19. Chapter 15

I walk out of the house to find Josh leaning against his truck with his arms and feet crossed, and my breath catches. He truly is a sight to behold with his six foot three frame and broad shoulders. From this distance it's easy for me to look him over from head to toe without him knowing. I feel a blush creep up my face as my thoughts are not quite friend-like.

Even though I know everything about this situation is fake, it's bringing back memories of my crush on him. I remember how he would pretend to hate the drawings I did of the two of us and a smirk slowly creeps across my face.

Then again in high school, Josh was liked by everyone. He was kind, smart, funny and seriously the hottest guy in school. When he saw me in the green face mask that Susie insisted we try I wanted to die of humiliation. To this day, he still brings it up.

All of these past feelings are starting to intermingle with the present, leaving me utterly confused.

"Hey." I smile at him as I subtly wipe my palms down my jeans. My heart is beating a million miles a minute.

"Hey." He pushes himself off the truck and his green eyes sparkle while his lopsided grin has my stomach join my already racing heart in flip-flops. "Are you ready for this?" He asks as he opens the door for me.

"I guess as ready as I'll ever be." I blow out a big breath as he closes the door behind me. My eyes track him as he walks around the front of the truck. "How do you think everyone is going to react?" I ask as he climbs in.

"I'm not sure." He turns the ignition and pulls away from the curb. "They've been acting strange. Like they don't believe what I'm telling them."

"Aunt Marie and Uncle Rich too! I feel like there is some inside joke that I'm not in on." I shrug. "It's almost like right before Christmas or the surprise party they threw me for my sixteenth birthday."

"I remember that! You almost didn't go and Susie had to tell you what was going on because you were so mad at them." We laugh together at me having one of my many teenage meltdowns at his house.

"I was so angry. They were all acting weird, and I was missing my parents. It was a rough time." Josh gives my hand a quick squeeze as I look out the window, feeling tears sting the back of my eyes. I wished my parents could've been there to celebrate that milestone with me. Knowing all the things they will still miss saddens me a bit. "You and Susie were amazing and the party was perfect."

As the tightness in my heart releases I smile at how lucky I am to have my aunt and uncle. They made a really difficult time easier and never made me feel unwanted or like a burden. I didn't make it easy on them. They handled my anger at the death of my parents, and my overall horrible teens with humor and grace.

"So what's the game plan?" Josh looks at me as we stop at one of the few red lights in Pleasant Hollow. His face is so serious I burst out laughing.

"I don't know. This was your agent's idea. Didn't he give you any suggestions on how to talk to our families?"

"No." Now Josh is laughing as the light turns green. "He told me not to tell them."

"Ahhh. Why is he your agent again?" I narrow my eyes at him.

"Cause he's really good at his job." Josh shrugs as my mouth drops open. "Usually, anyway," he adds a bit sheepishly. "Okay, this is the plan. We're just going to tell them everything. About my contract, my shoulder, and Finn's suggestion because of Tea Time."

I drop my head in my hands.

"What?"

"It all sounds so stupid when you put it like that," I groan. I feel Josh's hand on my shoulder, gently massaging. At the simple touch I feel goosebumps form on my entire body.

"It will be fine," he says. "Just be prepared for the jokes. It may be something they never let us live down."

"Ugh." I bury my face further into my hands. I feel the loss of heat as Josh pulls his hand away and the truck stops. I look up to see we've reached our destination.

"Brie," Josh says my name quietly and my stomach swoops when I meet his gaze. The solemn look in his eyes and the soft smile on his lips instantly helps my stomach to settle. "It's all going to be fine. Let's go get this over with."

I nod and then get out of the truck. I wait for Josh to walk around before I start walking toward the steps. He gives my hand a gentle squeeze.

"It will be fine. I promise."

The confidence in his voice and look in his eyes has me feeling like there is nothing that Josh Owens can't do. It soothes my nerves and a sense of peace comes over me.

"Let's do this." The feeling that Josh and I are on the same team is something I never thought I'd see, and yet it's comfortable.

