Here Comes The Rain Again (Old Title "If I Fall")

Chapter Five

“So where are we doing today?” Megan asked Josh and me as we were making our way towards his jeep parked in the driveway.

Though I really wanted to spend sometime alone and talk with Josh, I had to remember I was here as Megan’s guest for her birthday weekend, so it wouldn’t be far to leave her behind.

“Well believe it or not, I have not really seen all of Fort Myers since I spent most of my time on base. I only really went into town with the guys to grab something to eat or go to the bar. I like to see it before I leave,” Josh answered as the three of us climbed in and he started the engine.

“Well then let us be off,” Megan added just before she started giving Josh directions towards different places to see in and around town.

It was nice to just sit back and enjoy Josh’s company again. We always had this comfort with each other that did not require us to always have to talk to know what the others was thinking. I just wished Megan was the same way as she just kept talking away while we drove around. Once in a while Josh and I would catch each other looking and simply smile. God, how I have missed him.

The ringing of Megan’s cell phone broke off my thoughts as she squealed loudly even in the open jeep causing both Josh and I to jump and then laugh.

“Okay I will tell him. Yes I know, can’t wait to see you then either my solider man,” Megan stated before ending her call.

“Let me guess,” I turned sideways to look at Megan “that was Mike on the phone.”

“Yes, and he is going to meet us for dinner and drinks at my Uncle’s place around seven. So we will need to head back to the house by five so I have time to get ready for him.”

I couldn’t help but smile to see my best friend so excited to see a guy. Believe it or not Megan Green has not always been this way when it came to guys. She was pretty shy growing up from what everyone tells me and dated a guy named Chris all through high school. Everyone believed they would be together forever and marry, even Meg, but once they started college together things started to change, or should I say Chris started to change. Then one day in late November Meg’s last class of the day was cancelled so she decided to swing by Chris’s dorm to surprise him. And OH BOY was he surprised, as was the girl that was on top riding him. That spring Meg transferred to Berkeley where we meet and have been friends ever since.

“Tell you what, how about we grab a quick lunch now, drive around a little more and then drop you ladies off around four to get ready so I can check into my hotel room,” Josh added.

“A hotel room?” I asked.

“Yeah well I am now homeless as I have officially left the Army this morning. So I can’t sleep on base anymore and will need to get a room somewhere.”

“Nonsense! My Uncle house is huge with more bedrooms and baths then you can imagine and several more in the pool house. You will stay with us,” Megan stated with out a question that Josh would stay at her Uncle’s place no matter what he said. “I will just call Aunt Trish and have a room made up for you before we return.” And the next thing I heard was Megan talking to her Aunt on the phone. Josh and I just looked at each other. I gave him a small shrug of my shoulder and he just smiled in return, both knowing that neither of us could argue with Meg.

********

I looked at the clock on the nightstand that ready 6:30 PM in bright red numbers and then back at myself standing before the full length mirror in the guest room. It was a humid night, making my hair curl up, so I opted to pull it back in a sophisticated ponytail with my bangs wept to the side. I was wearing my new dark slim jeans with emerald green silk tank and matching heals. Josh always commented when I wore green that it brought out the color of my eyes and I had to agree with him after all these years.

“Knock knock,” Meg stated as she opened the door. “Are you ready to go because there is a hunk of a man in the living room waiting for you and one at the bar waiting for me.”

I smiled at her as I grab my wallet on the bed and headed towards the door to meet her. We walked together down the stairs and Josh meet us at the door, obviously hearing us approaching.

He took one look at me a said “Wow.”

“Thanks,” I said as I smiled.

Then he opened the door and held out his arms for us. “Shall we ladies?” We each took an arm as he escorted us out to his jeep.

********

As we pulled up to Joe’s Place we saw Mike waiting out front for us to arrive. He quickly ran over to help me and Megan out of the jeep and then the four of us went inside. It was only seven so the place wasn’t crowded with the bar scene crowd yet, which was nice. It allowed us to eat and chat without having to yell over the loud music or other conversions.

The place had filled up as we played a friendly game of pool. Megan and I knew nothing about the rules of the game, except that you take the white ball to hit the other balls into the pockets, but the guys didn’t seem to mind teaching us. Especially when it came to showing us the correct way to hold a pool stick, of course Mike had to show Megan every time she shot, but I seemed to pick it up after a few tries to Josh’s dismay I’m sure.

It was my turn and I took my time to walk around the table to decide what was my best shot. Megan was leaning back against Mike’s chest as his one hand wrapped around her waist while his used his other to take a swig of his beer. Josh stood quietly watching me leaning on his pool stick at the end of the table.

“Come on Em. Just shot the damn ball already?” Megan chimed in.

Just then I saw my shot as I made my way back towards where Josh was standing. It was going to be hard as I had to almost hold my stick over another ball and not hit it as I made the shot. I knew I needed help if I was going to make it.

“Um, do you think you can help me?” I asked Josh.

He smiled and walked up behind me as I turned back towards the table. I could feel his breathe against the back of my neck as he leaned down to my eye level to look at what I was looking at. “Where do you want to go?”

I couldn’t help the shiver running down my spine. I briefly closed my eyes and then pointed to the shot as I opened them back up. Josh placed his stick back against the wall and then took my hands with my stick into his to position them just right. “Is this what you want?” He asked.

Oh god yes this is what I want, but not to play pool! I swallowed and whispered, “Yes.” And just like that he pulled the stick back and let it go. We stayed frozen like that as the balls moved around the table.

“Oh crap,” Megan’s voice broke our bodies apart “looks like they beat us Mike.”

“Yeah it does. Guess we are buying the next round babe.” Mike jumped off of the stool he was sitting on and grabbed Meg’s hand. “Come to the bar with me?” then in the next breathe they were gone making their way through the bodies of people.

“How about we take a break by heading back to the table and ordering some fries?” Josh suggested as he started to place the pool sticks back on the rack.

“Only if they have lots and lots of cheese on them,” I shouted back.

Josh grabbed my hand with a smile as he started leading me towards out table. “Your wish is my command, my lady.”