Chapter 5
I grabbed another shirt, putting it up to my body, discerning if it was good enough while Josh sat on my bed, scowling at me. This had become a regular occurrence for us for almost a month—I’d get ready for a date for Nick while Josh found somewhere comfortable and scowled at me for the whole time. It was becoming very annoying.
I sighed. “Ok, Josh, just say it. I know you’ve been dying to.”
At least Josh had the decency to look ashamed. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” He lied.
“Whatever, Josh. You’re practically vibrating with disapproval. Go ahead, spill.”
Josh didn’t disappoint at he blurted out, “I don’t like him. He’s no good, Justin and you should be far away from him. He’s trouble.”
“And do you actually have facts, Josh, or is this all speculation?”
Josh rolled his eyes. “People talk, Justin. I mean, he’s pretty well known through the orchestra as a predator, and a young, pretty…yes, pretty, Justin, don’t look at me that way…guy like you is right up his alley. I mean, you’re a little naïve still Justin, and he’s going to use that. Remember Jamie, the english horn player? Well, she used to date him and then something happened…something bad. They had a fight and then before we knew it, she was fired. There was a rumor about a wife… ”
I turned from my shirts to look Josh in the eye and interrupt him. “Idle gossip, Josh? Is that all you’re basing this on? He’s been nothing but a gentleman this entire time.”
Josh’s next question threw me off guard. “Are you fucking him?”
I looked at him in disbelief. “That’s none of your business!” Josh just tilted his head and waited patiently for the answer, and I could feel myself giving in. I hate that look.
I gave a long suffering sigh before saying, “Not yet. We’ve done everything else…next week, my birthday, he’s supposed to take me to his cabin the day after my party and we’re going to then.”
The look Josh gave me made me regret telling him anything. There it was again, the vibrating disapproval. He shook his head. “I don’t like the way he looks at you,” he confided. “He looks hungry, like he’s just biding his time until he gets what he wants. I don’t trust him.”
I scowled. I hated feeling like I had to run every idea by Josh. I mean, now he was gonna dictate my sex life? I opened my mouth to tell him off, but he lifted his hand to stop me and continue talking. “But the thing is, I do trust you, Justin, even if your judgment is skewed sometimes. You always do the right thing when it comes to the important stuff. And as much as my heart is telling me to pull you from Nick and run away as far as possible from him, I accept the fact that you’re grown and perfectly able of making your own decisions.” He brightened up and added, “Treat this as a birthday present.”
I nodded, but inside I was squealing. “You, treating me like an adult? That’s like, three years worth of birthday presents!” I exclaimed. We laughed, but then Josh came closer and cupped my face in his hands. He leaned forward so our foreheads were touching.
“I know you’re an adult, even if I might not always show it. But I’m always gonna worry about you. So, even though I may seem like I’m completely contradicting my previous statement, promise me that you’ll be careful, ok?”
I smiled. To the outsider, it may have seemed the same, but I knew that Josh was really making an effort. The old Josh would’ve broken up with Nick for me and then watched the phone to make sure I didn’t call. The man’s a total control freak. I gave him a wet, sloppy kiss on his forehead. “I promise. Now,” I said, holding up the shirts, “blue or gray?”
Josh may have been recognizing my independence, but when it came to me and Nick, he wasn’t going to stop scowling.
- - -
A week later, my party was in full swing and I was the center of attention, holding court as people showered adoration and presents upon me. God, I love birthdays. They’re a holiday you don’t have to share. I mean, if you know someone with the same birthday as you, you can always tell them to have their own party far away from yours. Unless you’re a five year old with a twin or something. But anyway, I digress.
I was dancing with Joey when Josh came up to us. “Hey, you invited AJ?” he asked.
I nodded. “I had to. I mean, Kevin shut down the club for this party, and everyone else from work was coming. I couldn’t be rude.”
“Yes, you could’ve.” Josh insisted as he sent AJ a death glare.
“Hey, down boy.” Joey joked, noticing the glacial look Josh was pinning upon AJ. “Plus, he’s with his new boyfriend, so I doubt he’ll be trying to molest our birthday boy.”
I looked at AJ’s boyfriend. His name was Erik, and I guess he would’ve been cute except for the horridly crooked bottom teeth he kept shamelessly displaying. It just added to my feelings that AJ is an idiot. I mean, Lance has great teeth. I be damned if I ever graced his ungrateful ass with my superb matchmaking wisdom ever again.
The song ended, and Joey pulled away. “As wonderful of a dancer as you are, J, I have a perfectly sexy husband ready to be ravished.” He spun me into Josh’s arms and went off to find Chris.
“Well, forget him and his happily married bliss. You’re a much better dancer anyway.” I said to Josh, twining my arms around his neck.
