Josh's Destiny

Chapter 24

Josh let himself into the suite and quietly closed the door. For all intents and purposes he looked like the neighborhood crack head; clothes a rumpled mess, hair a bird's nest of tangles, eyes bloodshot slits, never mind he needed a shave. He rooked a cigarette from Jake and the half smoked butt was hanging between his lips. Destiny came out of the bedroom.

She looked at Josh and crooked her finger for him to come into the bedroom with her. Sam was sitting upright, but he was sleeping the sleep of the righteous. Josh walked quietly into the bedroom and Destiny closed the door.

"What happened to you? You look like you've been in a fight," Destiny said.

Josh located an ashtray and put the cigarette out. "Well," he said, "As long as we weren't doing a show tonight, we decided to party a bit more. I'm running on no sleep here. I'd like a kiss, a shower, and a bed, in that order."  Destiny came to him and pecked him on the cheek.   "That was a kiss?"

Destiny nodded. "Yes, until you shower and brush. You smell like pot and cigarettes with just a hint of body odor. Please shower and I'll have your clothes laundered. I assume we're staying through the night?"

"No." Josh removed his shirt.  "We leave at 11:30 P.M. as planned for Dallas."

"All right, you get into the shower then into bed. The other guys are sleeping it off too, I presume?"

Josh pulled off his shoes, then his jeans, and finally his briefs. When he was naked he stretched out.

Destiny looked him over appraisingly and said, "Skyclad suits you."

"My favorite way to be," Josh replied with a wry grin.

"Go shower," said Destiny as she retrieved his offending clothing then left the bedroom and quietly entered the living space.  She immediately noticed Sam was not on the sofa, but then heard a toilet flush and Sam emerged from the hall bath.

"Morning," he said a bit sheepishly.

"Good morning. How did you sleep?"

"Better than I have in weeks. No dreams." Sam clutched the blanket around him.

Destiny smiled a small smile and said, "I think you're a little old for a security blanket, aren't you?"

"Uh, well, uh, I'm kind of naked under here. I sleep in the nude..."

"It's okay, Sam, I didn't even know you were skyclad, so the blanket stayed firmly in place."

Sam looked at her strangely. "What? What is it, Sam?"

"You said "skyclad" to me."

"And," said Destiny, "you knew what it meant. And you probably know a lot more. I've seen some of the books you read, not exactly mainstream, Sam."

"I remember last night. Everything you said. Was it true?"

"Everything I told you was truth. I wouldn't lie to you, Sam. I think we should have a talk. Are you still sleepy or do you fancy some breakfast?"

"Hey, I can always eat!"

Destiny laughed and Sam grinned. That was the first genuine grin she had seen on Sam's face in days.

"You go shower and dress and I'll get ready too."

"Is Josh here?"

"Probably in bed, sleeping. Why?"

"Well, heck Destiny, you two know what you're like when you're together. Especially in a bedroom!" Sam exclaimed.

Destiny chuckled. Sam was right, but she also knew Josh was sleeping and she needed to talk to Sam.  Shooing him out and off to his room she entered into the bedroom. She was right, Josh was sound asleep, snoring lightly. She watched him for a moment then went into the somewhat messy bathroom and stripped off her pajamas.