Stage Fright

Chapter 71 ~ Movie Night

Josh

"Do you think this is a jeans night?" Heather asks, looking through the racks in her closet. "Or......is it a leggings night?" She'd just gotten out of the shower a few minutes ago, standing pant-less while looking through the racks.

"I don't know, all I know is you need to put something over that thong." I insist, looking away and she laughs. She grabs a loose pair of jeans off the rack and rolls her eyes pulling them up her legs.

"There, better?" She asks and I nod with a smile. She walks over and wraps her arms around me giving me a quick kiss.

Tonight was Friday and we were headed to Owen's. This was a rare Friday night that we would actually get to spend together. It had been a pretty long week for both of us with loads of work and we were both ready to blow off some steam.

Apparently Taylor had opened up a lot to Heather last Friday night, she insisted she couldn't go into specifics but she assured me everything was fine and that she was helping Taylor. I think it secretly made Heather happy that she could help her and that the two of them had started to get along better.

And ever since then our intimacy was on the slow track back to recovery. We'd make-out a lot, most of the time that was it, but that was alright with me. It was the first step, I remembered how patient she was with me back in the fall and the steps it took for me to get comfortable. I wanted to make sure I gave her the same chance.

"Should I bring some snacks again?" She asks and I shrug.

"It probably wouldn't hurt." I admit and she laughs, taking my hands. 

"Alright then let's loot the kitchen. Do you have our bag?" She asks and I nod, grabbing the backpack off of the floor. "Can I borrow one of your sweaters?" She asks and I laugh.

"You don't like any of yours?" I tease and she shakes her head, wrapping her arms around my waist. "Sure, baby. Go ahead."

"I love you." She insists, kissing my cheek and I let her pull on a sweatshirt before we make our way to the kitchen. 

Her pantry was incredible, absolutely every snack was in there. She filled a shopping bag with a few types of chips, crackers and candy.

"So who's coming tonight?" She asks, turning off the lights in the kitchen.

"Everyone." I tell her. "Me, you, Mandy, Owen, Katie, Colin, David, Marlene and Autumn."

"Oh wow, big party." She says and I nod with a laugh. "I'm glad I get to spend the night with you, that you'll put your arms around me." She whispers, taking my hand and swinging it back and forth while we walk to the door.

"I do that every night." I insist and she smiles.

"That doesn't mean I don't like it every time." She tells me. 

She follows me out to the car and the two of us start the quiet drive over to Owens. We'd grown a lot through the fall at Owen's parties and get-togethers. The first time we got high together was the first night I got to put my arms around her, the first night she took off her top. It was a memory I replayed frequently.

The drive over is quiet, she holds my hand in hers, humming along to the radio. She just made me smile, she made every moment absolutely perfect without even trying.

"You look pretty tonight." I tell her.

"Aw." She teases and I laugh. "That's nice of you to say, even if it's not true."

"It is true, you're always pretty." I insist and she laughs. 

"You're sweet." She whispers, giving my hand a squeeze. "You're pretty too." She insists and I chuckle a bit, pulling up to Owen's house.