Love, Boys, and Jealousy: A Typical Romance

Chapter 22

"Wait, what?" Erica was in shock. she was speechless.

"A cruise."

"Baby, I cna't accept that. It's way to much."

"Oh no it was free. My uncle is the new cruise director so we got eight free tickets. So that's my family, your family and Sylvia's boyfriend."

"I don't know what to say."

"Say you'll ask your parents."

"I will ask my parents."

"Good." Josh leaned over and kissed her.

"One thing I'm going to know before I ask though."

"What's that?"

"When is it?"

"Oh it's over spring break."

"Okay. I'll ask when I get home."

"Okay. Well we can leave whenever you want."

"Who said I wanted to leave?" Erica stood up and walked over and sat on Josh's lap.

"I guess not." he laughed.

"No. Not yet. I want to be with you a little longer."

"Works for me." Josh kissed Erica's neck. She turned her head so her lips met his.

"This is the best night ever. I love you.

"I love you too. Happy birthday."

"Thanks baby." she kissed him again and turned on the music. As she did that she stood up and pulled him up into her arms. They swayed back and forth to the music. When the song ended, Erica looked at her watch. It was nine-thirty. Her dad would flip if she wasn't home by ten so they left for the long walk ahead of them.  Erica loved her present. all of it. SHe loved Josh and she couldn't believe that he wants to take her on a cruise. When they got home, Josh kissed Erica goodbye and and she walked inside with a huge smile on her face. There, she saw her parent's sitting in the living room watching TV. She walked over to them and sat down. Her dad turned off the TV.

""So how was it?" he asked.

"Amazing. We had a rooftop picnic over looking the lake."

"What did he get you?" asked her mom. She assumed it would be another pice of jewlery.

"Well he got me something for all of us. Something for our famiies to get to know eachother better which is something he knows I want.

"What is it?"

"He's inviting us all on a cruise."

"All three of us?" her dad asked

"Yeah. And his whole amily as well along with his sisters boyfriend."

"What did you say?"

"At first I said that I couldn't accpt it that it was to much money but then he told me that his uncle was the new cruise director so they get eight free tickets a year that they can use whenever so they wanted us all to go to get to know eachother. I mean you guy only met him once because you've been back and forth between Italy so now that grandma is all better and out the hospital it's perfect."

"When is this cruise?" Her mom was curious.

"April break."

"Thtat's in two weeks."

"I know. Can we go though? Please?"

"I don't see why not. I would like to get to know his parents better. And him as well."

"And I want you too dad. He's a great guy. I know you'll love him. How about you mom? Can you take the time off work?"

"I suppose so. So I say yes. Let's go then."

"Really?"

"Yes. Really. But with the rooms..." hr dad trailed off

"Don't worry. It'll be us three in one room, Josh, his dad and Sylvia's boyfriend in another and Sylvia and her mom in another."

"Okay. Tell him we can go."

"Thank you soo much."

"Now go upstairs and go to bed. You have an ealy day tomorrow."r

"Dad, not like I have school. What else is there?"

"That's right, we haven't told you your birthday gift yet."

"What is it?"

"Me and your father ar taking you and Josh into the city tomorrow to see Wicked."

"For real?" Erica was overjoyed "Does Josh kow?"

"Yes. I talked to him the other day to see if it was alright he said sure."

"So what time are we leaving?"

"Around nine. We are going to have lunch then go to the play at two."

"Okay, then I'll go upstairs and get ready for bed." Erica said goodnight to her parents and walked to  her room. Sh took a shower and went to bed. She chatted Josh and told him that her parents said yes to the cruisa and confimred what time they were leaving tomorrow.

The next morning when Erica woke up, she got ready right away. They left for Josh around eight fifty-five. Once they got there, he came right out. He was wearing a nice light blue polo and khaki's. They had a nine-twenty train so they would arrive in the city at ten fifty. They had an elevn thirty reservation for lunch at a family style resturant so when they got into the city, they went right to lunch. Erica and Josh were having so much fun spending the day together and Erica's parents were enjoying themselves as well. After lunch, it was one fifteen and they were far from the theatre. So they ;eft quickly and headed to the theatre. They got there right before the doors opened and they had pretty good seats. It was in the orchaestra section. The four of them sat down and relaxed before the show started. "You excited?" Josh whispered to Erica as he wrapped his arm over her shoulder.

"Extremely. How about you?"

"Definatley. I heard it was amazing."

"So did I."

"How about the crise? Are you ready for that?"

"More then you know. A full week together of freedom without Michael. Without threats." She said that quietly so her dad wouldn't hear.

"I know. It's going to be awesome." Josh kissed Erica and the play started. They sat back and relaxed.

Everyone was right. The play was absolutley amazing. Better then they expected. They headed back home around five. osh stayed at Erica's for while. "Did you two have fun?" Erica's dad aked when they got home.  

"Definatley." They both responded. Erica smiled and they went up to her room.

"This has been a grat birthday. I get a cruise from you and a broadway play from my parents." She leaned on Josh.

"I know. It's because we all love you." he kissed her temple.

"Well I love you too."

"That's a good thing." They sat there for a while and didn't say a word. Erica eard her parents go to bed which is normally key to it's time for Josh to go home.

"It's time for you to go baby. My parents are going to bed."

"Well why I can't I just stay the night?" he kissed her neck repeatedly,

"B-be-because we're not alone." Erica studdered. "S-st-stop stop." 

"Stop what?" he kissd her again.

"Nothing." She turned and kissed him. He moved his arm down so it was on top of her thigh. erica pulled away. "Okay you really need to go. If my parents found out they wouldn't let me go on the cruise with you."

"Okay. I'll go. Bye baby." Josh kissed her one more time and left. Erica changed into her pajamas and went to bed. Jaclyn sent her a text. It said: I'll keep that in mind...