Page 54 of Fever

“You’re serious?”

“Yes.”

He took my hands in his, and my eyes fell to the joining of them.

“You know if I’m your girlfriend then our pretending becomes real,” I said then shook my head. “No, not right now. Let’s just stick with our arrangement, and after that’s over, we’ll take it from there.”

“So that’s a no. You don’t want to be my girlfriend.”

“I don’t want to confuse things, Josiah. That’s all. I’d rather we do things one at a time. Let’s finish what we’ve started, and if you still want me to be your girlfriend, we’ll take it from there.”

I was repeating myself. I did that when I got nervous.

Josiah stood. “Okay then.” He reached for me, and I glided to him. “Come walk me to your door.”

“You’re leaving?”

“Did you want me to stay?”

“I just assumed you would since we’ve spent the day together. Hey, you aren’t mad, are you?”

“About what?”

I watched him carefully for a long second then shook my head.

“Nothing, it must just be me.”

Josiah bent forward and placed a gentle kiss on my lips and caressed my face.

“I’ll see you later.”

He strolled to the front door, and I trailed awkwardly behind him. Josiah didn’t glance back as he stepped outside and left the porch. I watched him climb into his Infiniti, and my stomach knotted. I didn’t like the lumbering feeling that sat in my gut. Had I upset him? Truthfully, Josiah and I got along so great I wanted a real relationship with him. But I didn’t want it to happen because he felt an obligation to me. I wanted what I offered him to be plain and simple. I didn’t see a problem with us waiting until things were clear before we embarked on a genuine relationship. But I was now beginning to think I’d made a mistake.

Josiah grinned and hit his horn than pulled off down the road. I closed the door and checked the time on the wall. It was close to ten o’clock. I turned out all the lights and took a quick shower, brushed my teeth, and tied my hair down before crawling into bed. However, Josiah’s scent had been left behind in my sheets. I knew I should probably change them, but I had no desire to. And I hoped like hell it wouldn’t be the last time I smelled his fragrance coupled around me.

The next day, I’d made myself busy doing things I did on a regular basis like spring cleaning. I’d changed into a pair of jeans I wore whenever I painted, which was not often. I wasn’t one to move around much, but the recent relocation from Houston to Chicago put me in the mood to paint every room in my house. So, there I was in paint-stained jeans, a T-shirt that held a few holes, with my hair tied up in a knot on the top of my head. I grabbed a bucket, some Fabuloso cleaner, a feather duster, and started in my bedroom. When I say I spring cleaned the house, I mean every corner, nook, and cranny. By the time I’d made it to the kitchen, my ankles ached and that was saying a lot.

I’d missed the whole day getting things straightened out, and I was sure the music coming from the MP3 earplugs helped with that. During this time, thoughts of Josiah were sporadic. I was trying to keep my mind focused on everything but him. Why? Because it was unhealthy not to do so. But every time the soft melodies of Musiq Soulchild, Raphael Saadiq, and Anthony Hamilton streamed through my plugs, I found my thoughts going right where I was trying to keep them from. Josiah. At the end of the day, I checked my cell to find I had a single text message from him.

Good morning, beautiful. You have an interview with the Chicago Chronicle and the Illinois Tribune tomorrow. Your first appointment is at 11 am with Lauren Hathaway. The second is at 2 pm with Van Stone. I know you’ll knock it out the park. Talk to you later.

I smiled and rubbed my thumb over the phone’s screen. It hadn’t even been twenty-four hours, and already Josiah had managed to score me two interviews. My smile brightened, and my heart thumped thinking about how sweet he was to me. I hit reply and sent a message back.

Hey you, I just saw your text. I’ve been off the grid for a while but thank you, Josiah. You really didn’t have to.

I blushed and clutched my phone as I waited for his reply.

I told you I would. You’ll do great. Oh, and stay on the grid, woman. I won’t have you going dark on me.

I smiled, and a tingle fled through my spirit. I love you…

I wanted to type it, but I had a feeling I was alone when it came to loving Josiah. It was another reason I hesitated when he asked me to be his girlfriend. If we were right for each other, it would happen, and Josiah would be as enamored with me as I was with him.

The next morning, I entered the Chicago Chronicle with my head held high. I’d chosen a high-waisted full navy blue and white polka dot skirt, ruffled blouse, and three-inch heels as my interview attire. In my hand, I held a briefcase and my recommendation letter from the Houston Report. As I sat in the waiting room, I crossed my legs and swayed with a light bounce.

“Ms. Summers,” a woman called.

I rose and smiled up at her.

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