Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 88317 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88317 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
CHAPTER 22
* * *
CARLY
A WEEK LATER, the mountainous piles of snow left behind from that storm were finally starting to melt in Woodsboro.
We’d had a reprieve from the inclement weather, but here inside the cabin, there was no reprieve from the feelings I’d developed for my roommate.
Josh was working out in the living room one afternoon while Scottie played on his iPad. I decided to sneak in a call to my friend Christina.
With my voice low, I sat on my bed and told Christina about a new guy I’d met a few nights ago while out with my local friend. Lisa had arrived with Rob, the guy she’d met the first time we were out together. Rob was now Lisa’s boyfriend, and he’d brought his friend, Mitch. (I’d made sure to confirm that Mitch was not, in fact, related to Josh.) Mitch had ended the night by asking me out, and I’d left things open for the possibility.
Yesterday he’d texted to ask if I wanted to go back to The Bar for an official double date with Rob and Lisa.
“I’m thinking about it,” I told her.
“What’s your hesitation?”
I was looking at my hesitation. It had currently come to do pullups on the threshold of the doorway to my bedroom. My hesitation had a perfect thin line of hair leading down to his V and was still very much forbidden to me. My hesitation was hot as hell.
I’d not told Christina about the mutual-masturbation session Josh and I had engaged in that one night. She would’ve eaten up that spicy tidbit, but I was keeping those details close to my chest. However, she did know he and I had discussed our attraction to one another, and that Josh had closed the door on anything happening.
I decided I needed a bit more privacy to vent today. “Hang on,” I said, grabbing my coat. “Josh, I’m going to the store to get some groceries.”
He stepped aside and wiped sweat from his forehead. “Get some more ice cream, and we’re all out of eggs.”
“Okay.”
As I entered my car, Christina giggled in my ear. “You two are so...domestic.”
“That’s one word for it.” I chuckled. “Da-fucked-up is more like it.”
“I could tell you didn’t want to talk in front of him. What’s up?”
“Yeah. Can’t really talk about Josh in front of Josh. I just wish I could rid myself of these feelings for him. I know that’s what’s holding me back from going on this date.”
“It sucks, but you need to give this Mitch guy a chance. You don’t know how long you’re gonna be in Woodsboro. It could be years before Scottie gets into a home. You can’t be celibate that long. If Josh has made it clear there’s no future for the two of you, you need to move on. But you know that already.”
“Yeah, I do.” I turned the car on and took off down the long and winding road that led out of the wooded area we lived in.
“Josh must be seeing someone, isn’t he?” she asked.
“Well, that’s the weird thing. Not that I know of. He’s usually either home working or out running errands for us. And he stays home every night. I pretty much know where he is at any given moment. There’s no time I can pinpoint when he might be meeting up with someone.”
“That must be tough—a virile man like him not having regular sex?”
Something was wrong with me, because as soon as she said that, my mind went to Josh on top of me, and I felt myself getting wet. My body had become sensitized to even the thought of something sexual with him.
“You’re right. I need to force myself to move on. The last time I dared go out on a date was a complete disaster, though, with it ending up being Josh’s brother and all.”
“Oh, that’s right.” She cracked up. “What are the chances of that?”
“Very high in Woodsboro!”
“That’s probably true.”
We chatted for a few more minutes until I arrived at my destination.
I sighed. “I’m at the grocery store. I’m gonna let you go.”
“Go get your man ice cream.”
“Clearly, I don’t have a man. Otherwise, I wouldn’t feel so damn frustrated right now.”
***
After I went to the store yesterday, I’d texted Mitch and agreed to the double date. We’d decided on tonight, and Josh was going to look after Scottie, although I’d yet to tell him exactly who I was going out with.
But when he asked me a direct question, I could no longer deny my plans.
Josh grabbed a seltzer from the fridge and cracked it open. “So, you’re meeting Lisa and her boyfriend?”
“Yeah.” I paused. “And one of his friends.”
Josh stopped mid-sip. “Oh...so, it’s a date.”
“Yeah. A casual one.”
He nodded and picked some lint off his shirt. “Well, that’s good.”
Things were quiet after that. Josh went to a corner of the living room, took his shirt off, and started working out—hard. As usual, I couldn’t help watching his glistening body in action. Although, never again would I stare.