I frown. “Are you doing something?”
He shakes his head as he takes my hand and looks at the ground. “Tash … I don’t want anything.”
I frown again. “What do you mean?” I ask as panic starts to fill my veins.
“Natasha, I don’t want to pick up where we left off … Last night….this morning, it was a mistake.”
Chapter 16
“No, don’t say that.” I grab him in an embrace.
“Tash, don’t,” he murmurs into my neck.
“Can I see you tonight? Please, baby, I need to explain a few things,” I beg as I run my fingers through his hair.
He looks at the ground, “I don’t think so.”
I cut him off and pull his face back to look at me. “Stop thinking. We will go out for dinner, back to that Italian restaurant. The one you like, remember it?” I smile a hopeful smile at him. “We went there on our first date.” I nod as I smile.
“Why?” he asks.
“Josh, I want to explain why I left you. You don’t understand why and I want you to know.”
His eyes fill with hurt. “Yes I do, I had the audacity to sleep with someone else while we were broken up. Remember?” he says dryly as his eyes penetrate mine. He’s seeing if I bite.
Hmm. “Please Josh.” I grab his hand. “Please!” I pull a whiny face like a little kid and bounce on the spot.
He smiles a resigned smile. “Ok, dinner, tonight only. I will pick you up at eight.”
I stand up onto my toes and kiss him quickly. “Ok, thank you. I will look forward to it. Actually, are you sure you don’t want to come back in with me now to save time later?” I point to the door with my thumb.
He widens his eyes at me. “No,” he mouths at me as he smirks.
I smile as I hunch my shoulders. “Ok, eight. What do you want me to wear?” I bite my bottom lip in cheek.
His eyes hold mine as he raises a brow. “What do you want to wear?” he asks sexily.
“You,” I whisper as I smile.
He shakes his head and smiles darkly. “Behave, Miss Marx, or your mother might get a show on the lounge-room floor.”
My eyes widen. “Oh right, shit, I forgot she was here.” I kiss him quickly and rush back into the apartment to see my mother making tea.
I hunch my shoulders and bite my lip to hide my smile as I close the door behind me.
“And?” Mum smiles.
I flop onto the lounge and hold my heart. “Oh my god, Mum, he’s so perfect it’s scary.”
She blows onto her coffee to cool it. “He’s definitely gorgeous, I will give him that. Sorry to interrupt. I have put the key back on the bench so I don’t do it again.”
I smile sadly at her. “You ok?” I ask.
She shrugs. “I will be. It just got to me, seeing all of Mum’s friends saying goodbye to her.”
“It would,” I sigh. “It will be ok, Mum. She is going to be with Grandpa when she dies, and Dad. Dad will be there to meet her.” My eyes tear over.
She nods as her tears start to fall. “I miss your father, Natasha.” She sobs as she drops her head into her hands.