Page 64 of Play of Love
Chapter 14
Amy
* * *
We had a really good weekend. It was the best I’d had in a very, very long time. I ended up staying for the whole time and I loved being with Josh.
I also loved being in his house and not having to go back to my horrible shoebox of an apartment, with those creepy men.
My excitement and lovely weekend was, however, short lived. On Monday afternoon I got a call from Dr. Carson. Mom contracted pneumonia so any plans for surgery had to be postponed until she got better.
Until then Dr. Carson was keeping a close eye on her with a course of strong antibiotics. I was grateful that Mom was getting such good care, but I would have been happier to have the surgery out of the way. Waiting meant still being in the danger zone and further deterioration. However, waiting was what she needed now because her body wouldn’t be able to go through such an intense, invasive procedure with pneumonia. So once again I had to gather faith and strength.
As I was leaving Josh’s house the next day we got a surprise visit. I opened the door and found a man standing on the porch. He was just about to ring the bell.
It was Josh’s father. I’d seen pictures of him, but seeing him standing before me displayed the wealth of similarities he shared with Josh. Josh was the spitting image of him. Same piercing-blue turquoise eyes, same strong features, same build, height, and smile.
“Hi, I’m—”
“Dad?” Josh said from behind me. I turned and saw him.
He’d been in the basement working out in the gym. His hair was dripping with sweat and his white jersey clung to his chest.
“Hi son.” His father gave Josh a tentative look, then returned his gaze to me. “I’m sorry, I can see that you were leaving.”
“Oh, it’s fine. It’s really great to meet you.” I shook his hand. “I should go, though, and leave you two.”
Josh caught my hand and tugged me back towards him. “No, stay.” He then bent down and whispered to my ear. “Can you hang back for a while?” He looked nervous.
I nodded. “Sure.”
He squeezed my hand looking grateful.
* * *
Josh
* * *
I took Amy into the kitchen while Dad waited in the living room.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to put you on the spot like that. Did you have plans?” I should have asked her properly before practically dragging her back into the house.
“I was just going to brush my hair.” She giggled.
I reached for a lock of her silky hair and held the ends between my fingers.
“I can brush your hair for you.” This was the way we’d been since Friday. A continuous flirt cycle where she teased me painlessly with her beauty and I tried to keep my desires under control. Yes, I hoped for more, but this was fine.
“I’ll hold you to that.” She smiled sweetly. “Now go talk to your dad. You’ll be fine. I’ll bring in tea in half an hour or so.”
“You aren’t going to bring in tea because you want to check out my dad are you?”
Her bright green eyes widened and her cheeks turned that sweet rose color. “No, of course not.”
I chuckled, enjoying her protests.
“He looks like you, a lot.”
