the road home // josh kiszka

words don't come easy

A/N: sorry for the absence last week! I'm back and will (hopefully) be updating again either weekly or biweekly! happy reading ! :)

chapter song: words don't come easy-the hollies

//

february 2017

-JOSH'S POV-

This was the last time I could make an impression on Y/N. I was so nervous. I hadn't anticipated being this nervous if we ever had gotten together. I thought it was going to be easy, feel natural. Being honest, nothing felt natural about this. She was electric, just in the way she saw the best in people. She didn't need to be showy or go out every night to shine brighter than the brightest stars in the night time sky. She was a galaxy all her own, and god, was she a marvel. I pushed my hair back, trying to shake out the nerves seeming to take residence in my body. Jake had helped me plan a foolproof romantic evening. It was quiet, secluded. I was running through the plan over and over in my head when the thought dawned on me.

What if she thought it was too little of an effort?

I had known Y/N for a while and while the rational part of my brain knew she was going to love it, the other side of my brain argued that I didn't know her in the romantic capacity yet and she could be expecting way more from a potential love interest. My heart was slamming against my ribcage in anxiety, trying to pry its way out. I shook my head of intrusive thoughts like that. I couldn't give up on this before it even started. I grabbed the flowers I had bought her off the counter and made my way out the door.

Here goes nothing.

-YOUR POV-

"Is this too much?" I asked Reina, flattening out the creases on my dress.

"No it's not, you look good. Don't talk yourself out of this one. There is no need to be nervous. This is Josh we're talking about after all." She said.

"I know it's Josh, but this is like a date. On Valentine's Day. Nobody has ever taken me on a date."

"Well you deserve it, so relax and let yourself have a little fun for once."

"I have fun!" I protest.

"Really? When? Laying on the couch watching criminal minds reruns?"

I was silent.

"Yeah, I thought so. Go, enjoy."

"Okay, okay." I sigh

There's a knock on the door as I'm grabbing my jacket and purse from my room. I hear the door open and Reina chatting with Josh in the main area. I take a deep breath and mentally prepare myself as I join them. Josh's eyes instantly dart to me.

"You look radiant." He smiles.

"Thank you," I blush "you look amazing yourself."

He looked more than amazing, more so than I could even put into words. He wore a red paisley button up, black dress pants, and black dress shoes. While the outfit was definitely different than his daily attire, it was somehow so incredibly him. I couldn't help but smile.

"These are for you." He said, extending a bouquet of marigolds to me.

"You remembered." I said, barely above a whisper.

"How could I possibly forget?" He asked.

"I'll put these in water for you, Y/N. You kids go have fun." Reina said.

"Thanks, mom." I stuck a tongue out at her.

Josh chuckled.

"Ready to go?" He asked, extending his elbow for me.