***COMPLETED*** Around the World and Back [A Patty Walters Story]

Chapter 15, Part 3: "But thanks for finally being a man."

July 8, 2018
Houston, Texas

My heart literally skipped a few beats when I got that text. They didn't even have to say their name for me to know who it was. How the fuck did Josh get my new number?

"Are you okay?" Patty whispered in my ear as he held one of my hands. "Your hands are shaking, baby. What's wrong?"

I looked down at our hands and then back up at him as I chewed roughly on the inside of my cheek.

"Josh got my new number," I said in a half whisper as the Uber pulled up. "We can talk about it when we get back."

Xoxox

"What does he want?" Patty asked as he slid the door to the back lounge closed behind us. "How did he get your number?"

"I don't know," I muttered as I sat down on the couch, pulling my phone out. "I was waiting until we got back here to text him back."

Me: What do you want?

Josh: Is that the greeting I get after getting out on house arrest?

I rolled my eyes, huffing as Patty put his hand on my shoulder.

Me: Seriously, what do you want?

Josh: Can we FaceTime?

My eyes grew wide as I looked up at Patty.

"He wants to FaceTime," I said with a shaky breath. "Will you... stay here with me?" I asked, biting down on my lip.

"Of course, babe," he said as he kissed my head. "I won't go anywhere."

Me: Patty is going to sit next to me.

Josh: Really? Can't we talk in private?

Me: If you want to FaceTime me, then Patty will be here, too.

My heart skipped a few beats as my phone started to ring.

Unknown would like to FaceTime

Accept Reject

Patty rubbed my back and held my shaking hand.

"Shh, it's okay, he can't hurt you anymore," he muttered as he kissed the side of my head. "It'll be okay."

I took a deep breath and pressed accept, watching as Josh's face appeared on screen.

"What do you want?" I asked again, biting down on my lip as my fingers squeezed Patty's knee. "I'm really busy, and I have to order merchandi-"

"I want to apologize for everything I did to you," he said as he looked at the screen. "I wanted to do it in private, but you've got that emo fucker sitting next to you."

I rolled my eyes.

"His name is Patty, for the millionth time," I said as I held my finger over the "end call" button. "And if you call him that again, I'm hanging up and blocking this number and any other number you use to contact me."

I looked back at Patty and mouthed "sorry" as I pouted before turning back to the screen.

"Alright, fine," Josh grumbled. "Listen, I shouldn't have hit you because it got me arrested, and now I'm house arrest. I'm calling you to say that I'm sorry for everything I did, even though I know it left you with a lot of emotional damage. But I can't do anything about that though, so here's my apology."

I rolled my eyes again, not believing a word he said.

"Okay, well, I don't accept your apology, because you're right, I am going through a lot of things emotionally right now," I said as I sat up to go to end the call. "But thanks for finally being a man," I said, pressing the button before he could say anything else.

For what seemed like forever, we sat there in silence before Patty finally said something.

"Do you believe a word he said?" He asked, playing with the ends of my hair. "Because I didn't."

"I believe that he won't do anything to me anymore because he doesn't want to end up in jail," I said as I leaned back into his side. "But I don't think he's sorry for what he did to me, no."

Patty didn't hesitate to wrap his arm around me, his free hand rubbing up and down my arm gently.

"I wish I could take all of your pain away," he said as he kissed my head. "I know you're hurting, and it hurts me to see that."

Tears welled up in my eyes as I looked up at him, bringing his face down so I could kiss his lips.

"I'm hurting, yeah," I admitted. "But you're making it better. You're making me better," I said as I raked my fingers through his hair. "I love you."

"I love you," he said as he kissed my cheek, biting on it and making me squeal. "I love your little noises, you're so cute."

I pushed his face away with a laugh, looking up when the lounge door opened.

"Sorry to interrupt," Ronnie said with a smile as he came to sit down next to us. "Britt said she wants to come visit!"

I sat up with Patty's arm still draped around my shoulders.

"That's awesome, Ronnie!" I said as I squeezed his shoulder. "I'm sure you'll hit it off to a good start."