Page 60 of Dreams
Chapter Fourteen
“Ready?” Josh asked, taking her hand in his.
“As I’ll ever be.” She grinned.
They pushed open the door and started to run, their feet pounding into the pavement in time with the rain. It was a downpour. That was the only thing to call it. Thunder rumbled in the distance seconds before a flash of light lit up their path. Taylor jumped, her slick hand sliding from Josh’s.
By the time they got to the shelter of the parking garage her perfectly curled hair was drenched and sticking to her face. Her makeup was surely ruined. The dress that had made her feel so beautiful minutes before now clung to her thighs as the water pooled at her feet.
Their chests heaved as they fought to breathe normally, both grinning like idiots.
“That was fun.” Josh laughed, pushing his wet locks away from his face.
“How is it that I always end up so wet when I’m with you?” She stopped talking and her face heated up as her words replayed in her mind. It didn’t help that Josh was laughing so hard his face turned red.
“I didn’t mean…” She grasped for words. “It’s just that the first time I met you I was in a pool. And then the first time I went to your place, it was raining, and we got soaked.” She pinched his arm. “Ugh! Come on, Josh.”
“I’m sorry.” He held in another laugh as he pulled her to him and pinned her against the car. Trailing kisses along her jaw, all humor was gone in an instant.
She tilted her head as his lips moved down to her neck. His breath was hot on her skin as he spoke and she tugged him closer until his hips were flush against hers. He chuckled, and the vibrations ran through her body.
When he kissed her again, she shivered, making him pull away and take his warmth with him.
“You’re freezing,” he whispered. The hair on her arms stood on end as he ran his hands up and down. “I’d give you my coat, but it’s kind of soaked.”
“I left mine in Abigail’s car.”
“We’ll go to my place and dry off.”
She nodded as he opened her door and helped her in before running around to the other side. The nerves Taylor had held at bay all night hit her in full force and she suddenly couldn’t look at Josh. She wasn’t used to this anymore. It’d been so long since she wanted to be with anyone and she didn’t even know what Josh wanted. Did he want the girl he saw tonight? Because that wasn’t her.
“Hey.” Josh grabbed her hand as he parked the car. “You okay?”
A tight smile formed on her face and she glanced sideways at him, nodding because she didn’t trust herself to speak.
“Would you rather I take you home?”
“No,” she finally said. “I want to be here.”
They walked into the apartment to find Mack on the couch with his date straddling him.
“Dude!” Josh covered his eyes. “You have a room.”
Mack sat up quickly, pushing the girl off him in the process. She let out a squeal of protest, but he stood anyway, with only a pair of boxers hanging from his hips.
“Sup, Man?” He sauntered towards them, stumbling slightly. “About time you brought a chick home. It’s been too long for you. It’s not healthy. And Coach’s daughter, no less.” He raised his hand to Josh.
“I’m not going to high-five that.” Josh stared at his friend with disgust.
“Oh, well,” Mack said. “We’ll be done soon.” He winked at Taylor before going back to resume things with his half-naked girl.
“Come on,” Josh said, pulling her into his room and shutting the door to drown out the sounds. “I’m sorry about that. He’s an asshole sometimes, but this isn’t him. Something is up, and I can’t figure out what.”
“You’re a good friend.” Taylor walked further into the room and looked around. It was immaculately clean, unlike the rest of their apartment. The bed sat in the center with a deep red quilt draped over top. A picture on the dresser caught her eye, and she moved closer. It was the redhead she’d seen online.
“That’s Michaela,” Josh said, coming up behind her. Michaela. The woman who was practically his sister. She heaved a sigh of relief.
“She’s beautiful.”
