SONG INSPIRATION:NIGHTS LIKE THIS by the kid LAROI
WORD COUNT:1k
NOTE: ghostface!josh coming soon . . .
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josh always had to be touching you. it was something you noticed early on in your friendship, but it had grown more noticeable over time. a casual brush of his fingers across your waist when he walked by, how his hand would find yours when no one was looking. at first, you didn't think much of it, it was just josh, always needing someone close.
but now? now it felt like more.
tonight, the group had gathered in the theater room of the washington lodge for what was supposed to be a relaxing evening after a long day of hiking. the lights were dim and you were sprawled out on the large sectional with everyone, blankets thrown over legs, as a movie played on the tv. josh, predictably, had taken his usual place next to you, his thigh pressed against yours under the blanket, his hand resting on your knee like always.
it wasn't like he was doing anything that anyone else would notice, it was subtle, almost innocent. but you felt it. the warmth of his hand on your leg sent tingles up your spine and it was almost impossible to ignore the way your heart beat just a little faster when he touched you.
"you two are practically glued together," emily teased from across the couch, smirking as she sipped her drink. "it's cute. you can't stand to be apart for five seconds?"
josh, unfazed as ever, grinned. "what can i say? i'm a hands-on kind of guy."
you rolled your eyes, chuckling softly, but the way his fingers squeezed your knee for just a second sent a jolt through you. he wasn't letting go, not even when everyone else joined in on the teasing.
ashley leaned over the back of the couch, an exaggerated look of pity on her face. "i mean, it's cute and all, but how do you breathe? he's always touching you."
josh shrugged, still looking completely comfortable. "she doesn't seem to mind." his voice was playful, but there was an edge of seriousness beneath it.
you glanced over at him, your pulse quickening. no, you didn't mind. in fact, you had grown to expect it, maybe even craved it. his presence, his touch. it had a calming effect on you, even if it was doing the opposite to your emotions now. your friends had been teasing about this for weeks and you weren't sure how to explain the connection without sounding ridiculous.
"she knows that i'm just that good at making sure she's comfortable," josh said with a quick grin. "it's kinda my thing."
emily laughed. "at this point, i wouldn't be surprised if you two woke up spooning!"
you felt the blush rising to your cheeks as you shoved josh lightly, but his hand slid down your leg, brushing the inside of your thigh, lingering just a second too long before pulling away. you froze, the sensation sending a wave of warmth through you. he shot you a quick look, eyes twinkling with amusement, but there was something else behind them.
before you could respond, chris called out from the other side of the couch. "what? it's just a little friendly affection, right?" he winked, clearly teasing.
"yep," you agreed quickly, your voice coming out more breathless than intended. "totally. just friends."
josh gave a low hum, leaning back and stretching his arm out along the back of the couch, his fingertips brushing against your shoulder. "if you say so," he murmured softly, only for you to hear. the weight of his touch felt heavier now, his fingers grazing your skin.
as the movie droned on, your focus drifted away from the screen. your mind was entirely on josh, the way his body was so close to yours, the way his touch lingered. you found yourself leaning into him more without realizing it, like you were drawn to him just as much as he was to you.
the others had mostly gone back to watching the movie, though there were still occasional glances your way, always with that teasing edge but josh didn't seem to care. his thumb traced slow circles on your shoulder now, his hand occasionally slipping down to brush your arm.
you turned your head slightly, looking up at him. he wasn't even looking at the movie anymore. his focus was entirely on you.
"josh?" you whispered, keeping your voice low enough that the others wouldn't hear.
"hmm?" his eyes flicked down to meet yours, his expression soft but with that familiar mischievous glint.
you hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to say what was on your mind. "why do you always...?" you trailed off, not sure how to phrase it without sounding too obvious.
he smiled, a knowing look crossing his face. "always what?"
"always... touch me," you finished quietly, your pulse quickening at the vulnerability in your own words.
josh's smile didn't fade, but his gaze grew a little more serious. he leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper as his hand moved from your shoulder to your cheek, cupping it gently. "it's... comforting. you're comforting."
you stared at him, heart racing as the weight of his words sank in. there was more to it, you could feel it, more than just the comfort of touch. there was something between you that had always been there, quietly lingering beneath the surface.
"you don't mind, do you?" his thumb brushed against your cheek now, the gentle motion sending a warmth through you that had nothing to do with the blankets.
you swallowed hard, your breath catching in your throat. "no," you whispered. "i don't mind."
josh's gaze flickered down to your lips for a second before returning to your eyes. there was a moment of hesitation, but then he leaned in just a little closer. "good," he murmured, his voice barely audible.
"because i don't think i could stop even if i tried."