"That's my girl." He high fives me and I chuckle at his childlike attitude.

Feeling ready to take on the world, we start up the stairs to his parents' house. When he gives me one last look I feel my resolve wobble.

I blow out a big breath as he holds the door open for me.

Here goes nothing.

My body is tense as I walk into the scene in front of me. Susie, Dennis, Lynn, my aunt, and my uncle are all sitting at the dining room table talking up a storm. But the storm is more like a whisper.

"Hey," Josh yells to interrupt the secret conversation.

"Josh!" Lynn rushes up and gives her son a hug. At the same time, Aunt Marie comes over and embraces me.

"Brie." Lynn focuses her attention on me and I see a mischievous glint in her eye that has my stomach dropping. "How are you honey? The last time I saw you was over the summer before school started.

"Yeah, sorry about that. Life's been a bit crazy."

Aunt Marie and Josh's mom give each other a look, a smile, and a nod. I widen my eyes and look at Josh. He silently shrugs.

"Sorry, but we sat down to start without the two of you," Lynn says as she walks back to the table. "Grab a seat."

I notice that they have Josh and I sitting next to each other. The room has turned heavy with silence as five sets of eyes are intently focused on the two of us. Josh pulls out my chair for me and then sits down next to me.

I am so nervous about our conversation that I haven't been aware of the little things that he's doing, like opening my door or pulling my chair out, until I notice everyone throwing looks at each other while smirking.

My heart feels like it's trying to escape my rib cage. I take a sip of the water in front of me, swallow past the lump in my throat and wipe my hands on my jeans.

Have my hands ever been this sweaty in my entire life?

My pounding heart is all I hear. I see mouths moving but can't register what's being said.

"What?!" Everyone seems to yell at once, snapping me from my emotional fog.

"Fake?" Susie says incredulously.

I obviously missed Josh breaking the news and their reaction to it is one of obvious disappointment.

"Wait a second," I jump in, as I realize that they were all excited at the prospect of Josh and I together. "Am I correct in assuming that all of you would support Josh and I being in a relationship?"

"Yes!" Aunt Marie, Lynn, and Susie say together, while Dennis and Uncle Rich just continue to eat.

"We would be happy if it made you happy, honey," Uncle Rich adds. I smile at him and Dennis, who, at the moment, seem to be the only voices of reason.

I look at Josh and his eyebrows are raised to the sky and his mouth is hitting the table. I burst out laughing and then so does he.

"Can you imagine us…" I move my finger between the two of us. "Actually a couple?" I struggle to get the words out between breaths.

He just shakes his head as he continues to laugh. I wipe a tear from my eye and then look back at Susie, Aunt Marie, and Lynn. Their arms are crossed, their lips are tight and they are definitely not finding this as funny as Josh and I.

Their looks shake me out of my laughing fit and I clear my throat. I take another drink of water to wash away the cotton that has filled my mouth.

"Hey," Josh says with his hands up. "I'm sorry if you're all disappointed but this isn't what it looks like. Tea Time made something out of nothing and Finn decided that the positive attention could help me."

They all look at Josh and their expressions soften as annoyance is replaced by worry.

"What are you talking about?" Susie asks with an arched brow and cocked head. She looks to me and then back to Josh. I cast my eyes downward.

"I hurt my shoulder, and have been benched while it heals—" Josh starts to explain.

"We've all seen you haven't been playing Josh." She narrows her eyes and crosses her arms. "But what does that have to do with fake dating my best friend?"

Josh picks up his fork and starts moving the food on his plate around, looking rightly chastised.

"You all know it's a contract year." He glances up and sees them all give a slight nod before continuing. "So far I haven't heard anything from management, and I've been playing hot headed. Finn thought that maybe this had something to do with the team not reaching out to him."

"Josh, that's ridiculous." Susie rolls her eyes. "Before you got hurt you were the top wide receiver in the league."

"Susie," Dennis says to his daughter. "Let him finish."

"Thanks, Dad." Josh gives him a grateful look. Everyone is now focused on Josh with confused looks on their faces. "This is true but with the injury and the recent penalties I started to get worried. It's not a big deal if the Mavs don't sign me, someone else will. But I'd hate to not be able to see everyone."

