One word. Well, name, technically speaking.
Duncan.
Duncan, my friends, is who was standing in my driveway at 8:13 at night with a bouquet of flowers. This may seem sweet, but to Josh, not so much. And that is how our first problem arose.
The moment Josh saw Duncan with the flowers, I could tell it was going to turn into something more that it really should. For starters, I had only spoken to Duncan once. And it wasn't even in person, it was over a computer. And the conversation had only lasted a total of 30 seconds.
"Josh, would you please calm down? It is not that big of a deal!"
"Not a big deal? Charlotte, do you understand what he said? He said he loved you. Love. And I don't feel very comfortable with someone I don't know loving you. I'm sorry, but I'm not okay with it."
"What do you want me to do? It's not like I love him back! I've only spoken to him once!"
"That doesn't seem to matter to him, now does it?"
"Josh, listen to me. I. Don't. Love. Him. Heck, I don't even like him, not like that!"
He stopped pacing the room and sat down on the couch. An awkward silence settled in the room, but was soon interupted by the cries of Quinn and Sam, who were sitting in bouncy seats waiting for their bottles.
I walked to them and gave the bottles a good shake before popping one in each of their mouths and holding them in. As I fed them, I heard Josh come up behind me. He took the bottle that was feeding Sam out of my hand and he took over feeding him. Josh looked at me for a moment and then leaned in close to me and whispered in my ear, I love you, and then kissed me on the cheek.
I turned to him and said, "I love you too, but I just wish you would trust me. I have told you a thousand times that I have only spoken to him once. Over Skype. I don't have any feelings for him, at all."
"I'm sorry, I know, I should have just trusted you. But wouldn't you have felt a little jealous if some girl came up to me and confessed her love to me right in front of you?"
I thought about it for a moment and then sighed, "I guess you have a point. Why don't we just forget the whole thing ever happened? Deal?"
He smiled, "Deal."
***
The rest of the night was pretty much a blur. I fell asleep on the couch in the movie room after we put the babies to sleep. If one thing is for sure after these first few days, it is that I miss sleep like crazy.
'The next morning I woke up feeling refreshed.
Not.
Sleeping on a couch, even when it is as nice as the Anderson's couch, is not comfortable. I walked like a sloth as I made my way to the bathroom across the hall. However, when I tried to open the door, someone was already opening it, causing us both to jump and take a step back. Luckily, it was just Josh.
"Good morning, Sunshine," he said, obviously mocking my current stature and attire.
I tried to fake a smile as I brushed past him, but he caught me by the arm and spun me around.
He grinned down at me and repeated, "Good morning, sunshine."
This time I couldn't help but smile back and reply, "Good morning, babe."
I stepped into his embrace and for the first time in a long time I took in all his features. His long eyelashes, his faint but clearly visible freckles speckled across his nose and cheeks. The way his hair was messy on top of his head, like it had never seen a hairbrush, but still looked so amazingly sexy. But he also had flaws, like on his right eye he had a scar, which was only visible when his hair was pushed back as it was now. I ever so slightly ran my thumb over the scar and pulled his head down so I could kiss it.
When I pulled away, my thumb continuing to rub above his eye I tried to figure out where and how Josh had aquired this scar.
"My asshole of a birth father gave it to me when I was defending Isabelle."
I wasn't sure if I had asked it out loud or if he just thought I must be thinking it, considering how long I had been rubbing my fingers over it.
Neither of us said anything for a few minutes until I looked up at Josh and said, "I really have to pee."
We broke away, both of us laughing. I stepped into the bathroom and in addition to peeing, I tried to make myself look as presentable as possible. When I had finished I walked to Josh's room where he was with the twins.
"Good morning sweet loves!" Josh had Quinn in his hands so I scooped up Sam and tickled his chunky thighs.
"Why don't we go downstairs and see Gram and Pops?" Josh asked the babies as if they could actually answer. I smiled at his cuteness and stood up and pulled Josh to his feet and we walked hand in hand, each of us with a baby in our arms, downstairs for breakfast.
Even though Josh's family had a cook, his mom was in the kitchen that morning cooking breakfast.
"Good morning Mrs. Anderson!" I said as I let go of Josh's hand to give her a side hug.
"Good morning to you all as well!" She smiled, "Charlotte, honey, would you like pancakes or french toast?"
"Oh, either is fine!" I replied. I put Sam in his highchair as Josh did the same with Quinn. We quickly warmed up their bottles and made rice cereal in bowls. I don't think I will ever understand how rice cereal is appetizing.
We all ate breakfast in semi-peace. Occasionally, Sam or Quinn start to get grumpy, but for the most part they were well behaved.
After we finished breakfast, Josh's mom was determined to take us all out to go baby shopping. That was most definitely a poor decision on our part.
A/N: First and foremost, I am so dreadfully sorry for this extended wait! Let me just tell you, I hate my computer. All my files disappeared, including school files. Urggg, it was so frustrating. But luckily my brilliant father was able to recover everything after an extremely long time. Okay on to a lighter and more amazing and spectacular note!
You guys are the best. OBP is up to 914 reads. I literally can't ever breath right now, you don't understand. So anywhose (is that a word? I don't care), thank you all for sticking with this book and I love you all to the moon and back!
