Matters of the Heart (Marianas Trench/Josh Ramsay)

Chapter 9

The bars were crowded that night. People were squeezed in wherever they could fit and Becca struggled to make her way through. Matt had sent her a text that they were in the very back of the bar, and she was currently regretting the choice she made to come. It was another cold, rainy night in Vancouver, so using the bar patios weren't an option, and she hated the feeling of people she didn't know touching her.

She could just make out Ian's curly hair before a tall, handsome man stepped in front of her, blocking her view. "Why hi there. You look like you're a woman on a mission." He smiled at her. 

She looked up at him, and tried to hide her irritation, "I'm just looking for my friends"

He nodded, "that is quite a mission given how crowded it is in here." 

"Yes... it is quite busy tonight." she kept trying to look around him, but it was too late- she had lost sight of Ian. "Damn" she muttered to herself.

"Well while you're waiting for your friends maybe I could buy you a drink?"

She turned her attention back to the man in front of her. Tall, blonde, and clearly athletic, a few years ago she may have very well told him yes. But not now.

"They are actually already here, I am just trying to get through-"

"A drink while we wait for the crowds to die down then" He flashed a bright smile at her, and attempted to put his arm around her shoulder before Becca shrugged him off.

"I can't. Really, thank you, I just-" She started to back away but he grabbed her hand and pulled her back. He leaned in closer, "Please, just one drink" he asked, the alcohol on his breath filling her nostrils and causing Becca to grimace. Of course.  She thought, annoyed. She shook her head forcefully, "No"

He laughed, undeterred, "What, do you have a boyfriend or something?"

A voice spoke up from behind Becca. "As a matter of fact, she does."

She felt a chill down her spine at the sound of his voice, and Becca closed her eyes and counted to three before she turned around. And there he was, dressed in black skinny jeans, a white t-shirt and a leather jacket, with those ridiculous blue streaks still in his hair.

When her eyes met Josh's, he smiled, "Hey babe." He put his hand on her lower back, and Becca's senses went haywire. His smile, his tone, his touch- if the last time they had spoken hadn't been so deeply ingrained in her, she would so be misreading this moment. She barely managed a smile back before turning her attention back to the other man. "Here he is."

He shrugged his shoulders, "Sorry man" The guy raised his glass towards Josh, "Didn't realize she was taken"

Josh just shook his head, "No problem, have a good night."

Josh led Becca through the crowds, never taking his hand off of the small of her back, even though Mr. Hopeful was nowhere to be seen.

"Thank you" She looked up at Josh as they walked.

Josh just shrugged his shoulders, but didn't look at her "Don't worry about it. You had made it clear you weren't interested, and the dick couldn't take a hint."

"Becca!" She saw Matt wave his hand towards her, motioning her to come over.

Josh immediately stepped away from her and placed his hands in his pockets, "There's your prince charming. Or play toy, haven't figured out which yet" he grumbled before walking ahead of her.

She rolled her eyes. There he goes, she thought. From being nice and tolerable to a jerk in sixty seconds. She walked over to Matt, Mike and Ian and gave them each a hug before sitting down next Matt at the end of the table. "Hey guys! So glad to be here."