Page 195 of Stanton Unconditional

“Are you ok?” he asks.

“No,” I sob, “I miss you.” He stays silent.

“This is ridiculous, we can’t be apart for this long,” I stammer.

“I will see you again on Monday, Natasha. I said a week.” “Josh, no. It’s only Thursday. I can’t wait that long. I feel sick being without you.”

“So, you are okay?”

“Just,” I murmur. “I love you,” I whisper. He stays silent as I hear him inhale deeply.

“Josh, what’s wrong?” Panic sets in, why didn’t he say it back?

“Nothing. I will see you Monday night, okay?”

My face drops. “Do you love me?” I whisper.

“Don’t ask stupid questions,” he sighs.

I smile. “I miss you.”

“Bye, Presh.” He hangs up.

Relief fills me, he called me Presh. It’s ok, it’s all going to be okay.

Joshua

It’s eight o’clock and I am at a Thai restaurant with the boys discussing the two stooges’ breaking and entering today. We are at at table set up in the back corner. Ben had to break the locks to get them out. They were so lucky that they didn’t get caught. On the upside, they found a whole case of disks and another laptop. Ben is going to go through them tonight and then destroy them. I wonder how many other poor bastards’ films are in that box?

“I still cannot believe they broke into her apartment.” Adrian shakes his head in shock.

“I know,” Cameron splutters. “Ballsy.”

Ben shakes his head. “It would have been imbecile Abbie’s idea. She is a bad influence on Bridget.”

I smirk at Ben.

“What?” he says dryly as he raises an eyebrow.

“You have a soft spot for Didge, just admit it.” I pick my teeth with a toothpick as I lean back with my arm slung across the back of the chairs. He rolls his eyes. “She’s a cool chick, that’s all.”

Cameron shakes his head and glares at him. “I told you not to touch her unless you plan on marrying her.”

Ben hold his hands up in defense. “Nobody’s touching anybody. Calm down.”

I smile as I raise my hand for the bill.

“And nobody is getting married,” he snaps. “So, stop worrying.”

“Good,” Cameron snaps. “I would hate to have to kick your ass.”

Ben laughs.

“I would love to see that,” Adrian smiles. “Ben would kill you with a smile on his face and his hands tied behind his back.” I smile as I listen to the meaningless banter and my mind wanders to Tash. Hearing her tell me she loved me today has somehow made me relax. That and the fact I am so physically exhausted from fighting every motherfucker in Australia over the last two days. Ben knows me well. He knew I needed to kick some serious ass to stay sane, and that is just what I have done. I actually feel sorry for the poor bastards I fought on Tuesday night, I totally lost my shit.

“Let’s go out.” Cameron stretches as he cranes his neck to eye off one of the waitresses walking past.

“Yeah, ok,” Murph replies. “I could do with a drink.” Ben’s eyes flick to me.