Should have asked you out sooner

Chapter 1

We walked into his kitchen and I put my bag on the counter.  ‘I had an awesome night’, ‘Thanks for coming with me’ he said and smiled back at me.  ‘No, thanks for inviting me Josh’,.  ‘It was so much fun’ I replied.  ‘When you called and invited me yesterday I nearly fainted’ I said with a laugh.

‘Really, why?’ Said Josh with a curious look on his face.

‘Oh come on Josh Hutcherson who I’ll admit I have a huge crush on phones me to invite me out to a charity event’.  ‘Never in a million years would I have dreamed it‘.  ‘So just how did you get my number?’ I say with a raised eyebrow and a smile.  One of my darling friends gave it to him no doubt as they are good buddies of his as well.  Josh and I have met a few times before at parties and sports games and we’ve got on really well and laughed our asses off.   But, phoning ME to ask ME out was something I’d never ever expected.  Not from one of Hollywoods nicest most down-to-earth guys.

‘Uh yeah well I asked James for your number’.  He looks down at his hands as he talks.  ‘Actually I was talking to Sarah about coming to keep me company and she said ‘get a girlfriend for Christ’s sake Josh’.  ‘Am I seriously the best you can do for a date’.  He looked up and our eyes locked.  ‘Sarah said ask Holly I’ve seen you two chatting away and laughing your assess off when we’ve all been out’.  ‘Trust me Joshy I know she’ll say yes’.

She rang James and got your number for me.  ‘Gotta admit it I was nervous as all hell before I called you’. ‘I thought shit what if you say no’.

I look down at my hands now playing with my bracelet I feel a little embarrassed at hearing his confession.  But I let a smile creep onto my face as look up and say ‘well, lucky for you I said yes’.

He flashes me a dazzling smile and I blush as red as a beetroot and downcast my eyes trying to compose myself.  I think to myself ‘he’s just a nice guy who wanted a friend to accompany him that’s all’.  So why the hell am I finding I can’t I look back up at him.

There is a really awkward silence until Josh says ‘well the night is still young.  Do you have to get home or can you stay for a bit and we can hang out‘. 

I take a deep breath and look up smiling.  ‘Uh no I don’t have to be anywhere so if you want me I’m yours‘.   Oh crap that came out all wrong.  ‘I mean I would love to stay and hang out with you if you want’.  Blushing again.  Oh God why did I say ‘if you want me I’m yours‘.    I wonder if there’s a hole around here I can crawl into.  

Before I knew it Josh had closed the space between us and kissed my cheek.  ‘Cool, I was hoping you’d stay’. 

‘Be back in a sec just have to let my baby out’.  He took off down the hall and appeared a few seconds later with his adorable puppy Driver.  Josh was so damn cute playing with him that I couldn’t help giggle.

Driver’s ears pricked up on hearing me and he looked around at me and started jumping about.  ‘Yeah boy come meet my friend Holly’.

The puppy came bounding over to me 

‘Holly this is Driver I told you about earlier’.

‘Oh my gosh you are so sweet’ I say as I rub his ears.  He rolls over so I can rub his belly and then starts jumping up on me.

“Driver be nice to Holly now or she won’t want to come back and visit’ says Josh with a stern tone.

‘Oh of course I’ll come back and visit you little cutie how could I not’  I said in that voice you use when talking to babies.

Josh puts down a bowl of food for Driver who greedily gulps it down.

Josh then walks over and hands me a glass of wine.  ‘Here you go, I’ll let you and Driver get better acquainted while I whip up some food’.  He flashes me that amazing smile again.

That smile that leaves girls all over the world breathless.  And right at this moment it’s aimed at me.

‘Thanks’ .  I take sip and watch Josh whiz around his kitchen cutting up some fruit and cheese.

Driver has come back over and is sitting at my feet with his head on my lap.  ‘Oh Driver you are so adorable I could cuddle you all day’.  I say while scratching his ears.

Josh comes and puts a plate of food on the table and his wine glass and sits next to me.  

‘Driver loves getting cuddles’ says Josh and he places driver on his lap and cuddles into his puppy. 

We sit for a while talking about some of the new movies Josh has coming up and who he’d like to work with.  He really is a sweet genuinely nice guy.  Driver jumps off his lap and goes to climb into his own bed and within minutes the little puppy is on his back snoring.

I look up to find Josh staring at me and smiling.

‘What’ I say

‘He likes you’ says Josh looking back at his sleeping puppy.  ‘He’s got incredibly good taste you know’.

Josh leans in to me and touches my bracelet.  ‘Nice’ he says ‘Pandora’.

‘Yeah it is’ I reply

He lifts my hand up to inspect all the beads on my bracelet.  ‘You still have space for more, that’s cool’.  ‘Maybe I can buy you one, you know from Driver of course’.

‘Of course, from Driver’ I say with a sly smile creeping across my face.

I hear my phone get a message and take it out of my bag. (Sorry Hol gotta cancel tomorrow think I have food poisoning.  Talk later xxx Bel).

I sigh and reply (no probs sweetie look after yourself, get better xxx Hol).

I put my phone away and look up to Josh’s puzzled face. 'Something wrong' he says.

‘My friend just cancelled our lunch date tomorrow she has food poisoning poor thing’ I replied.

'Ah that’s no good, I hope she get’s better quickly' Josh says 

'Hey come with me' says Josh excitedly 'I haven't given you a tour of my new house yet'.  He grabbed my hand and pulled me up so quickly that I came crashing into his chest and we both stumbled back onto the floor.  I landed on top of Josh and had to bury my face in his shoulder to stop laughing. 

I rolled off him and stayed on the kitchen floor next to him trying to suppress a laugh.  But then we both burst out laughing.  'Oh God I'm so sorry Holly' Josh said turning to his side and propping himself up on one elbow.  'Are you ok' he says with a genuine concern in his voice.

'I'm fine Josh', 'I don't remember the last time I had this much fun' I say as I try to contain my laughing.

Those dreamy hazel eyes looking into mine makes me smile again.

Josh smiles and reaches out and tucks a section of hair behind my ear that had fallen across my cheek.  His hand felt so soft and warm and I took in a quick breath as he moved closer to me bringing his face just inches from mine.

He leaned in and touched his lips to mine in the sweetest kiss I've ever had.  It was soft, it was brief and it left my lips tingling.  He bought his face back up to mine and I saw a blush form on his cheeks.  'Uh sorry about that, I don’t know where that came from'.  I smiled back at him and bought my hand up to his cheek.  I ran my fingers down his cheek and along his jaw.  Damn he has the most amazing jaw line I’ve ever seen (and felt). He caught my fingers and bought them to his lips to kiss them each.

'Come on' he said as he helped me up again 'The kitchen floor is no place to make out'  Josh took my hands and led me into the living room. 

He turned to face me just as we entered the door and said 'you know I really should have asked you out a long time ago'. 

I walked over to him and planted a soft kiss on his lips.  'You should have' I said as our lips parted.

Well I'm doing it now'.  'Since your friend is sick can I take you out to lunch'.