Page 94 of Perfect Enough
Josh took a step back. “It’s just what?”
My hands twisted together as I stood before him, trying to figure out how to word my thoughts carefully. “Your emotions are most likely all over the place tonight, and you might think this is something you want to donow, but…it might not be for the right reasons.”
He stared at me for the longest time, then let out a bitter laugh. “I’ve waited my entire life for you, want to give myself to you, and you’re turning me down?”
“No!” I quickly said, taking a step toward him. My hand reached for him, but he backed away from me. “Josh, I want youmore than anything. But I know what this means to you, and I just don’t want you to have any regrets.”
He turned away and headed over to the bar. “Too late for that.”
I jerked back like he’d slapped me. “What does that mean?”
Josh shrugged as he opened the whiskey and drank straight from the bottle.
“Josh, let me pour you a proper glass.”
He dropped the bottle to his side, and I was momentarily worried that he would let it fall to the floor. “What you can do for me is leave,” he said.
Raising my brows, I said, “I’m sorry? You want me to leave because I won’t have sex with you on the day of your grandfather’s memorial?”
It was his turn to flinch. “I want to be alone.”
I crossed my arms and said, “That’s funny. Not two minutes ago, you wanted me to sleep with you, and now you want to be alone.”
“Yes, Sophia, I want to be alone. I thought maybe you could help me forget, but clearly you’re not interested in that.”
Anger was starting to threaten to boil over. “No, Josh. Because you know what will happen after we have sex?”
He sneered at me. “I’m sure you’re going to tell me.”
“Yes, I am. You’ll be exactly where you are now—still grieving. And then what should have been our most special moment ever, won’t be so special at all. I’m not doing that to youorto me. Hate me all you want right now, but you’ll thank me in the end.”
He pushed off the bar and drank more whiskey. “I’m going to bed, so you can just leave. I don’t need you here.”
When he walked past me, I had to force myself not to reach out for him. I instantly thought about what Kaylee had said to me earlier. My goodness, mother’s intuition, indeed. He washurting, and I knew that. But if he thought he could push me away, he had another thing coming.
I drew in a deep breath and slowly let it out. I’d been staying in the guest bedroom, not wanting to sleep in Josh’s bed without him, and was grateful for that decision now. It meant I didn’t have to go into Josh’s room to get my things. Picking up my phone from the coffee table, I saw I had a text from my mother.
Mom: How is everyone? How’s Josh?
Me: He’s hurt and angry. He tried pushing me away, but I’m not leaving.
Mom: Smart of you. Give him time and space, but let him know you’re there for him when he needs you.
Me: How did the meeting go with the real estate guy?
I watched as the dots moved on my screen for what felt like a lifetime before her text came through.
Mom: He already has an interested buyer. We might be selling faster than I thought. I emailed all our students to let them know that classes will end in the next two weeks.
Two weeks?!
Me: Why so quickly?
Mom: I needed to let them know there’s a potential buyer and that they may not want to teach what we currently do. I told them as soon as we know, they’ll know.
I let out a breath and dropped onto the sofa. My life was changing so fast, and a part of me was excited, but the other part was in freak-out mode.
Me: I guess I might be helping Haven sooner than I thought!