The Bachelors: a tiktok story

123: Reinforcements

The next morning, Josh was sitting next to you when you woke up. You rolled over wrapped your arms around him then realized it wasn't a dream. You then quickly sat up to ask:
"Josh? What are you doing here?"

Josh: "You asked for space last night and I wanted to respect that but I don't think it's healthy to shut everyone out."

You felt awful, like you were single handedly ruining the best thing that ever happened to you. You tried to bury your face in his chest but he lifted your chin to face him. He looked deep into your eyes as he spoke:
"You need your friends. You need me."

You couldn't help but curl up right back into his arms. You knew he was right. You did need him. He pulled a duffle bag out from next to the bed and said:
"I packed a few days worth of clothes and I want you to come home with me."

It all felt so overwhelming. The thought of getting out of this bed... Of facing the real wold. You tried to think up any excuse to not move:
"I- I don't think- I have work."

Josh smiled:
"I packed a uniform so I can take you to work this Sunday but-"

You realized hpw seriously he had planned every detail and sat back up:
"Wait- I'm supposed to work tonight and tomorrow too?"

Josh: "I talked to Tayler and he got you covered for the next few days."

You were stunned:
"You talked to Tayler?"

Josh: "Yep and we even got along. I guess loving you can work miracles."

He sounded so proud of himself in his determination that you knew in that moment you would do absolutely anything thay boy asked of you. You weren't sure if you were ready to tell him the details of your assault or to even talk about any part of the case but you pulled the sweatshirt over your head that he handed you. You pulled your hair up and followed him down to his car.

You watched him lean over you to delicately buckle you up before himself. He gave you a soft kiss then took off towards his apartment. You knew that even without details of what you'd been through it was past time to let someone in. Not just anyone... the boy you were falling so hard for. For the first time in a long time, you felt content... content at the thought of disappearing from the world in the arms of the boy that quickly had become your everything.

*JOSH'S POV*

Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't have been upset about spending 2 days alone in bed with the love-of-his-life. The only problem was she spent the last 2 days acting half alive. She didn't want to get up so he brought meals to her and ate beside her while she just picked at hers. He'd suggest a movie, but before he'd even hit play, she had pulled the blanket over her head, complaining of a headache. He was trying to make the best of 2 whole days together, uninterrupted but was really worried about her.

He still didn't know exactly what happened outside of Noah showing up and trying to hurt her but Chase showing up just in time to save her. He only knew that much because he'd talked to her Mom a few days ago and listened to her describe the disaster she and her husband had come home to in the backyard. It looked like they'd wandered into a warzone.

He knew she'd been through a horrible trauma. Hearing Nessa detail what horrific things Noah did to her, made him realize that what his girlfriend had been through was likely traumatizing. He didn't want to go to work today and the thought of leaving her alone, made him nervous. If he wasn't there, would she go all day without eating? Would she be so lost in her own thoughts that he wouldn't be able to stop her if she hurt herself?

Josh tried to come up with a solution that didn't sound like babysitting:
"Baby, do you want me to call Emma over to spend the day with you?"

She could barely raise her head to turn and answer him from the comatose place on her pillow. She mumbled:
"She's at work today."