“So, where’s the boyfriend?” he asked sourly.
“On his way here. He had some things to finish up at the office. And when he does show, could you not make that face. I mean, I’m not asking you to smile or anything, that would be impossible, but could you not look like you just swallowed a lemon?”
“No, I can’t. This expression is the best I can do. Considering how much I hate the man, you should be proud that a sour expression is all that he’s getting.”
I rolled my eyes. “You, Joshua Scott Chasez, are a stubborn fool.”
He smiled. “And you, Justin Randall Timberlake, are a spoiled brat.” With that, he dipped me dramatically, and I straightened up, my face flushed and giggling.
Just then I felt a pair of arms around my waist. “Hey, don’t go having too much fun without me.” Nick teased, pulling me against him.
“You made it!” I yelled happily, turning my face to soundly kiss him.
“Of course I did. I wasn’t missing my baby’s birthday for anything.” Nick then turned to Josh. “Hello, Josh. You’re looking good today.”
Josh frowned. “Thanks. Now if you don’t mind, I’m going to find…”
“No, don’t go.” interrupted Nick. He reached around my body and grabbed Josh by his belt loops and pulled him flush against my body. “Dance with us.”
Just then the music changed to a sultry reggae song, and Josh tried to pull away but Nick tugged harder. I could feel my body start to get hot. I mean, look at my position! Josh may be like a brother to me, but I have not failed to notice that he’s attractive. So, here I am sandwiched between two sexy people in a dark room—hey, who dimmed the lights—with a sexy ass song playing. Not to mention that I also had a little alcohol in me. You can’t blame my body’s reactions.
Unfortunately, I was so busy trying to calm my body down that I didn’t notice Nick lean over and whisper to Josh. All I know is that Josh’s head flew up and his eyes narrowed.
“I don’t know what the hell you’re trying to do Carter, but it won’t work.” Josh sneered.
Nick just laughed, a low exhalation against my neck that sent shivers up my spine. “I’m not up to anything. I’m just pointing out a simple fact.”
“You’re sick” Josh retorted.
“No, I’m not. I’m just…resourceful. I have to commend you though, Josh. Your willpower is astounding.”
I was about to ask them what the hell they were talking about when Josh started to grind slowly against me. Nick then also started to dance, and…well, that was the end of my thought processes. I noticed that at some point that Nick had backed himself against a wall, which allowed the three of us to press even tighter together. The alcohol had clouded my brain, and all I could think about was the pleasure that my body was receiving. I don’t even think we were even on beat to the song anymore, or even if the same song was playing. I snaked my hand up Josh’s shirt, pulling him even tighter against me, my fingers splayed against the sweat slick skin. My head dropped to his shoulder as I began to grind even harder against him. There was a part of my mind that was yelling to me that it was wrong to rut against my best friend like an animal in heat, but the other parts of my brain were telling that part to just shut the fuck up.
“Josh,” I moaned, feeling myself getting closer to the edge, when suddenly I felt him being pulled away from me. My head snapped up and I saw Josh, shaking in rage and glaring at Nick. I felt a twinge of guilt that I had been so preoccupied in getting off that I had forgotten that Nick was even there. I looked at them, Josh ready to tear Nick’s eyes out, and Nick looking faintly smug and I was confused. What the hell was going on?
Just then Chris decided to bless us with his presence. “Things are about to get ugly.” he stage whispered.
My ears perked up at the thought of gossip. “What? What’s going on?”
“Well, apparently, AJ Has decided to be an ass and flaunt the new boyfriend in front of Lance. And I don’t know what new boyfriend said to Lance, but it wasn’t good.”
I looked over at Lance, standing forlornly in the corner. Josh scowled at AJ again. “I told you not to invite him.” was all he said. Then he walked over to Lance.
“I feel so bad. Maybe I should…” I started, but Chris interrupted me.
“Nah. It looks like Josh is handling it.” He motioned to where Josh had Lance laughing and was now leading him onto the dance floor. “You just dance with your boyfriend here and have fun, ok?”
I turned to Nick and he put his arms around me. “Are you going to tell me what the hell happened there with you and Josh?”
Nick shrugged. “It’s nothing, sweetie. Josh doesn’t like the idea of us being together, you know that. It’s between him and me. I don’t want you to have to be in the middle of a squabble between your boyfriend and your best friend.” I was about to tell him that it looked like more than a squabble when he silenced me with a kiss. “I’d much rather talk about you and me at the cabin this weekend.”
Ah, yes, the cabin! That was a better topic. This was the weekend that Nick and I were finally going to make love. I smiled. I hadn’t had sex in a year. No wonder I was trying to use Josh to get my rocks off. Now having a reasonable explanation for my behavior, I could relax enough to enjoy my party and Nick.