million dollar high | joshler

35

the following week, josh came over to my house around late afternoon, claiming he had good news.

"josh, what is it?" i asked as i closed the door after him.

"i broke up with debby!" he smiled. "she actually took it well; it wasn't what i was expecting."

"that's—" before i got the chance to finish, he pulled me into him and kissed me, holding my hips against his. i held onto his biceps and pulled apart. "great."

"let's go on a date."

"you're not even out."

"as friends? we could walk to the beach, and it's chillier outside than usual so hardly anyone will be there. we can walk around the water or something."

"okay, fine, but i don't think it's completely appropriate that we've had sex before a first date."

josh laughed, and we both got dressed in plain shirts and shorts (since he had left some pieces of clothing at my house before). i threw a small sweater on too.

and we walked out of my apartment to the beach, which was about half an hour away, but it was okay.

we got there, and josh was right: there was barely anyone around. we walked next to the water, having the cold water pool around our ankles. josh reached for my hand, but i swatted it away.

"come on. seriously?" josh groaned.

"i don't want you to get caught because of me. plus, we're just here as friends."

"it's okay. there's no one here, and no one will recognize us anyway. the sun's starting to go down."

i looked over the ocean and saw the sun starting to go down, sighing then grabbing josh's hand, lacing our fingers together.

"asshole." i mumbled.

he still held my hand but backed away a little bit, twirling me around and then pulling me back by his side. "bitch."

"why did you do that?"

"you're just cute sometimes."

i felt my face heat up, and i didn't know why. "wow, thanks."

we walked around a little more, hand in hand, the sound of the waves next to us, the small breeze, and we watched the sunset. it was kind of romantic.

josh asked a stranger if they could take a picture of us, and they kindly said yes. i'm glad they didn't recognize us.

we started to make our way back up the beach to go back to my house, but josh stopped me.

"joseph, be my boyfriend."

i laughed a little and started to turn away, but josh tugged me hand back. "you're being serious?"

"yes."

"i already told you how i felt about dating. i'm not into it. it's not my thing, dun."

"dating would be exactly what we're doing now but with more feelings, you fucking idiot. the last relationship you were in was in high school. this isn't high school!"

"that relationship was a nightmare, and i don't want anything close to it ever again!"

"i'm not like him!"

"of course you're not." josh stayed quiet; he was making me lose my mind. "but do i really have to answer? things are fine just how they are now."

"answering makes it official. well, just between us anyway."

"then yes."

—
a/n: fucking finally