsight, Josh’s offer of a hot date does seem like it would have been a better option. He has done well so far and has managed a few strained conversations with people. I can’t believe I didn’t know he was shy, is he shy or is he just rude and not wanting to talk to people. Who knows? I haven’t quite worked that one out. He points toward a table in the middle of the room and we go and take our seats. Joshua looks edible of course in a navy suit, white shirt and grey tie. I am wearing a black draping dress. I had planned on wearing a pale pink tight dress but my bloated tummy made me feel too uncomfortable in it and I hate being self–conscious when things are too tight. To Josh’s amusement our table guests have all started arriving. All eight single girls of them. Is this a set–up? I’m here with the most gorgeous man on the planet and we are seated with eight single girls. I can see their eyes light up as he introduces himself to them. I don’t see any sign of shyness now, prick. The chair next to him is still empty and a blonde in a white lace dress comes over to our table. Shit. She is stunning and equipped with the best set of boobs I have seen. They are hanging out—the dress is damn near indecent. Didn’t she get the memo about not wearing white to a wedding? The rude bitch. She makes eye contact with Joshua and puts out her hand.
“Hi, Tatiana Richards,” she purrs. I roll my eyes, Tittiana more like. Joshua shakes her hand and introduces himself and turns and smiles at me.
“What?” I roll my eyes.
“Maybe this wedding won’t be as boring as I thought.” He smiles at me with a twinkle in his eyes. I fake smirk at him. The thing is, I know he’s trying to make me jealous and guess what? It’s working. She introduces herself to everyone on the table and they all start their usual crap talk. Josh runs his hand up my thigh. “Do you want another drink, baby?” He leans in and kisses me underneath my ear.
I smile. “No thanks.” I have to remember to not show him any sign of my unease. There is nothing worse than an insecure girlfriend. I know, I counsel their boyfriends all day long.
“So, Joshua, I’m a social network analyst. What do you do?” Tatiana purrs.
His eyes light up and he smiles. “I design software.”
“Really.” She smiles and she puts her hand on his forearm. “What a coincidence that we should be seated together.” Oh get off it, you stupid bitch, social network analyst my ass. Anybody can count how many likes they get on their selfies. Joshua moves his arm away from her grip and he grabs my hand under the table. I try to calm my jealousy; she is so making a play at him. “Are you American?” she asks.
He shakes his head. “No, Australian living in America.”
“I see.” She smiles. I look over and see a girl I used to go to school with and we wave at each other over the crowd. I’m not sitting here and listening to desperate and dateless make a play for my man, I might as well mingle. I pull my chair out and Josh grabs my hand.
“Where are you going?” he asks.
I fake a smile. “Over here to see my friend. I’m sure Tittiana here won’t mind amusing you.” He narrows his eyes. En route to my friend I glance out to the balcony and stop dead in my tracks. Oh my god. It’s Christopher. I haven’t seen him since he asked me to marry him and I consequently broke up with him. My heart–rate immediately picks up. Holy fuck, this is a disaster. I pull out my phone and text the girls
Wedding is going great. Dolly Parton cracking
on to Mr Stanton.
And Christopher just turned up.
I continue walking to my friend and I glance back to see Joshua’s eyes firmly on me. He’s not happy I left him there but seriously I’m just not in the mood for Tatiana tonight. Don’t mess with a hormonal woman has always been my mantra. And if she had any sense she
would take the tip. My phone texts a message from Bridget:
Shit, what did Christopher say?
Is he still gorgeous?
I get to my friend Tracey and give her a kiss on the cheek. She continues to babble about the flowers in the church or something. My eyes flick back to Joshua and he is still deep in conversation with the Bimbo central table. I look towards Christopher; his beauty is arresting. His black wavy hair and dark features stand out above the crowd. He’s tall, maybe about six foot one and built in a lean sort of way. I met him at university; he’s an orthopaedic surgeon. I did love him, just not in the way I love Joshua. It’s sad because if we had met in any other lifetime I have no doubt he could have made me very happy. In the end I had to let him go. It was selfish of me to let it carry on as long as I did. I had no idea he was going to ask me to marry him. He was desperately in love with me and I was desperately in love with Joshua. Shit, I don’t know what to even say to him. Why in the hell didn’t I stay home and watch that porno. Hell, I would have bought popcorn. Tracey babbles on a bit more and I feel an arm go around my waist and I turn, expecting to see Joshua. My heart sinks, it’s Christopher and I’m hit with the pain of guilt. He was too good for me; he deserved better.
He bends and kisses me on the cheek. “Hello, Natasha,” he smiles. My eyes flick to Josh who is now watching me like a hawk. I swallow again.
“Hi, how have you been?”
Christopher raises his eyebrows. “You mean since I asked you to marry me and you broke my heart instead.”
I drop my eyes. “Christopher, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. You have to believe me, I’m not the girl for you.”
He bites his bottom lip, “Not really what I wanted you to say Tash. You haven’t missed me at all?” I drop my head.
“Christopher, we wanted different things.” I’m getting uncomfortable with this conversation. Josh will go apeshit if he hears this and after last night I can’t risk his temper. He’s displaying psycho tendencies. I couldn’t bear it if he hurt Christopher. He goes to grab my hand and I pull it away and go to turn and slam straight into Josh who is standing behind me. I feel faint. This is the worse timing ever. I haven’t run into Chris since we broke up. Why tonight? Joshua looks at me and raises his eyebrows in a silent question.
