Page 70 of Coveted Justice

A sandwich and some aspirin. She had a nasty headache from staring at a computer screen all morning. Neither of them had taken even one break, because then they’d have to talk to one another.

“I could go for a burger, but I’m open to something else. Pizza sounds good, too.”

“Pizza sounds good,” Josh replied, nodding his head. “Sausage and pepperoni? I’ll go get it. It will be faster than delivery.”

The pizza place was only a few blocks away, on the corner across from the library. It was a sunny day, and warm. It would be a nice walk.

With fresh air. That sounded like just what she needed.

“I’m happy to go,” she said, opening the drawer to her desk and reaching for her purse. “I could use the break. I’ve been sitting too long.”

Josh shrugged rather awkwardly, his feet shuffling on the worn tile.

“We could both go. I mean…you know…eat there. Like…together.”

That would mean sitting together and actually having to talk. Normally, this wouldn’t be an issue but today it might be tough.

“Oh, together. Sure, we could do that.”

His gaze dropped to the floor and then back up again. His expression had changed to something determined, his jaw set for a fight.

“Actually, I was thinking that you and I might go out together tonight. Like dinner and a movie? You know, if you wanted to. I thought we’d have a good time. What do you think? Are you busy?”

Was this a…date? It sounded like one. What was it that her father said sometimes? If it walks like a duck and it talks like a duck, it’s probably a duck.

Was this a duck? Had Josh just asked her on a date? And if he did, did she want to go?

Yes. She did. But she still didn’t know what it was he was asking. Really asking.

“You’re not doing something with Chloe?”

Amanda could feel the heat rushing to her cheeks. What had made her blurt out that question? It was mortifying. She didn’t want Josh to think she was jealous or anything.

“She and I aren’t a thing,” he replied. “I don’t know why she even stopped in here. We’re not dating and I only know her through mutual friends.”

Amanda knew exactly why Chloe had shown up here at the office. The girl hadn’t even tried to hide it. She had to wonder if Josh’s genius IQ included dating and girls. It didn’t look like it.

“She showed up here because she likes you. It was plain to see, Josh.”

He winced a bit at her statement, exhaling noisily.

“I don’t feel that way about her. She’s nice and all, but she’s not my type.”

“What is your type?”

Christ on a pogo stick, she needed to stuff a sock in her mouth because she clearly couldn’t control herself. She had verbal diarrhea and it only served to make her look like an idiot.

Shut up now.

Josh shrugged awkwardly, his gaze on the floor again.

“You know…someone different. Someone more like…you.”

Amanda couldn’t breathe. Oxygen wasn’t getting to her brain. She could have sworn she heard him say that she was his type.

“Me?”

The word came out as a high-pitched squeak.

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