Fandango [Josh Kiszka] Book One

Simplistic

Day Two

Luanne laid comfortably curled up in the backseat of her car holding tight to a small woven blanket. The sun hadn't woken her up like Josh had thought it would and he once again felt that pit of fear interrupting her. He raised a shaky hand knocking on the window of the cruiser. When she opened her eyes he expected her to jump or yell, but instead she stared bleary eyed at him with a shy grin making his lungs tighten. 

After she left last night the boys and him went over the entire day to make sure it actually happened. They couldn't believe she was so open with who she was. She was unapologetically Luanne. Jake talked to him into the late hours of the night about how to not screw the whole thing up. When everyone went to bed he listened to the Foreigner song on repeat staring at the night sky wondering if she would still be there in her car in the morning. He practically sprinted to her when he woke up just to be sure. 

Rolling down the window of the car she looked to him with those eyes and that damned dimple popping out on the left side of her smile. Everything about her left him spiraling. 

"Good morning Joshua Michael. Do you boys need someone to make breakfast too?" Her laugh itched the back of his brain in the perfect way.

"Good morning Luanne Faye. I want to swim and figured Luanne would probably love to take a dip this morning. Plus the boys won't wake up." He flicked his eyes between hers hoping that she would say yes. 

"Give me 2 minutes to change. Do you need a towel cause I have several?" She motioned to her pile of towels in her passenger seat making him laugh. He held up his towel which was embarrassingly decorated with a large purple peace sign. He bought it from a beach shop and it instantly became his favorite. 

To say Luanne was surprisingly shocked when Josh knocked on her window was an understatement. She had been up late into the night on the phone with her friend Emmeline telling her about what the hell happened yesterday. Emmie was all for it saying to save a brother for her. As Luanne changed into her bathing suit Josh respectfully turned his back and kept watch for her. When she pulled her shirt back over her head she made her way out of the car and grabbed and motioned him to lead the way. 

As they walked she took him in again as if the time yesterday was not enough. His hair bobbed as he talked telling her about the short films he did in high school. The sun light made his eyes a golden color resembling the inner workings of an oak tree. The most warming thing was his laugh, she expected it to be loud but it was a quiet soothing sound. She saw him as the embodiment of sunshine. 

"Came here a couple days ago alone and the water isn't super warm but it isn't freezing I promise." He said slipping his hand into hers to help her down the rocky path. 

Luanne wished she had her camera then. It was otherworldly. The mountains perched in the background with a cove in front of the lake stretching wide. To top it all off Josh had his arms stretched out revealing his find with a wide smile. 

"This is fucking insane." She breathed out stepping past him toward the water taking in everything around her. 

Josh knew she'd love it. He thought about taking her here yesterday but knew the boys wouldn't let them be alone once they met her. He knew they were fascinated by her too. He couldn't blame them. His thoughts halted as she placed her bag and towel on the ground. She shrugged off her shorts and lifted her shirt over her head and he paused in place. It felt wrong to stare but he couldn't help it. She had a tattoo of writing over her ribcage and others glittered around her arms and torso. He picked up an astrological symbol on her hip bone just above the line of her bottoms. She was art in every form.