“I know.” Josh doesn’t stop folding.
“You gonna tell her?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“For goodness’ sake, Sam, just drop it, okay?” Josh swings toward the camera, his arms folding defensively across his chest.
“I’d be okay with it,” Sam says, the camera shifting slightly. “We’d all be cool. You’re a good guy. She deserves someone who’ll love her.”
Josh’s young jaw clenches, the muscle ticking as he stares down the lens. “I’m not going to tell her because I want her to be happy.”
“And she can’t be with you?”
Josh shrugs, his voice quieter now. “God knows no one thinks so. Besides, we’ve got plans.”
“Yeah, we do!” Sam cheers, his fist suddenly appearing on the screen for a fist bump.
Josh bumps it, but Sam isn’t done. “But seriously, why can’t she be with you? We all know Brad’s hung up on Erika.”
“Because he’s an idiot,” Josh mutters. “And when he finally wakes up, Molly’ll be there, getting everything she wants.”
“But—”
The video cuts off abruptly.
I turn, seeing Josh’s hand on the remote.
“That’s enough,” he says, his voice firm but quiet.
“Josh….” I stare at him, my heart pounding, seeing him with fresh eyes.
The silence stretches between us, heavy and charged.
“How old were you?” I ask finally. “Do you remember?”
“Fourteen. Or fifteen. I don’t know.” He runs a hand through his hair, avoiding my gaze.
“No, I mean… when you… I… Do you still feel like that?” I stammer, my voice wavering as I watch him flinch.
He lifts his gaze to meet mine, his trademark crooked smile slipping into place. “Don’t worry,Pahe.I haven’t spent the past fifteen years pining for you.”
We both fall silent, the tension between us thick and unspoken.
I tilt my head, watching him carefully. “You were my first kiss, you know?”
His grin widens. “Oh, I know.”
I gesture at the screen. “Captured in Technicolor brilliance.”
“It was a killer first kiss,” he says, his voice teasing.
I laugh softly. “True.”
The silence stretches again, neither of us looking away.
“You love me now?” I whisper.
