Faithful (Wanted 3)

n’t tell her!

“Oh, I love that dance hall! Who’s all going?” she asked as she glanced over at Elizabeth and me moving toward the stairs.

“Normal gang, I guess!” Josh said, laughing. “I’ve only met Ari and Ellie twice now, but they’ll be there with Jeff and Gunner. I think Brad’s wife will be there, too. ” Josh turned and looked at me. “Right, Heather? The whole gang?” He smiled.

“Yep,” I said with a weak smile.

Please say no. Please say no.

“Oh, I’d love to see Jeff and Gunner again. Yeah, count me in. I’d love to meet their wives,” she said with a shit-eating grin on her face.

I changed my mind. Ari will kick your ass so fast you won’t know what the hell hit you.

Just then, Elizabeth leaned in closer. “You must be making evil plans ’cause that smile on your face is speaking volumes!”

I glanced at her and giggled. “This could actually be fun. ”

“Josh, you might have to take a drive out to Fredericksburg with Heather to help her bring some stuff to the house. ” Elizabeth dropped her arm from mine and started to head up the stairs to the house.

Josh looked at me and then glanced over at his mother. “Okay…for the party?” he asked, confused.

Elizabeth turned around and gave a smile like I’d never seen before. “Oh no…Heather is taking a leave of absence from work. She’ll be staying with us for a bit until you’re fully recovered. You know how I hate leaving you home alone while I’m at work,” she said with a wink. She turned and walked into the house.

I slowly peeked over toward Josh and Victoria. Victoria’s mouth was hanging open, and she was just staring at the door Elizabeth had just walked through. Then, she shot a look at me. I reached down inside and pulled out my inner Ari and Ellie. I gave her the biggest go-to-hell-bitch smile I could muster. Then, I glanced over at Josh. He was completely focused on me.

“Hell yeah!” Josh walked up to me and hugged me.

As he held me in his arms, I picked up my hand and gave Victoria a wave of my own.

“I need to leave, Josh. ” She pulled open her car door and got in. She didn’t even give him time to turn and say good-bye before she was speeding off down the driveway.

“I think my mom pissed her off earlier when she asked her to leave,” Josh said with a shrug of his shoulder.

I just looked at him. Yep. Stupid ass, he was indeed.

Chapter Fourteen

I smiled as I pulled up to Ari’s parents’ house. The past week had been so fucking great. Heather had moved into the house the same day my mother announced it, and everything had been perfect. Since Victoria hadn’t called, texted, or stopped by the house, I could focus all my attention on Heather.

I parked my truck and thought about last night. Heather had packed up some sandwiches and fruit, and we had taken a walk down to the main pasture. God, it felt so good to be alone with her. We’d talked, we’d laughed, and we’d even played I Spy. I’d never felt so alive in my life.

When I asked her why in the world she would take a leave of absence from her job, she had pulled away from me and tried to change the subject. I knew she was trying so hard not to push her feelings on to me, but I’d kept asking her to tell me why. When she told me it was because she missed being near me and because she loved me, it had taken every ounce of energy I had to not pull her into my arms and make love to her.

God, I just want to be with her…but I can’t. Not yet. I need to make sure I do this right.

Just then, someone started knocking on my truck window. I turned to see Gunner holding up a little guy, who I assumed was Matthew, Ari’s little brother. After Jeff and Gunner had told me all about Matt, I was dying to meet him, so we were going to take him fishing today. Jeff had said that Matt and I were pretty close, and I used to come over all the time to play video games or just hang out with Matt.

I took a deep breath as I tried to remember everything Jeff had told me. I opened the door and got out as Gunner placed Matt on the ground.

“Josh! I’m going to hug you!” Matt yelled as he grabbed me by the legs and hugged me. “I’ve missed you, Josh, you assmole!”

Did he just call me an assmole?

I glanced back up at Gunner and Jeff as I started laughing. They were both shaking their heads and mouthing, No.

No?

“Holy shit! Did he just try to call me an asshole?” I laughed harder. I bent down and got face-to-face with Matt.