Page 14 of Drawn To You

“Yeah, she’s supposed to pick me up but she hasn’t been responding to my texts,” he said sounding slightly annoyed. “Abigail drives right past your place on her way home. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind giving you a lift.” Josh said before turning to me and saying, “What do you say, Abby, would you mind giving my boy a lift?”

“Um, sure,” I replied. “That’s sweet, but I couldn’t do that to you. I wouldn’t want to be an inconvenience.” Joshua protested. “No, it’s fine, really. Where do you live?” I asked. “Knott and Lincoln.” he simply responded.

“Oh, yeah, I drive right past your house. It’s literally on my way. No big deal, really.” I assured him. “OK, then. If you really don’t mind, I’ll take that ride.” He said with a smile.

“Well, I’m ready to go whenever you are,” I said and nodded quickly, my voice coming out a bit squeaky. The nervous energy made me feel like my basic ability to converse was malfunctioning. He stood, and we made our goodbyes before walking out to my car together.

* * *

Nervous energy clenched my insides as I drove with him alone. Sparing myself the torture that came from looking at him, I kept my gaze focused forward. An uncomfortable silence filled the car and continued the whole drive.

“This is me up ahead.” Joshua pointed out his apartment complex and I pulled over to let him out. Once I pulled up to the curb Joshua opened the car door and stepped out, and seconds later he was leaning down to talk to me thru the opened window.

“I really want to thank you for the ride home, Abigail. I really appreciate it. Oh and for letting me borrow your sweater. It was a lifesaver.” He said tugging on my sweater that he was still wearing. I waited for him to take it off and hand it to me. But he never did. Instead, he smiled at me and said. “I really do like this hoodie, I think I’m going to keep it.”

“What?” I gasped a little in shock. “Are you joking?” I asked. “No, I’m keeping it, Abigail,” he said looking at me straight-faced and I knew he was deadly serious.

“But…I just gave you a ride home, and I let you BORROW my sweater. You can’t just keep it.” “Sure I can, and I already thanked you for the ride and for the sweater, remember.” he teased. “Joshua, give me my hoodie back. It’s one of my favorites.” I argued. He looked at me thoughtfully for a moment before replying, “Look, I need a sweater because Lily hasn’t returned mine yet, and it’s been cold lately. I’ll make a deal with you. You get me my sweater back from Lily and I’ll return this one to you. Until then I’m keeping it as collateral.”

“You’re serious?” “Deadly.” he smiled. “Give me your phone,” he demanded. “Why, are you going to steal that from me too?” I snapped. “Don’t be ridiculous. I’m just going to program my number so you can call me when you have my sweater and we can make the trade.” not having any other choice I handed him my phone and he quickly added his number and sent himself a text so he could have mine. He handed me my phone back and with one last smile, he said, “Drive safe Abigail.” before tapping the roof of my car and walking away with what could only be described as a cocky swagger.

I sat there for a moment, still a little stunned. I wasn’t really mad about the sweater. Just shocked at his boldness. That night I felt butterflies for the first time and I just knew, I was in real trouble. I had a crush on Joshua and I knew it was damnable, but it was true nonetheless. But nothing could ever come of it. Not now, not ever…

Twelve

Text Messages

Abigail

The entire next week I avoided thinking about Joshua like he was a plague. I worked, hung out at Java Co with the girls, and worked some more. It’s crazy the kind of energy avoiding your problems can give you. Then Friday afternoon I received an unexpected text message from Joshua.

Sweater Thief: Any progress on getting me my sweater?

Oh my gosh, he programmed his name asSweater Thief! How did I not notice that? I couldn’t help but smile.

Abigail: I’m working on it.

Sweater Thief: I’m wearing your hoodie as we speak. It’s so soft and comfy and it smells really good. What is that scent?

Abigail: ???

Sweater Thief: As in what do you always smell like? It’s something sweet and familiar but I haven’t been able to figure out what it reminds me of and it’s driving me crazy.

Abigail: You really want to know what my perfume is?

Sweater Thief: I asked didn’t I?

Abigail: Vanilla Rose

Sweater Thief: I like it.

What the heck was I supposed to say to that? I didn’t need to ask him what his scent was, nor would it be appropriate. Besides I already knew. From our close moments at the coffee shop, and in my car, I knew he smelled like the perfect combination of soap, cedar, and bourbon. I tried not to love it as much as I knew I did. I couldn’t come up with an appropriate response so I left it alone.

Everything about him flustered me, including and mostly the unavoidable fact that he was off-limits. I only hoped that over time, my attraction to him would lessen and I’d come to just think of him as my friend as I should, but for now? For now, I needed distractions and to avoid him if I could.

As the weeks went by I made a few attempts to remind Lily to bring Joshua’s sweater to Java Co so that I could return it to him and get my hoodie back. But Lily, God love her, kept forgetting to bring it with her to the coffee shop.

“You forgot it again didn’t you.” I laugh as Lily walks up to our table, sans sweater, once again. “You’re kidding me,” Rain says with a laugh. “You guys, I was in a hurry and completely forgot to grab the grumpy old man’s sweater. You forgive me don’t you Abby?” she pleads playfully and launches herself at me and wraps me in a bear hug. “What are you doing?” I question her with a smile. “You can’t actively be mad at me while I’m hugging you. It’s scientifically impossible,” she explained and I laugh and playfully push her off me. “You’re ridiculous, you know that?” “You’d all be lost without me and you know it!” she teases.

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