28. Chapter 22

The look on Josh's face when he saw me in his jersey made every nerve ending in my body tingle. Yeah, I know people use that expression often, but it was the first time I've actually ever experienced it. I could feel the trail his eyes left on each part of my body. My back, my face, my lips. Oh, my lips.

When he pulled me against him, my knees went weak and to say I was surprised would be an understatement. But when his lips touched mine I couldn't think of anything else except my racing heart. Kissing him back was the most natural thing in the world at that moment. It wasn't until after the kiss that I remembered I was still at the stadium in front of the entire world.

I wouldn't take it back, but I know without a doubt that it is going to be in Tea Time tomorrow. Or maybe later today. For all I know, Chamie already posted it. Whoever she is, she works fast.

Josh is still trying to get Susie to talk about Adam, but she keeps bringing the focus back to Briosh. Watching them bicker back and forth has always been fun. But today it's Josh and I against Susie.

"Suse, you know what this is," I say seriously.

"No. I know what you tell me it is. But I also know what I see, what I've seen forever. You two like each other."

"Of course we like each other," Josh throws in.

"HA!" Susie jumps on that.

"That's not what he meant," I chirp.

"Suuuurrreeee… Just like I don't like Adam." Josh and I both pounce on the opportunity to change the subject.

"I knew it," we say at the same time.

"You didn't know anything." I poke him. "I've been saying this for weeks and you've been telling me I'm crazy."

"So sue me." Josh smirks. "I've been a little distracted."

"I'd say you have been." We both look at Susie whose eyes twinkle at the two of us. "You know, kissing my best friend and all."

My entire body flushes and heat rises to my face. I look at Josh and see his face is pink too. He clears his throat.

"I have a fundraiser at the Colorado Children's Hospital on Wednesday. Do you think you'd be able to come with me?" He meets my eyes in the rearview mirror.

As Josh's gaze meets mine there's a vulnerability that I rarely see, and it tugs at my heart. "You know I love children. I'd be happy to go."

Susie chuckles from her seat, and we both pretend she's not there.

"Awesome. I'll call you later with the details," he says as he pulls up to the curb in front of my house.

"Sounds good," I say as I get out of the car. I walk over to Josh's window and lean in. "I will talk to you later. Bye, Susie."

When I turn to walk toward my house I can hear Susie yell as Josh starts to pull away. "What? No goodbye kiss?"

I shake my head and laugh, but don't look back as I wave. Instead I turn my focus to the fact that I will see Josh in just three days. A smile stretches across my face and I skip up my steps and find myself humming "This Kiss" by Faith Hill.

I'm decked out in Mavs gear from head to toe when I get into Josh's car on Wednesday afternoon. I close the door behind me, look at him, smile and lean in to give him a kiss on the cheek. Just in case someone is watching and looking to take pictures, obviously. You can never be too careful.

When I pull back, Josh has a smile stretched from ear to ear and his green eyes have a teasing glint. "You look like you just stepped out of one of the Mavericks' team shops."

"When I got home from school today there was a box with everything in it. I wasn't sure what to wear." I give him a nervous glance. "Is it too much?"

He glances away from me, a smirk on his face, and pulls away from the curb. "Well, the kids are gonna love it."

I rub my hand over my face and groan.

"You look adorable." He rubs my back to help me relax and tingles shoot down my spine. "Really."

I look at his profile and marvel at the handsomeness of this man. I have snuck glances at him throughout the years we've known each other, but today I take advantage of the fact that we are alone. My eyes run over his long lashes that I would kill for, his chiseled cheekbones, strong jaw, and full lips.

"You need to stop looking at me like that." He chuckles and glances in my direction. "Or I might start to think that you actually want to be dating me."

I quickly look away and feel heat creep up my face. I laugh to try and diffuse the tension. "Sorry," I mumble and stare out the window, looking at the houses we pass on our way to the hospital. I hear Josh's low rumble beside me.

But that's the rub, you see. I do like Josh, I always have. Even when I would bicker with him, I knew it wasn't because I hated him. I had too much fun doing it for me to hate him. I think I just always put him in the off-limits category. He was my next door neighbor, then my best friend's brother, and last, a complete jock. Any feelings, whether I had them or not, didn't matter.

Even if I had admitted I liked him, there was no way he would've actually been interested. So I pushed any feelings that I had down. Until now.

This entire situation has all those thoughts, ideas, and possibilities that I secretly harbored coming back. According to Susie though, they weren't so secret. And I'm not the only one who had them. Is it true that Josh has always liked me too?

