Heck of a kiss

Chapter Eight

When Jabe tromped into the house, one look at his stony face told Josh that it was time to go. Quickly saying goodbye to Lesley and taking the plate of leftovers that she had given him from the kitchen, Josh followed Jabe out onto the porch.

Amy was standing on the porch her arms crossed over her chest and her back turned. Hesitantly Josh said: “Bye Amy” And Amy turned around flashing a quick smile at Josh before catching sight of Jabe, who crossed over to the steps. Before he could descend them Amy reached out a hand and said.

“Don’t stay mad forever.”

Angrily brushing her hand aside, Jabe stomped off and got into the truck. With a sheepish shrug, Amy smiled and allowed Josh to move past her as he got into the truck where Jabe was waiting for him. Pulling out of the driveway quickly, Jabe remained silent and cautiously Josh looked his way. His hand’s gripping the wheel tight, Jabe stared straight ahead, seeming to ignore Josh who decided that it would be better to leave him to his thoughts. Turning away, Josh looked out the window seeing the miles of barbed wire fences zoom by as the truck sped through the darkness.

Despite the abrupt ending, the evening had been very enjoyable. When he met Lesley he vaguely remembered seeing her at Chad’s funeral but the day and had been too painful for him to remember much. Getting to actually talk to Lesley had been a treat that Josh hadn’t experienced before. Behind her dazzling good looks Lesley had a brain that put a lot of people to shame. The fact that both of them shared an affinity for post-apocalyptic books only gave them both more to talk about.

Queen Mila had been an absolute charmer showing the charisma she no doubt inherited from her mother. Despite the fact that Mila had never met Jabe, and Josh only once, she had soon conquered her fear and had alternated between Josh’s and Jabe’s lap. Holding the little smoothie made Josh wish he had a family. A couple of kids, a wife. But that wasn’t an option.

  Unwanted memories began to surface but Josh shoved them aside firmly, determined not to re visit them.

Returning to the present Josh saw that they had reached his ramshackle house and he got out of the truck watching as Jabe peeled out of the gravel drive. Whatever had happened between Jabe and Amy had to have pretty nasty because Josh had never seen Jabe drive recklessly. Josh could only hope that Jabe got home without getting into an accident.

Inside the house, Josh read his book for about an hour more before deciding to call it a night. When he had finished brushing his teeth, he finished getting ready and then went into his room, turning off the light and flopping down onto the king sized bed. The bedside light was still on and leaning against the base of the lamp was a picture in a homemade wooden frame. Picking it up, Josh held it close to his face while he rested his chin on his arm.

Inside a young woman with light brown hair, laughing green eyes, and braces smiled out, her cheeks dimpled and her face innocent. She looked about eighteen the picture was for graduation, her blue cap and gown thrown over the back of her chair which she was straddling her arms crossed over the back of the chair her purple dress sweeping the floor. Everything about the girl spoke of happiness and laughter, this type of girl who saw the best in everyone despite the evidence.

Gazing at her face, Josh lightly touched the picture before putting it back beside the lamp and turning off the light, plunging the room into darkness. “G’night Kelly.