It's About Time (GMW - Joshaya)

Chapter 68

Josh's POV

"Josh!"

I stopped and turned around. It was McKenzie, Julian, Shailene, Noah, and Ryan.

"What's wrong buddy?" Ryan said while jumping on my back to try to get me to crack a smile.

I looked at McKenzie for a saving grace.

"Hey guys, can we uhh go inside, it's a little chilly out here. I'm not trying to be sick the day of the wedding," McKenzie changed the subject.

Everyone followed inside the place while McKenzie continued to make random comments until Ryan forgot about his question.

Once we were inside, I pulled McKenzie aside, "Thanks for that Kenz." I put my arm around her and hugged her. "I've missed my best friend."

"Anytime, Joshua," she winked and smiled up at me. "But, I gotta talk to you about Maya later. It's urgent."

Suddenly a feeling of sickness overcame me, I was feeling nauseous.

"Where is she anyways?" I looked around the room feeling light-headed.

We were the only people here so far besides the wait-staff and well Zay's whole car who is just walking in the doors now.

"Distract Riley and Smackle. My bet is she's in the bathroom. And by the looks of things. She probably needs some cheering up too. I'll be out in a couple of minutes," McKenzie gave me a friendly kiss on the cheek and walked up to a waitress and asked for directions to the bathroom.

"Watch it bro," Julian smacked me on the back. "That beauty is mine."

The two of us laughed.

"Where's Maya?" Riley asked.

"She probably went to the bathro--" Smackle began.

"Hey niece, hey genius girl," I threw my arms around them, having overheard their conversation. "Long time no see!"

"We just saw you at the church," Smackle said matter of factly.

"It's more of a figure of speech. A joke," I informed her.

"Right.." she said.

"So Uncle Josh, are you gonna stay at the hotel after the wedding or are you just gonna go back to my parent's place?"

"Hotel. I figured everyone was gonna stay there for the most part. So it would be fun to have the hotel to ourselves for the night. Everyone can hang out late and I won't have to worry about driving back late or catching the subway. What about you two?" I asked in an attempt to keep the conversation going even though I already knew she was staying over.

"We are staying at the hotel too, I'm excited for brunch the next morning," Riley clapped her hands together.

"Oh. My sweet, sweet niece," I let out a chuckle. "Don't tell me that this is gonna be the first wedding you drink at?" I raised my eyebrow at her.

"Maybe...why?" she was clearly confused.

"Well, my dearest niece and my dearest friend, one does not simple get up the day after a wedding all happy and excited," I began to explain. "Brunch is great and all, but when you have a hangover and all you wanna do it sleep for another couple of hours, it's terrible."

"But isn't brunch gonna help cure the hangover?" Riley asked me.

"Yea sure it may help a little. But it's not gonna cure it, especially when hotel brunches end entirely way too early. Those greasy hash browns and eggs might be delicious, but trust me, you're gonna be wishing you could sleep longer," my gaze kept drifting over to the corner where McKenzie went to check on Maya. There was no sign of them. "I might skip brunch all together and just go out to a Brunner later in the day when I wake up."