The last thing I wanted was to be out after having a rough day and seeing too many faces, but it’s hard to say no when Josiah gives me his very beautiful grin. My heart flutters, and I feel nothing but alive.
It’s night, thankfully. The road is more free than it’d usually be—it was like it was pre-planned. He listened to me while I yapped and complained about my shitty boss at work and some of my annoying coworkers.
I honestly used to think I was the problem until I met him.
“Look at the stars,” I said as he stopped at a food drive-thru. “Pretty, aren’t they?” I glanced one more time at their beauty. They were so far away, yet they shined—some shinier than the others—but they decorated the sky more than anyone could manage to make anything beautiful.
“Very pretty,” he said, looking very intensely at me.
I sincerely thank the Lord for the shade of my dark skin, perfect enough to hide my blush. I could only hope my eyes and expression didn’t give it away.
I thought we were talking about stars. Too delulu, aren’t I?
“Amaya?” he called my name.
Jesus, Amaya, stop spacing off like that.
“Yeah. Right?”
I’ll blame Josiah for making my heart go all pit-a-pat. I’m just a girl who had a rough day, who’s in the passenger seat pretending not to have feelings for her very good friend who told her he’s in love with her.
What am I doing?
I switched on the radio and let All My Love by Ariana Grande and Major Lazer play.
Last thing I needed. We got our burgers and milkshakes and continued driving.
He said we’d be driving till I was calm and able to get work off my mind. It worked, work is off my mind. And now? Josiah is.
We talk about random things, like a memory from secondary school, and argue about how we were the same height until he grew way taller. Who knew that could ever happen? In my head, he was wayyy shorter.
“You weren’t taller than me.” He rolled his eyes, and I laughed.
“Sure.” I took another bite of my burger, leaning into my seat, my head to the side, watching him.
Ackkk, he smells so nice.
“Hey, you have something.” He, with a concerned face, reached for the side of my lips and wiped the ketchup off it.
No one warns me what’s about to happen next because he licks the ketchup off his finger.
My eyes widened before I grimaced. “Ew. Ew. Ew!”
“What?” He chuckled.
“Ew. You put it in your mouth.”
“It’s just ketchup, Amaya.” He deadpans, but his smiling face remains. “Nothing from you is disgusting.”
Deep down, it’s nothing but ew. It’s tempting, enlightening, and appealing. But I must pretend not to like it, else his ego inflates.
He asked me out but told me he’d wait for my answer. Is this where I give it?
“Whatever. Who does that anyway?”
Amaya, you coward. Tell him.
“Me, I do. You know what’s better than long drives with the windows down?”
“Ice cream?”
“Yeah, but no. It’s that little moment you looked at me when you thought I wasn’t watching.”
“What if I wanted you to know?”
Uh oh. Do milkshakes give liquid courage?
“What if you admitted you feel the same way?” I froze and looked away.
“I’m sorry. Wrong time.” I could sense his immediate regret.
“Jo, I’m scared of love.” I finally looked at him again.
He didn’t say anything, just parked up the car.
“I know. Let’s walk through that fear together. I’ll be here to comfort you always. I wasn’t joking when I said I’d wait.” He found my hand and held it.
“Maybe I don’t want to wait anymore. Promise you’ll walk with me.”
I have never felt so brave.
“I do. I promise. I will stand with you.”
“Where? Between the heavens and the earth?” I laughed at my Queen Charlotte reference.
“Between the heavens and the earth,” he replied.
“No, please. You look so serious right now.” I giggled.
“But I meant it.” He took the palm of my hand and kissed it like a gentleman. “Is this where I get a Yes, Josiah, I’ll be your girl?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you. I love you, and I will prove it, not with words, but with my actions.”
“Are we in a car or a confession booth? Because this drive makes me want to tell you things I promised I wouldn’t say.” I smiled like a lovesick cracket.
“It could be both. Make me your diary and open up to me,” he said so sincerely that my heart ache, in a good way.
I needed this drive to get things off my chest, to let my heart open, because I don’t want to be scared anymore.- Tori♥️
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