Destined

Chapter four: Get to know me

It was fundraiser day. Spring Ranch church was going to be holding a bake sale and the profit would be going to a cancer research program. "You want me to make 17 dozens of cupcakes?" Erina asked Joshua. "Yes" he smiled at her. "No wonder I had to be here this early" she groaned and headed to the kitchen. "Can I help?!" Joshua yelled. "You can help by staying out my hair" Erina smirked. "Hey Chad. I was wondering if you could come over and help Erina with the bake sale" Joshua held his phone tightly. "It's 6 am Joshy" Chad mumbled. "I know it's too early but the bake sale starts at 9, and well, I don't want Erina to do this all by herself. "Now I know you're intentions" Chad laughed. "Don't even start. She's not Christian so, just stop," Joshua laughed and headed to his office.

"Hey Rina" Chad said prancing into the kitchen. "What are you doing here?" Erina smiled. "I wanted to help" he told her. "Joshua called you didn't he," Erina laughed and looked at Chad. "Well don't just stand there" she told him and they got to work. "So how are things with Joshua?" Chad asked. "Things? I mean he's my boss for a month so" Erina said. "Yeah but I mean, why are you the only one here working. Why did he pick you as his personal cook for the month," Chad looked at her. "I don't know" Erina put a tray of cupcakes in the oven. "I'm sure you know Rina. Come on tell me. Did you guys hook up?" Chad laughed. "Ew no. He's literally the Pastor's son. He's also a certified child of God so I don't think he'd ever hook up with anyone " Erina said. "Oh come one Erina. He's Christian, not a nun" Chad laughed. "Yeah whatever. Mix that for me will you" Erina handed him a bowl.

"Okay this is going pretty good" Joshua said. The bake sale had started two hours ago and they had already sold half of their cupcakes. "We make a good team" Joshua smiled and looked at Erina. What does he mean by that, Erina thought to herself. "So, Rachel. Who is she?" Erina asked. "Jealous?" Joshua teased. "Yes" Erina rolled her eyes. "My dad wants me to marry her" Joshua handed a lady change. "Damn really?" Erina looked at him. "Yeah but the problem is, I don't love her. My dad is scared that he will leave me and the church alone. He's been weird ever since my mom died," Joshua looked at her. "Oh wow I'm sorry. I had no idea"she sighed. "It's fine. It's just that sometimes I feel stuck. I mean I love God a lot, but I don't know if I'm fit to be a pastor" Joshua mumbled. "Yeah I get that" Erina looked at him. "Do you maybe want to get, um, lunch after this?" Joshua stuttered. "Um sure, why not?" Erina smiled. Erina didn't know why she said yes. Maybe she agreed out of pity, but deep down she wanted to get to know him better. "Great" Joshua looked down. "I like your shirt by the way" Erina told him. "Thanks" Joshua replied. "Oh wow you really are doing this Josh" they heard and looked up. "Rachel, what brings you here" Joshua smiled. "I thought you were kidding, but she really is my replacement" Rachel smirked. "Rachel, we've known each other since we were seven. You're like my little sister" Joshua began. "Whatever Joshua. Your dad will be hearing about this" Rachel looks at Erina and walks away. "Little sister?" Erina laughed. "Oh shut up" Joshua pushed her. "Hey!" Erina pushed him back laughing.

"Can I pick the place?" Erina asked Joshua. "Sure" Joshua said as he was putting on his seatbelt. "There's this really fancy restaurant called THE ROSE. I love going there with my friends" she said. Joshua looked for the directions on his phone. A restaurant bar. That's what it was. It's fine, it wasn't like he was going to drink. "Okay" Joshua nodded and Erina started the car.
When they arrived they were greeted by a waiter who seemed extremely young. "Right this way" he told them and led them to a small table near a corner. "What will you guys be drinking?" he asked them. "I'll take a beer" Erina smiled. "Sprite please" Joshua told the waiter. "Okay then I'll be back with your drinks. "What's good on the menu?" Joshua looked at the paper in from of him. "The crab is good, and oh the steak is really good too," Erina looked up from her menu. "I think I'll get a steak then" he grinned. "I'll get the steak too then" Erina said. "Okay here's your beer and sprite" the waiter set the drinks on the table. "We'll have two stakes" Erina told the waiter. "Alright then " the waiter nodded his head and walked away. Erina took a sip of her beer. "So how did your dad become a Pastor?" she asked Joshua. "He was a drug addict. He and his family were not the richest so he had a rough childhood. One day he passed out and he said he saw God. God told him that life isn't promised and that he needs start living right. So he went to rehab, and then church and eventually he became a Pastor.  And then he started his own church got married and had me" Joshua smiled. "Woah" Erina looked at Joshua "that's crazy" she took another sip of her beer. Erina always assumed that Pastor Smith was raised in the church which is why he wanted his own son to take over the church one day. "Tell me about yourself" Joshua told her. "Well I live alone. I have a younger brother. He's five. My mom has been in three marriages, hence why I don't know who my dad is. I started cooking when I was twelve, went to school for it. Got a job at HelloFresh, and I'm now working at a church," Erina laughed. "You sound interesting Erina" Joshua smiled. "You too Smith" Erina grinned.

"You're cute" Erina laughed. "Can you walk by yourself?" Joshua asked her. "Yeah sure" Erina got up and fell down. "Okay I got you" Joshua grabbed Erina by her waist. Erina was drunk, really drunk. It wasn't like Joshua could tell her to not drink. It was not his place to do that. They had spent pretty much the whole afternoon just talking and eating and it had gotten late. Joshua helped Erina into the passengers seat and he got in the drivers seat. "Looks like I'm taking you home" Joshua sighed. "I can drive" Erina grabbed the steering wheel and laughed. "Cleary you can't" Joshua grabbed her hands. Their eyes met and she pulled him close. "You're handsome" she laughed and fell back into the seat. "Gee thanks" he looked at her. "It's a shame your a church guy" Erina laughed "I really like you Joshy." "I'm not just some Church guy....I love Jesus" Joshua replied. "Are you gay Joshy?" Erina laughed. "No. Jesus is not some guy, he's...love" Joshua grabbed Erina's car keys from her purse. "What did he do?" Erina asked. "He saved me. He fulfilled me. He set my eyes on things that you can't see" Joshua smiled. "Are you high Josh" Erina laughed. "Okay that's enough questions" Joshua started the car. "Wait. When can I meet this Jesus?" Erina giggled. " Anytime. You can meet him anytime" Joshua smiled. He wondered if this counted as planting a seed. "Oh you're not going to remember anything right?" Joshua asked. "I'm sleepy" Erina laughed.