Broken 2:A Second Chance

20

"Joey?" I ask and drop the knife. I blink and rub my eyes a bit,as if trying to get something out of my eyes.

"Hey, what's up with the knife?" He asks with a confused smile. I walk over the knife and hug him and he hugs me back as well.

"You've grown so tall." He said and releases me from his grasp.

I smack him playfully on the shoulder.

"How did you get in here?" I ask and pick up the knife.

"Well,after some skillful flirting with the receptionist,I was able to get the spare key." He smiles again.

I roll my eyes and walk away with the knife.

"But why the knife?" He asks and looks at me.

"Well if you must know,I was left alone because I overslept and then,I was cleaning before you 'sneaked' in." I say and lean on the wall.

"Oh,so that's why you wanted to murder me." He teases and rubs his chin.

I walk away and try not to all to him for the rest of the evening.

"We're back." I hear Josh's voice finally.

It's about time. I look over and Joey is out cold. Asleep like he didn't almost cause his own death.

"Mama,there was this beach,it was so big and so nice,can we visit it tomorrow?" Noah asks,clearly oblivious of the person on the floor.

"Yeah,and I ate por- Uncle Joey!" Liam screams and literally jumps into Joey's laps. This jolts him out of sleep and he smiles wryly.

"Hey, what's up?" He asks and carries Liam.

"Cool,cool." Liam says as if Joey is his playmate.

I smile and walk towards the kitchen.

___

I begin picking some of the food when I feel a hand on my hips.

I smile, pushing aside my uncomfortability,then turn to face Josh.

"I'm hungry." Josh says and kisses my neck. I hold his shoulders and bite my lips to stifle a gasp.

"But you already ate." I say,half breathless.

It had been so long since I did this and because of that,all of a sudden,I had become very sensitive.

"Yes,but you know what I mean." He says and suckles at the skin on my neck. I throw my head back and that is when realization hits me.

"Josh,I can't do this." I say and gently push him back. I could see the confusion in his eyes when I pushed him back.

"Claire,it's been four years. You're still not ready?" He asks and ruffles hie hair.

I nod and pick at my nails,trying to avoid eye contact.

He scoffs and walks out of the kitchen. I heard the door slam and I know he's angry.

Tears well up in my eyes. Why can't I just try? Josh loves me,this I know,he's trying his best to show it,this I know as well. But why can't I do just that simple thing?

I hear approaching footsteps and I wipe the tears quickly.

"I saw Josh leaving angrily,did you two fight?" Joey asks and rests on the counter.

I nod shyly and look up at him.

"Am I a bad person?" I ask him and play with my nails a bit. It's an acquired habit I guess.

"What makes you say that?" He asks and takes a bite out of my chicken wing.

"Well,so Josh leaned in to kiss me,and I pushed him away,am I a bad person?" I ask again,this time,with a little more confidence.

He shakes his heard and wipes his mouth.

"You're the kindest,strongest and bravest person I have ever met. You put up with shit no one should ever go through and you still kept your sanity enough to become a person who helps people who go through shit like that." He says and I try to look at the encounter not the cuss words.

"And if he's angry because he doesn't get to fuck you,then he's wrong,and you're not a bad person,trust your gut." He concludes.

"Stop cussing." I tell him and take a piece of my chicken wing before he devours it all.

"Sorry but it's true." He says and takes another piece.

I roll my eyes and smile while looking away and masticating my wing.

Joey was right. I'm my own person and I mustn't give a... shit...damn..what people say.

Okay, cussing isn't my thing and I'm not trying it again.