Page 55 of In For a Penny
I pull out my phonein the library elevator one more time to double-check the room number Josh said he booked for us to talk in and, hopefully after, work on our project. It’s a study pod I’ve never worked in before on the last floor of the library. I must admit I’m a bit nervous to see him, as I honestly just want to put this behind us. I don’t like how much I’ve missed him, which has been a lot. Alot, a lot.
I’ve managed to keep myself from reading all the messages he sent between the Student Union incident and when I texted him yesterday. I thought things would get worse if I started reading his apologies and excuses via text. After talking to the girls, I realized just how much I wanted to get past this. Josh has always been a fantastic guy. He overreacted, but then again, so did I. The amount of baggage I carry around on my back every day makes me the teensiest bit sensitive sometimes.
I pause outside the study pod with my hand on the doorknob. Taking a deep breath, I turn it and push the door open. My jaw drops.
“Whatisall of this?” I ask, a bit shellshocked, to both JoshandOliver. “What is happening?”
A printed sign with the wordsI’m Sorryhangs on the wall behind the two men, each letter on one sheet of paper. Every surface of the study pod is covered in snacks. Ruffles, chocolate Digestive cookies, Oreos, Cheetos, kettle chips, Ribenas, Coke, and many granola and health bars. Kind bars, Luna bars, Nature Valley… So many granola and power bars.
I laugh, dropping my bag on the floor, covering my eyes and shaking my head at the ridiculous scene. I close the door behind me and reach for a pack of cookies, holding them between my hands, smiling. I can’t believe he did this. He went all out, and although theI’m Sorrysign isn’t the nicest-looking thing, I can appreciate the effort and thoughtfulness in the gesture.
God, he’s so sweet.
My heart squeezes in my chest, and I feel myself blush.
“I told you she’d like it, mate,” Oliver says smugly, crossing his feet on the table, leaning back in his chair, hands behind his head, arm muscles on full display—and looking really good, in case you were wondering.
“It wasmyidea, dumbass!” Josh shoves Oliver, who almost falls back. “It was my idea,” he repeats back to me. I laugh and take a cold Coke from the table, cracking it open and taking a swig.
Josh stands and spreads his arms out like Vanna White, showing off the loot. “I know you like your snacks, so I thought this would be a nice peace offering.” He takes a deep breath before continuing. “I was an ass,” he says repentantly, eyes kind. “Not just to you, but to Oliver, too. You were right. So, I apologized to him for assuming he took advantage of you and then convinced him to help me out here as evidence and backup. I also needed help bringing this stuff up here, because it wasa lot.”
He’s wearing a button-down, which is odd for him, a significant change from his usual promotional t-shirts and old jeans. His shoulders, though not as broad or muscular as Oliver’s, are visible in this outfit. He looks…good. Handsome. His face is clean-shaven, and his hair is brushed and styled.
Josh looks cute today.
I grin, ignoring the thought that just popped into my head. “Yeah, it looks like three hundred pounds’ worth of snacks! I can’t believe you did this.”
Did he dress up just to apologize? Or does he have a date after class? Is it with Eloise?
“Well, I know first-hand what happens when you get hangry or when you’re hungover.” He smiles, and his eyes brighten. “It wasn’t that big a deal, though the security guard at the front desk kept eying me suspiciously, as if I was about to throw a birthday party for a five-year-old upstairs.”
And just like that, we’re good. That’s the thing about true friendships. Stupid fights don’t get in the way of them for long. Sure, just like any relationship, you need to work on them, but you always fight for those that matter.
“It’s true. She does have the eating habits of a child. All Domino’s pizza and junk food and biscuits.” Oliver scoffs in disapproval, shaking his head.
I walk toward Josh and hug him, leaning my head on his comfy chest. He holds me close, laying his head on mine, and I get a whiff of his comforting melon-grapefruit scent. His hands rub my back up and down, comforting me, reassuring me that he’s still here for me. That we’re still us, and we’re okay.
Suddenly, the past few days seem so stupid. The awkwardness of the Salisbury-Stonehenge trip and the argument at the Student Union sound so trivial. This fight, or discussion, or whatever it was, was never going to hurt us. We’ve become too good of friends to let something so silly affect our friendship.
I am done listening to everyone else’s opinion on where he and I stand, too. The more I speak to my friends, the more they push me to believe that things with Josh are more than either one of us think. They insist it is something else, despite my denying it at every opportunity, and it has caused a strain on my relationship with Josh Fox. I’m not going to risk anyone else’s opinion coming between us—or any good friendship I’ve formed in London so far, for that matter. I close my eyes and thank the universe for not having to lose anyone else—especially not Josh.
Suddenly, I feel the same gut-punch in my stomach that I felt during our trip. I can’t breathe. My heart starts beating out of my chest, and I feel like crawling out of my skin.
Too close, too close.He’s too close.
No, no, no, no. Stop. Too much.
My eyes fly open, and I push softly against his chest, trying hard to hide my unexpected freak-out. I want to run out of the room and not come back. Forcing a smile, I thank him again for his gifts, avoiding eye contact.
“And you, too, Oliver. For making sure I heard him out,” I say, turning to face him. He raises an eyebrow questioningly at me but doesn’t press the subject. Josh isn’t the only one who knows me well. He can tell something’s up.
“You two are both idiots, fighting over something so stupid,” he says, running his fingers through his hair.
“Agreed, you are stupid,” I say with a tight smile. I take a deep breath, trying to calm my heart rate. Shoving a cookie into my mouth, I push the huge box of bars toward Josh. “You need to take those, though. You need them in case of emergencies, if I’m ever hungry and there’s no food around.”
He laughs and nods his head. “Fair, fair. I’ll keep these, but you can take the rest of the snacks home with you.” He smiles down at me, relief clear in his eyes. “I can help take them back to your place after class, too, if you’d like.”
Can’t. Breathe.
