Total pages in book: 152
Estimated words: 145155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 726(@200wpm)___ 581(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 726(@200wpm)___ 581(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
“Josh, what’s wrong?” His eyes search mine. “Are you sick?” He pulls me into an embrace and kisses the top of my head. “I love you, Natasha, you know that, don’t you?”
I smile and nod as I kiss his chest, what is this about? “I love you, Josh, you know that, don’t you?”
He smiles nervously and nods. “Sit down, Presh, we need to talk.”
“OK, what about? Are you going to take me to Pound Town, my beautiful Lamborghini?” I raise my eyebrows as I go to drag his shorts down, but he stops me. His face drops and he looks like he is about to burst into tears.
I frown. “Josh, what is it? You’re scaring me. What’s wrong?”
He swallows and goes to speak but nothing comes out and he closes his mouth again.
“I, I just have a head…headache that’s all,” he stammers.
I smile a big smile at him. “You big dope, why didn’t you tell me? I will get you some aspirin.” I jump up and return with a glass of water and his tablets and he pulls me down onto his lap and cuddles tightly.
“Bed, baby,” I demand. “I can’t stand seeing you like this.”
As I lie in bed four hours later, I am achingly aware that Josh is wide awake next to me thinking about something. I can hear his mind ticking from here. Something has happened today, something that has upset him. Maybe he spoke to his mother on the phone and is upset about it or maybe his friends didn’t like me. I don’t think that is it, though. I can’t put my finger on it but being a psychologist sucks sometimes. I wish I couldn’t read people so well or try to analyze why they are thinking so much. He said he had a headache, and I should just believe him. Unfortunately, a tiny voice deep down in the pit of my stomach is telling me something is seriously wrong with my beautiful man and it’s a problem that he doesn’t want to share with me. Maybe tomorrow will bring new light.
I woke alone this morning, no note left from Josh and it is now four o’clock in the afternoon and I haven’t heard from him at all today, which is very unusual. He hasn’t left while I slept since we started seeing each other seriously and it has left me feeling uneasy all day. I called him to see if his headache was alright, but he didn’t answer or call me back. He has usually called me at least a couple of times or texted me long before this. I walk outside to my car in between my patients to try and find Max. I find him sitting in the park.
“Hi, Max.”
He smiles and nods. “Hi, Natasha.”
“I was wondering if you know if Joshua is at work today.”
He looks uncomfortable. “I believe so, ma’am.” He nods. Hmm, what in the hell does that mean? He’s obviously not sick, yet he hasn’t called me back. Maybe he’s getting cold feet about our relationship. I try to calm my nerves and the sick feeling in my stomach. I hate depending on someone so much and we have come too far to be playing games now.
“Thank you, Max.” I march back inside with renewed purpose and ring Adrian who answers on the first ring.
“Hi, Tash.”
“Hi,” I snap. “Can you put Joshua on the phone, please?”
He stays silent and after a minute whispers, “Sure, baby, I will get him.” I hear him hold his hand over the phone and walk into Josh’s office. “It’s for you.”
Then I hear Josh’s angry voice snap, “Stanton.” I stay silent as I listen to the anger in his voice. What in the hell is going on with him?
“Josh, it’s me.”
He inhales and I can hear he’s shocked that I have tricked him by ringing Adrian’s phone.
His voice softens. “Hi precious, are you OK, baby?” He’s not angry with me, I can hear it in his voice.
“What’s going on? Why haven’t you called me back?” He stays silent. “Josh, I asked you a question. Answer it.”
“Natasha, I’m very busy. I can’t talk.”
“Don’t you dare very busy me. What the fuck is going on?” He stays silent and I know I have shocked him with my screaming anger. “What time are you coming over tonight?” I ask. Again, silence. OK, I am getting seriously pissed off now. Who in the hell does he think he is? “Answer my question.”
“Tash, I have to work tonight, I’m not coming over.” Now it is my turn to stay silent. He doesn’t want to see me—my stomach drops. “Tash, just…just know that I love you and I only want what’s best for you, OK.” I frown, he’s talking riddles. What is that supposed to mean?
“What’s best for me, Josh, is to not be away from you.” “That’s debatable,” he whispers.