All In

2

Chapter 2

I sat there in the passenger seat of my own car, plucking my ukelele as Josh drove my white Jeep from Malibu back to his house in Bel-Air, a few of my bags packed and in the back seat. He promised me that he'd figure out what to do with the house. I felt bad. I was a burden to Josh, but he'd never admit that. Josh is just my little cousin. Our families were close growing up. My mom and his mom were sisters, but when my mom passed Josh's mom never lost interest in my dad and me. Instead, she became more invested in our lives, always checking up on us to make sure we were okay. I always thought it was just because she was a nice person, but when you lose someone when you're older you start to realize that her niceness was probably something she needed to do for herself. After all, I am a spitting image of my mom, and my aunt always commented on that. I feel like it gives her some sort of closure seeing her own little sister basically reincarnated through me. 

But as for Josh, I'm not sure why he cares so much. Maybe it's because we grew up as best friends, the mere 2 and a half year age gap helping us. Maybe he just felt bad, me being a 20-year-old kid all alone in Malibu after losing both her parents. Maybe it was just because he is a nice guy, I mean the kid is Canadian after all. Isn't there some sort of stereotype about those Canadians being too nice? 

Whatever the reason, his mom or his own genuine kindness, I couldn't help but feel bad. However, I couldn't fix the ice in my heart that had formed. It was the type of ice that no sun could thaw. 

"You excited to live in Bel-Air?" Josh smirked over at me, breaking the silence as we came up to a red light. I plucked another chord, looking over at him with a strange look. 

"You got a view of the ocean?" I mumbled as he shook his head softly, clearing his throat as if I just created a think tension that couldn't even be cut with the sharpest of knives. 

"No," he said softly as I nodded, looking back down at my ukelele. 

"Then no, I'm not excited," I sighed, continuing to pluck random chords. 

"We do have a pool though! And the boys are super awesome," he smirked as I nodded, not looking away from the ukelele that was resting in my hands. 

"Last time I checked the pacific ocean was a mass of water that covered approximately 62.46 million square miles, holding about 187 quintillion gallons of water, while the average American pool is roughly 600 square feet, holding a mere 13,500 gallons," I sighed, looking up at Josh, him giving me a face of shock as his mouth hung open. 

"Why can you recite all that off the top of your head?" He laughed as I shrugged, looking back down at my ukelele. "How about I make Jaden sit in the pool with you and make waves? Then it'll be like your own personal mini ocean! Hell, I'll even dump some salt in there for you because I love you," he chuckled, speeding down the street the second the light turned green. I couldn't help but smile at his sincere gesture. 

"Only if you promise there will be some sea creatures," I giggled, looking over at him as he laughed, nodding his head. 

"I mean, I do do a pretty mean shark," he smirked over at me, quickly looking back at the road as I laughed, smiling softly. 

"Alright, somehow you sold me with your stupid mini ocean idea," I smiled, looking back down at my ukelele, plucking random chords. 

"I thought it was the best idea I've had all day! I didn't think it was stupid at all," he laughed as I giggled, still looking at the ukelele that just rested in my hands. "What else do you need for it to be like Malibu? You need some sand? I'll put some sugar around the pool! It'll basically be the same thing," Josh smiled as I couldn't help myself from laughing, looking over at him. "How about some seagulls? Bryce is like the human form a seagull, so I feel we're fine in that department. You need some beachgoers? I'm more than sure Nessa would love to participate! She'd be more than willing to chill in the pool with you," Josh laughed, smiling over at me as I just smiled, listening to him map out how to make it feel like home for me. "Oh my God, Beau, do you need a lifeguard?! Griffin's a nurse! He'd make a great lifeguard," Josh smiled as I shook my head, giggling as I just looked at him. 

"It's still stupid," I smiled as he shrugged, smirking softly. 

"I think it's brilliant," he laughed as he pulled into the driveway of a large white house. He threw my car in park before looking over at me, watching me as I looked at the house, admiring every aspect of it. "Welcome to your very own makeshift Malibu. You want to name it Titos?" He smirked, nudging me playfully as I just smirked over at him before looking back at the house. 

"Wow," I laughed softly. That's the only response I could think of. It takes a lot to leave me speechless, and this had me without any words.