The months after Hugh's party were blissfully uneventful. Josh and I spent a lot of time together, trying to savour it before we departed. Him for Blue Harvest in Africa and I for the Commonwealth Tour. I would miss him, that I knew, but it wasn't as if I was never going to see him again. I knew I would. I'd just have to rely on texts, FaceTime and cute Instagram posts to keep in contact with him. I knew I would be so preoccupied by the Commonwealth tour I would have little time to worry about him, though he would always be in the back of my mind.
It wasn't until a few days before his flight I found myself fretting. I didn't know what it was but I had a continued nagging feeling that grew and grew as the day got closer, which I found to be a rather unnerving way to live.
"I'll miss you." I told Josh for the hundredth time. It felt that no matter how much I said it, I couldn't truly emphasise what I knew I felt.
"I'll miss you." He spoke softly, his hand fiddling with a strand of my hair. "You get that, right?"
"Why wouldn't I?" I looked up at him, a little concerned by his words.
"It's nothing." He responded, smiling, but I could see right through it. He had something on his mind, nagging him, it was as obvious as ever.
"Josh, we both know it isn't. Tell me."
He sighed and nodded. "Time apart makes or breaks a relationship." He muttered, avoiding my gaze. He fiddled with his phone laying on his lap.
"What are you suggesting?" I asked, trying to dive deeper into Josh's thoughts.
"What if it breaks us?" He asks, a crack in his voice. His tone was deadly serious but he had clearly thought about it for a long time.
"Josh," I said, concerned. "It would only break us if we let it. I think we've known each other long enough to trust each other."
"Can you believe it's been nearly two and a half years?" Josh smiled, a glimmer of nostalgia in his eyes.
"Since we met or since we slept together?" I joked, trying to make him feel better. It worked.
"Both were fantastic experiences."
"I think I agree." I chuckled.
"Says the virgin." Josh snapped back humorously, referencing the meal with Uncle Richard.
"You wouldn't have believed it back then." I teased, smirking. "You admitted it."
Josh leaned in, putting a hand on my waist. He moved to kiss me but before he could manage it, his phone buzzed. He glanced at it and saw the name; his manager.
"I have to take it." Josh apologised, taking the phone and accepting the call.
I droned out the conversation, fiddling with Josh's hand. The passing time grew slower and I shifted back a little on the sofa, pulling the blanket over me.
"Right," Josh spoke up, putting the phone back down. "All done."
"Do you think-"
I was cut off by my own phone ringing as Josh had done earlier. I glanced at him with a sheepish smile before answering,
"Yes?" I said harshly. There was a second of silence before I heard a response,
"The King wishes to know if you're okay with the Commonwealth tour destinations." Fitzgibbon's voice boomed down the line, rather insistent.
"I haven't been informed what they are, Fitzgibbons, and I can hardly change them now." I snapped.
"The King still requires your assent, Your Highness."