Dennis and Lynn look at each other and I see them give each other's hand a squeeze. Susie's expression softens as if she realizes for the first time what Josh is saying.

"And then Tea Time came along with Briosh and Finn hopped on it," Susie says, nodding. "It makes sense actually. You do have a bit of a bad boy reputation on and off the field, and Brie is the consummate good girl. Squeaky clean."

"Susie." I glare at her. I know she didn't say I was boring but that's what I heard.

"What?" She retorts. "If anyone can make someone look good it's you Brie, and I don't mean that in a bad way. You're kind, considerate and everyone loves you. On top of that you're an elementary school teacher. Wait! Did Finn set up that whole school thing?"

"Yes," Josh answers.

"Brilliant." She chuckles. "Okay. Now, I can see his vision."

The tension in the room eases and I feel my stomach settle a bit as they all seem to get on board with the current situation.

"For how long?" Susie glances from me to Josh. I look at Josh and shrug.

"Haven't thought that far ahead yet," Josh says, still looking at me.

"Oh," Susie says.

"So you don't have a plan for the break up yet?" Lynn says a bit too enthusiastically.

"Not yet," I respond. "We're kind of just taking it moment by moment." I notice the exchange between Lynn and my aunt and I feel my stomach start to swirl again.

"What about kissing?" Susie blurts out with a grin so big I swear her face is going to split.

Everyone turns their eyes toward me and I feel heat creep up my entire body and reaching my face. I lift my hands to my cheeks trying to cool the heat. "Uh," I mutter.

"We decided that only the bare minimum would be necessary," Josh rushes out.

"The bare minimum?" Aunt Marie asks Josh coyly. "Can you explain to us exactly what the bare minimum is? Inquiring minds would like to know before Tea Time."

Everyone starts to chuckle. I start praying that the floor will open up and swallow me whole. I look over at Josh and for the first time in my entire life I see him blushing. My mouth drops to the floor and a laugh bursts out of me.

"What?" He glares at me.

"You're blushing," I say pointing to his cheek. "I've never seen you blush before!"

"I'm sorry, but I never thought I would be having a conversation with both of our families about us kissing and them wanting details."

My laugh becomes slightly hysterical at the ridiculousness of it all and Josh just stares at me. Everyone else starts laughing too. Josh is staring at everyone with his eyes wide and I just laugh harder.

"Hey, this isn't that funny," he mumbles, which only makes me laugh more. I catch his eye and before long he's laughing with us.

After a few minutes I look at everyone and smile.

"So yeah, Josh and I are temporarily in a fake relationship until we aren't. There will be kissing in public, how much hasn't been discussed yet but it will happen at some point." I feel the heat creeping back up my face again and I hold a finger out to everyone. "But we won't be talking about those details with all of you."

Mouths all over the table open to speak but I cut them off.

"No," I say firmly and put a hand up. "We just wanted you to know the truth because lying didn't feel right. Please don't make anything more out of this situation than it is."

I look at each of them individually and then I glance at Josh. If I wasn't already sitting down I would have fallen from the expression in his eyes. The intensity has me feeling zings all through my body and I feel the heat start to creep up to my face for a third time before taking my eyes away from him.

When I look back toward everyone they are all hyper focused with the food on their plates. The small grins on all of their faces has my stomach flipping this time, but I brush it off.

Well, that didn't go too bad and our families are on board. For the first time since sitting at the table I begin to eat the food in front of me. Dennis and Uncle Rich start to talk about Dennis' new yard project and everyone else falls into easy conversation.

I feel Josh squeeze my knee. I glance in his direction with a small smile. Everything is going to be fine. I look up and see Susie is looking at the two of us and I mouth "What?"

"Nothing." She mouths with a shake of her head and a chuckle.

Well, everything will be fine, except for Susie who I am sure will be grilling me until this whole thing is over. Susie has never been one to keep her opinions to herself. I smile at how disappointed she's going to ultimately be.