Perfect Enough

Chapter Eighteen – Josh

Chapter Eighteen

JOSH

“Smart move, just getting a pizza and staying here,” I said as I looked out over the rolling pastures behind my house. We had decided to sit on the back balcony, and even with the chill in the air, the fire in the fire pit made it feel comfortable. Even the sky looked beautiful as the sun was slowly making its descent behind the mountains, painting the sky in brilliant shades of orange and pink.

Turning to look at Nate, I replied, “What is this? Are you finally coming over to the dark side?”

“Dude, don’t put me in that club. I’m still young.”

I laughed. “Because I don’t want to go to The Blue Moose on a Monday night, you think I’m old?”

“Old acting.”

“Subject change. What happened today in the meeting?”

He took a long drink of his beer and stared in the same direction I had been looking earlier. “Blayze talked forever while Hunter clicked through a rather impressive slide show of everything Blayze discussed. It was mainly budget shit, pasture rotation schedule, and stuff about that meeting with the horse breeder from Kentucky.”

“When’s the meeting again?”

“Next Friday.”

I quickly went over my schedule at the fire station in my head. “I should be off, but I don’t suppose that matters; that’s not my area of expertise.”

Nate nodded. “Maverick and Beck will attend, so I think it’s pretty well covered.”

“How is Avery feeling?”

Nate smiled. “From what Beck said, she’s doing great. Only has a few more weeks before the baby’s due.”

“And they still haven’t found out if they’re having a boy or a girl yet?”

He shook his head. “I still can’t believe Avery’s having a baby.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Can you imagine how Uncle Dirk will be with that baby?”

“Protective, do you mean?”

“Yeah, especially if it’s a girl.”

Nate laughed…then his smile faded. “Do you think we’ll find love like that?” When I didn’t say anything right away, he turned to look at me, studying my face for a long moment. “You like her, don’t you?”

“I do. I know this sounds crazy because we literally went out on our first date this past weekend, but there’s just something about Sophia. When I’m with her, I feel…happy.”

“That’s a good thing, right?”

“I’d say so.”

He was quiet for a few minutes. Then Nate grinned. “So will she be the one?”

I took another drink of my beer, knowing exactly what he was talking about. “I wanted to this weekend, when she stayed with me. But we didn’t.”

Nate straightened in his chair and stared at me with his mouth open. “Wait. Are you serious, Josh?”

Nodding, I said, “I am. I’m telling you, Nate, it’s like the first time she sent me a text…not the ones for her dad, but after she found out it was me…I knew deep down in here,” I pointed to my chest, “that Sophia was different. I don’t know how to explain it. Of course, now she wants to go slow, so I can make sure she’s the one. But, dude, I’m telling you right now…it’s all I can think about.”

“Having sex with her?”

“Not just that; making love to her. I know she’s the one. I just can’t tell you how I know. But I know. She is absolutely the one.”

He slowly shook his head. “Wow. I have to say, for as much shit as I give you, I’m envious. You had a conviction, and you stuck with it.”

“I haven’t exactly been an angel.”

“No, but you saved that one special thing, and I’m sure it will mean everything to Sophia.”

I glanced at him and couldn’t miss his sad expression. “Did you ever think you bounce from girl to girl because you know they won’t be the one?”

“The one?” he asked with a laugh. “I tell everyone I’m just in it for the sex, but truth be told, I haven’t slept with a lot of women.”

“You mean to tell me you’re all talk?” I asked, shocked.

He smiled. “I’m not innocent either, but I have more moments where I think I’m going to sleep with someone and end up leaving than not.”

“Leaving? Why?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. Sometimes it just feels…wrong.”

“Does it have anything to do with Haven?”

When Nate looked at me, he sighed. “Christ, that woman gets on my last nerve. But…every damn time I see her, this weird feeling hits me in the chest. I find myself pushing her buttons just so she’ll keep talking to me. Well, it’s usually arguing more than talking.”

I laughed. “That flutter in your chest means something, Nate.”

He stared at me. “I don’t have no damn flutter in my chest.”

Raising a brow, I said, “Just ask her out.”

“Haven? You want me to ask Haven out.”

“Why not? You just admitted you feel something for her.”

“Yeah, but I don’t know what I feel. It could be revulsion. And maybe the same for her, too.”

I rolled my eyes. “I hardly think so. You’re a relatively decent-looking guy. And Haven is pretty. Very pretty.”

He glared at me. “You have a girlfriend, remember?”

“See,” I said, pointing my beer bottle his way. “You just got jealous.”

“No, I didn’t.”

“So, it wouldn’t bother you if I said Haven and Owen went on a date.”

Nate quickly sat up and looked at me. “How do you know that?”

“Avery told me. She and Beck ran into them when they went out to eat the other night. She said Haven was with a co-worker named Owen. It has to be the same guy she hired to help her with the dog-walking business.”

Nate frowned. “Kind of stupid to mix business with pleasure.”

“Maybe. You still have no desire to ask her out?”

“She’s been a thorn in my side for how many years now?”

I frowned, tired of his protesting. “Nate, she won’t be single forever, so if you have feelings for her, I wouldn’t wait.”

He stood, finished his beer, and set it on the table. Looking out over the orange and pink sky, he said, “I think I’m gonna go on home. What time are you heading to the ranch tomorrow?”

“Probably around seven or so.”

Nodding, he glanced at me and smiled. “I really am glad you’ve found someone, Josh.”

I stood. “Thanks, Nate.”

After helping me clean up, we headed inside and I walked Nate out the front door.

A car pulling down the driveway caused us both to turn. Nate faced me. “You texted her to come over, didn’t you?”

Laughing, I hit his back. “I didn’t, but she texted me earlier to see if she could come over tonight, and I wasn’t about to tell her no.”