The car engine stops and I turn to see Josh getting out of the truck. I pull the sunvisor down and take one last look at myself as Josh opens my door.

"Are you sure I look okay?" I ask sheepishly as I get out. He's standing right in front of me so I can't move forward. I look up and his bright eyes make my breath catch. He pushes some loose hair behind my ear.

"You look better than okay," he murmurs as he puts out his hand to me. I take it and we start walking into the building. "Seriously, Brie, the kids are the only reason we're here, and they are going to love you."

"Josh," Finn greets us excitedly and shakes Josh's hand. "This must be the first half of Briosh! It's so nice to finally meet you."

"That would be me." I smile at him. He looks me up and down and chuckles. "It's too much, isn't it?"

"You look great." He waves away my concerns, and out of the corner of my eye I see Josh give him a side eye. I fidget with my clothes feeling uncomfortable.

"Remember why you're here with me. It's all about the kids. Don't think of anything else." Josh whispers in my ear.

I look up at him and mouth a silent "Thank you." I take a deep breath, decide to ignore any looks that might come my way, and follow Josh's lead. Luckily Finn is the last person to give me any strange looks. Adam and a few of Josh's other teammates welcome me with warm smiles.

I see the nurses and parents start bringing kids out. Some of the kids are being pushed out in their beds, others in wheelchairs, while some are well enough to walk out. I feel a sadness overcome me knowing that some of these kids may not make it through the year.

Then I see the players start going up to them and introducing themselves. These big burly men are all acting like teddy bears, and I suddenly have a new respect for what the team does in organizing these types of events. I had heard Josh talk about them, but experiencing it first hand is completely different.

The joy the kids are feeling surrounds them in a glow of happiness. I can't stop the smile that slowly creeps across my face as I can see the wide smiles on everyone's faces. My eyes automatically search the room for Josh and I find him watching me. His steady eye contact and smirk make my stomach swoop.

His smile widens and he gestures for me to come join him over by the child and parent he is talking too.

"Sam," Josh says as he guides me to his side and rests his hand on my lower back. "I'd like you to meet Brie." Sam's face lights up and the smile she gives me makes me wish I had sunglasses.

"I've been following you two in Tea Time." She claps her hands excitedly, and I let out a small laugh. She gestures for me to come toward her and I lean in. "Though Briosh is the stupidest nickname."

"I completely agree," I reply solemnly while I nod my head. I hear Josh chuckle behind me. "Especially when your other nickname is a cheese." At that, everyone laughs and the sound can be heard bouncing off the walls.

I look up at Josh, and the smile falls from my face as the air is knocked out of me. The yearning look in his eyes has me stunned. I exhale and then put a shaky smile back on my face before glancing back at Sam as she grabs my hand and gently tugs me toward her.

"Can I come to the wedding?" I feel heat creep up my face and my smile falters again.

"It's a bit soon for wedding talk, don't you think?" I take a peak at Josh and see the look of shock on his face at the audaciousness of this little girl. Then a huge smile breaks through and he looks at me and shrugs. My heart flips and an image of him standing at the end of the church waiting for me flashes through my mind. I feel a silly grin come over my face and my thoughts are interrupted by Sam's voice.

"Nope, definitely not too soon to talk about wedding invitations."

"You are something, little girl." I squeeze her hand and laugh. "If there is a wedding, I will make sure that you get an invitation."

I bend over to give her a kiss on the cheek and hear her whisper. "When." I smile at her and feel Josh's hand on my elbow.

"We need to let some of the other guys get their chance with you. You know how you're everyone's favorite," Josh whispers to Sam.

Another smile brighter than the sun crosses her face and I smile in return. "You know I am." She says and we both chuckle.

"It was a pleasure meeting you," I say, looking at both Sam and her mother.

Josh starts to lead me away when I hear Sam's voice. "I'll keep an eye out for that invitation." I look back at Sam and smile and wave. Josh catches my eye and we both chuckle, the light pressure of his hand on my elbow sending shockwaves through my body. Surprisingly, at this moment, I can't think of anything I would like more than inviting Sam to my wedding.

The smile on my face grows larger and Josh's eyebrows rise. "So who are we going to visit next?"

Josh smirks at me and lets out a laugh. "Paul. You think Sam was precocious? You just wait." He pulls me to his side and I let myself lean into him while wrapping my arm around his waist. I'm pretty sure that I could get used to these types of events with one Mr. Josh Owens.

In fact, I'm pretty sure I could get used to having Josh in my life like this permanently.