One Step Forward by Tia Fielding

Author:Tia Fielding [Fielding, Tia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: gay romance
ISBN: 978-1-63477-601-1
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 2016-08-08T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11: On Higher Ground

I WOKE up to the sound of the front door and glanced at the clock Marie had brought in for me, sitting on the mantle of the fireplace. The digital numbers shone in the darkness. Early, very early. But I could tell the sun would rise soon. My throat felt dry.

Then it came back to me. Sound of the front door? Joshua still wasn’t back. My heart sank. What if he was coming back, but then decided not to and went back to… to Riley?

Whatever was happening, I needed a drink. I got up carefully and hopped to the kitchen. There was a window open, and I could hear two people talking. Quietly I went to the fridge and took out a bottle of water. Then I stood in the dark kitchen and listened to the voices of the two people I loved most in this world.

“All I really want to know, Joshua, is that why the hell do you act like a kid when you’re what, twenty-one? Sure, I know you’re younger than Sam, but do you have to make it so obvious?” Christy hissed at him.

Before Joshua could answer, I heard her voice again.

“See, what I don’t get is that he loves you more than he’s willing to say, and from what your mom told me, I know you love him too. So even in the name of taking things slow, what the fuck, Joshua? Taking things slow is one thing, but sabotaging your own relationship and taking steps back is just fucked up!”

I gawked at the language she was using.

“Erm… should you be cussing so much?” Joshua said in a soft tone, chuckling a bit.

“Oh shut up, kid,” she snapped at him, but I could hear she wasn’t mad.

“All I can say is that I do love him. I’m planning on making things right and….” He sighed, and I could picture him running his fingers through his tousled hair. Then he said something I couldn’t hear, and because it seemed like they’d be talking for a while longer, I decided to hop back to bed before I caused more swelling to my ankle.

I must have dozed off. When I woke up again, it was light outside and Joshua was beside me, asleep. For a moment I just watched him, thinking about how much he had come to mean to me in such a short time.

Reaching toward him, I moved a few stray strands of hair from his face. The simple touch made my heart stutter. I was falling in love with him, and I was afraid.

Joshua stirred when I let my fingers slide down his cheek. “Morning,” he muttered and smiled sleepily. He opened his green eyes and looked at me in an endearingly sleepy way for a few seconds before the reality hit and he practically jumped up.

“Oh my God, I’m so sorry, Sam!” The words flew out of his mouth at a frantic pace, and I had to smile a bit at his expression of pure horror.

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