He waggled his brows. “Think tonight’s gonna be the night? Do you need any tips or anything?”

I glared at him. “No, I don’t need any tips.”

“With it being your first time and all, you’re gonna lose your load fast, so just think of things like your mom or Grams to hold off your orgasm.”

Shoving him, I said, “Please leave.”

As Sophia pulled up next to Nate’s truck, he jogged toward her.

“Hey, Sophia!”

Shutting her door, she smiled. “You don’t have to leave on my account, Nate.”

“I was about to leave anyway.” He glanced back at me. “Enjoy your night, kids!”

He slipped into his truck and within seconds, all I saw was the fading red of his taillights.

Sophia came up and stood next to me as she followed my gaze. “I really hope he didn’t leave on my account.”

“He actually was leaving,” I said, before leaning down and kissing her gently. “I’m happy to see you…and surprised.”

A bright smile lit up her face. “I’ve had a day. I’m so glad you’re off tonight.”

“Let’s head in. Did you eat dinner? We ordered a few pizzas and there’s some left over.”

She shook her head as she stepped into the house. “I ate earlier with my mother and Chloe.”

“Let me take your bag.”

Sophia handed me her overnight bag. “Thank you for letting me come over.”

“Soph, you’re welcome here anytime.”

After I took her bag and put it in my room, I found her in the family room, pouring a drink for both of us.

“Is everything okay?” I asked, as I accepted the glass of whiskey. If she was going for whiskey, it must be something bad that was bothering her.

Before she answered, she downed her drink, then coughed.

“I’m going to take that as your answer.”

She sighed and sat down on the sofa. “It’s been a crazy, weird day.”

“Want to talk about it, or would you like to go out and do something?”

She tilted her head. “What did you have in mind?”

I shrugged. “We can go play miniature golf, see a movie, or take a walk. We still have some daylight left.”

“The walk sounds lovely.”

Sophia stood, and I followed her lead as I said, “You might want to grab a sweatshirt, though.”

A few minutes later, we walked down toward the pasture leading to the ranch. I waited for Sophia to start talking, since it seemed like she was carrying a heavy weight on her shoulders.

“I had a parent email me and tell me I wasn’t fit to teach dance.”

“What?” I heard myself practically shout. I hadn’t seen Sophia dance in person, but I’d seen a few videos from performances, when I’d googled her. “That’s insane. Why in the world would she even say that?”

She shrugged. “I’ve gotten emails like that before, but they’ve never bothered me. This time, I was so bothered that when it came time for class, I put on a little…show…for lack of a better word. I knew the mom would be watching, and I wanted to prove I could dance. Then afterward, I regretted it. But something else happened.”

I stopped walking and gently took her arm, turning her toward me. “What?”

Sophia cleared her throat, let out a breath, and looked out over the pasture. “I decided I wanted to stop teaching dance.”

My mouth fell open. “What did you say?”

Sophia smiled—a genuine smile that lit her eyes. “I want to make a change. I’ve been dancing my whole life, and for the longest time I thought it would be my whole career. Don’t get me wrong…I love it, and I love seeing the little ones finding joy in dance…but I feel a change of season is in order.”

I nodded. “Okay. Do you know what you want to do?”

She laughed. “I have no idea! Oh, and I have other big news to share.”

“There’s more?”

“More indeed.”

“Let’s start heading back before it gets too dark.”

She nodded and we started back toward the house.

“My mother came to talk to me earlier today. She’s selling the studio. And her house. She wants to travel, and the dance studio was her and my father’s dream together. She’s ready for a change, too.”

“And it won’t bother her to give up something she and your dad created?”

She shook her head and her expression sobered. “That’s not all. She decided to tell me everything in one fell swoop. My father was having an affair, and he felt so guilty about it that instead of coming clean to my mother, he took his own life.”

I stopped in my tracks. “Holy shit, Soph! How many more bombs are you going to drop today? Are you okay?”

Holding her chin up a bit higher, she slowly nodded. “Actually, I am okay. One of the hardest things I’ve had to deal with is not knowing why my father did what he did. My mother admitted she lied to me about my dad not leaving a note, which did upset me. But she said she didn’t want me to think less of him. She also—while I’m dropping bombs—admitted she’s been up in my business way too much. It was a morning of many, many revelations.”

“I’d say so.” I took her hand in mine. “What’s going to happen next?”

“Well, we worked on an email and letter to send to all of our clients, to inform them we’ll be selling the dance studio as soon as possible. Mom has an appointment tomorrow to meet with a realtor, to discuss listing both the house and the studio.”

“And how do you feel about all of this, Soph? Didn’t you grow up in that house?”

“I did.”

I rubbed the back of my neck. “I’m not sure what I would do if my parents told me they were selling the home I grew up in.”

“If I’m being honest, there’s nothing in that house for me or my mother. I think it does her more harm than good to stay there. As for me, I’m not a sentimental person when it comes to possessions. I don’t even have keepsakes or things I collect.”

I squeezed her hand. “A simple girl. Another reason to adore you.”

Her cheeks turned red, and she laughed softly. “You wouldn’t happen to know anyone who’s hiring, would you?”

At that moment, my phone went off with a text from my mother. “It’s Mom. Let me just make sure everything’s okay.” I pulled out my cell.

Mom: Joshua, you wouldn’t happen to know anyone who might be interested in being an assistant to Haven, would you?

Gaping at the text, I fought the urge to laugh. I looked at Sophia and asked, “Soph, do you like dogs?”

Confused by my random question, she replied, “I love dogs, I already told you that. I love all animals. Why?”

I let a smile spread slowly over my face. “I think I just found you a new job.”