CHAPTER 12
Diana
“Thanks again for this evening,” I say.
“My pleasure,” Joshua says as he enters the living room with two Cokes and three glasses.
He bends over to set the cups on the coffee table and begins pouring our drinks. From my angle I’ve got a perfect view of his tushy. Did he plan it that way?
It doesn’t matter. All that does matter is me keeping my hands to myself. I want to jump up and grab it.
When he finishes pouring he turns toward me.
“That was the nicest restaurant I’ve been in. Ever,” I say.
“Me too. I don’t usually go eat in places like that…ever actually. But tonight I wanted to celebrate a special event. I want to say it’s because of a business event, but it’s really something more human.”
I’m not sure if I should pry. He hands me a glass of the fizzy deliciousness. Oh, how I love Coke. Did he remember from those times he was at my house, or did he just get lucky?
“But the real event is you.”
“Me?”
“You,” he says, staring right at me. His confidence is unwavering. His eye contact unbreaking. “Ever since you came over with that Halloween candy, Brianna’s been doing much better. I owe you a huge debt of gratitude.”
“It was nothing. Really. She’s a great kid. I enjoy hanging out with her.”
“I’m glad, because I hope we all get the chance to hang out a lot more in the future.”
His word choice doesn’t go unnoticed. He’s standing above me. Just a few inches from me in the area that separates the coffee table from the couch.
From my seated position I’m reminded how much bigger, stronger, powerful, and dominant he is. And it’s not just to little ol’ me, but to other guys in general. They just don’t have his presence. The way he takes up space. The way he says things with such directness and self-assuredness when he’s making a point or being serious. I like that he can be easygoing most of the time, but when he wants to emphasize something, he certainly does so.
And a big emphasis on how he feels about me would be if he sits down next to me on the couch.
He turns to do just that, and I quickly slide to make room for him.
“Beat ya!” Brianna says, as she darts right into the position he was about to take.
Brianna cuddles up next to me, and I have to say it feels nice…but I was hoping to be the tiny body who cuddles up to the bigger body…not the other way around.
Joshua rises from his squat, and looks back at me. He smirks, letting me know we were outdone by a seven-year-old.
First my dad. Now Brianna. The world is conspiring against us getting close.
The anticipation is driving me crazy with desire, but I’m done with the two steps forward one step back game we’ve been unexpectedly playing.
How much longer will this continue? These interruptions?
I remind myself to be patient. This isn’t regular dating. Joshua is a single dad, and that carries extra responsibilities.
A relationship with him wouldn’t just be about us. It would be about all three of us.
And as much as I’d give anything to be with him and only him right now, I’m falling for his Brianna just as much as I’m falling for him.
I pull her in tight and grab a blanket from off the back of the couch.
Joshua lights a fire.
Brianna asks me something, but I don’t even hear it. I’m too busy checking out that tushy of his again.