There was more to him than just
fighting fires and helping people. There was a reason he was so
passionate about it. She just didn't know what it was. She turned on
a movie. He took his shoes off and sat down next to her on the bed.
“ If
we are watching a chick flick, then I get to pick the next one,”
he said.
“ We'll
see,” she answered.
Before
long, he had his eyes closed. She watched him sleep for a few
minutes. He looked so good on the bed next to her, on his back, with
his hands behind his head, asleep. She wanted to reach over and rub
his chest through his t-shirt. He had definitely gotten better with
age.
Chapter
8
Josh
woke up and looked around the room. Where was he? He felt his arms
around someone and felt a breast under his hand. What was her name?
He didn't remember going out. He opened his eyes and focused. Josh
jumped and pulled his hand and arm back. Oh, shit. It was Lisa. Why
did he have his hand on her breast? She must not have realized it. He
sat up and looked around. The television was on, and Lisa was asleep.
She was on her back with her leg propped up on pillows. He could not
help but notice how relaxed and cute she looked. She was such a sweet
person. He was used to women always asking for things, but she was
different. The couple of days he had been helping her, she had not
asked for anything. He offered to do things for her or get her
things, and she had turned him down every time. The few things she
did let him do, she thanked him for over and over. She really seemed
like a genuine, good person.
He
watched her sleep for a few minutes, before he thought about his good
friend Heath, who he knew had feelings for her. Heath was a good guy
and deserved to find a good woman. Josh knew he needed to put some
distance between him and Lisa. He was not a relationship or love kind
of guy. Why did he want to help her so much, he wondered? Was it
because she was a fire victim? Was it because her family wasn't there
for her? She was so beautiful. Her apartment was ruined and her
things were gone, but he could not bring himself to tell her. She was
so afraid and unsure of what she was going to do. He didn't want to
upset her any more than she already was. When he talked to her, it
felt so natural. He had never felt like that with a woman. Josh was
more like the dinner and a movie, then straight to sex kind of guy.
He didn't like lengthy conversations where they got to know each
other. It was different with Lisa. He liked to hear what she had to
say and wanted to hear about her life. Maybe it was because they
weren't going to end up sleeping with each other. Maybe it was
because she didn't expect anything out of him. He wanted to reach
over and brush the hair from her eyes. Stop it, he told himself. Josh
got off the bed and went to the bathroom to splash some water on his
face. He needed to wake up. From then on, he would help with what she
needed and nothing more. No sitting on the bed with her to watch
movies.
He
heard a loud beep and snapped out of his thoughts. Oh crap! He wasn't
on call. Why were they paging him? They told him they would only call
if they really needed him. Josh had wanted a few days off to help
with Lisa. He ran to her bedroom. She lifted her head and rubbed her
eyes.
“ What
was that noise?” she asked.
“ I
have to leave for a bit,” he said. “Will you be okay? Do
you want me to call Becky to come home?”
He
hurried to get his shoes on and make sure he had everything.
“ I'll
be fine,” she said. “Don't call Becky. She has a meeting
today.”
“ Stay
in bed. Don't get up. You can't bump your foot or put pressure on it.
Keep it elevated. Do you want me to get you anything before I leave?”
he asked.
“ Yes,
Doctor Josh,” she said. “I don't need anything. I'll be
fine.”
He
grabbed his keys and turned to walk out of her room.
“ I'll
be back as soon as I can. I put my number in your phone. Text me if
you need anything.”
“ Josh,”
she said, as he
Learning to Kill: Stories