Looking For Space // Josh Kiszka

XXVI

I feel like I just posted chapter 25 yesterday! Time flies...I hope you all enjoy~~

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"I can't go," Josh said, averting his eyes to the floor of my living room at the last word.

First came shock; second came disappointment; third came anger, which I tried to reel in. "Can't go?" I repeated, trying to keep my voice steady. "What do you mean?"

"I tried to get the time off work, but I couldn't," he explained, shifting on the couch. "It was too last minute for them to budge. I'm sorry, darling--really, I am."

I sighed. "It's okay." And it really was--that wasn't his fault. But it brought on an entirely new set of anxiety for me--four days in a cabin in the woods of the middle of Ontario with just my parents and my sister. I knew I was going to get chewed out by my mother for Josh not being able to go. "I wish you could go. But it's okay."

Josh sighed too and nudged my thigh with one socked foot. "I'm sorry. I wish I could go, too. A cabin in the woods would be amazing right now." He ran his hand over his face with a little groan. "I also wanted to impress your parents."

I smiled. "I know. Try not to worry about that." I scooted over to him and laid on my back, resting my head in his lap. "Everything happens for a reason. This is meant to be somehow, I suppose."

"I think so too," Josh agreed and twirled a strand of my hair. "Four days though--I'm gonna miss you. And be bored when I'm not at work."

"I'll be bored for four days in the woods with only my family," I replied with a nervous laugh. "It's been so long since we went on any trip together. Since I was a kid, really."

"What are their plans? Like what are you guys gonna do?"

"Kirsti and I will hike, probably. It's not like we can cross the border with guns so my dad can't hunt," I said absentmindedly. "I don't really know. I'm just hoping I'll have phone service."

"If you don't I'll just send a carrier pigeon your way."

I chuckled. "Please do. Josh, you'd love it there, though," I told him, running my hand down his shin. "From what I remember anyway, it's a really beautiful cabin. And completely isolated. Totally your game."

"Maybe sometime just you and I could go up there."

"I think we could. And we should."

"How long is the drive?"

"Almost 8 hours."

"Oof."

"Right?"

Josh untucked his leg from underneath me and wrapped it around my hip. "Can we do something special before you leave? And I know I found out on such short notice, I'm sorry."

I laid my arm over his shin. "It's okay, seriously. And what do you want to do?"

"Can I make you dinner?"

I sat up a little and turned my head as best I could to look at him. "You cooking? You really want to?"

"Jake's been showing me things," Josh replied, blushing a little. "Would you want to do that? I can even kick him out of the apartment for a night."

"I'm fine with Jake joining us, but whatever you want, Starshine," I said, settling back down between his legs. "I would love for you to cook for us. What are you thinking of making?"

"It's going to be a surprise."

"Is that code for 'I have no idea?'"

He laughed. "Maybe."