Josh narrowed her eyes to slits. "Today might not be the best day to ask me that."
Josh and Miller were complete opposites. , you’d think they hated each other. But once I discovered they were an item, and had been for
a long time, I saw it. The love they didn’t want anyone else to see. I can look back on all our interactions and pick up on the exchange of glances. The way Miller knew where she was in the room at all times. The way they always seem to be touching one another when they thought no one was paying attention. It was so glaringly obvious now that I don’t know how I ever missed it to begin with.
"The last time I saw you two you were at each other's throats. Have you two talked things out?" I asked, sipping from the bottle of water she handed me from the fridge.
Josh shook her head. "Only if you consider him showing up at my door, sneezing in my face and telling me he loves me and needs me to take care of him before falling face first into my bed, talking things out then, yeah. I guess we talked."
"The last time I saw you was the first time I'd seen you really angry at him. Not playfully angry but truly angry."
Josh strolled over to the couch and plopped down, tucking one foot underneath of her. I took a seat on the opposite end and mirrored her position.
"Yeah, that," she said, pinching her bottom lip and shaking her head, she stared blankly at the wall. "I still don't really know what that was. When it comes to Miller I think that I try to push back all the feelings so much that when they push through, they spring out like a damn jack-in-the-box.”
"Maybe talking to him about it will help," I suggested, although I wasn’t one to give advice. I’d only had one romantic relationship and I was guessing as I went.
"You know?" Josh asked, narrowing her eyes, "for someone who claims to be innocent when it comes to a lot of things you sure can Dr. Phil a situation like a champion."
I didn't know who Dr. Phil was, but the way Josh said it made it sound like a good thing.
"Or maybe," she nudged my arm, "you're just a really good friend."
My chest swelled. "Before I came here I never had a real friend. You're officially my first one. And thank you. For listening. For everything. I don't know what I'd do without you."
Either Josh wasn't surprised or she hid it really well. "And don't forget you've also got Miss Miller in there." She jerked her thumb to the room. "We're more than friends though, Say. We're family."
Family.
When I first arrived in The Outskirts I didn't have anyone, and now it seemed that I was adding to my family daily.
"I'm sorry. I know this has all got to be hard with your mother and all." Josh said, taking my hand in hers and giving it a squeeze. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"No. I had a good talk with my mother when she was with it for a bit and then Critter and then Finn. I think I'm all talked out for now."
And all cried out. And emotionally exhausted.
"Good because after dealing with Miss Prissy Pants I could use some damn silence." Josh argued.
"I heard that!" Miller called out. "Save me, Sawyer. She's sooooo mean."
"These walls are too damn thin," Josh said. She squeezed my hand. "Well, you know that I'm here for you, Sawyer. No matter what you need. I'm here. Finn too."
All I could do was nod in response. Josh was really a great friend and I was truly lucky to have her. I made a move to stand up when I heard Finn's truck pull into the parking lot but swayed and sat back down when I suddenly felt dizzy.
"You okay?" Josh asked. She pressed the back of her hand to my head then felt my pulse in my neck. "No fever. Pulse is a little quick."
"I'm fine. I think I stood up too fast or maybe I'm just getting the same cold you and Miller have."
She moved her fingers around my throat pressing up and down in various spots. "No swollen glands either. Answer me this, do you have the urge to complain about simple sneezing and coughing? Do you feel the need to be coddled while whining incessantly for no reason whatsoever?"
I shook my head. "No. None of that."
Josh looked to the bedroom door and grumbled. "Then you definitely don't have what Miller has."
"I heard that too!"
Josh ignored him. "Anyways, where do you think Finn is taking you?"
I racked my brain. "I have no idea at all."
"I can't wait to find out where. Call and tell me as soon as you know. Don't you just love surprises?" Josh bounced on the cushion excitedly.
I loved that Finn was planning a trip for us, but I came from a place where surprises ended in black eyes, bruises, and bleeding. So no, in all honesty I couldn’t say that I didn't like surprises.
Not at all.
Especially, the kind we never saw coming.
Chapter 9
Finn
As the small twin engine plane ascended the look on Sawyer's face was one I will remember for the rest of my life. She paled as we gained altitude and her head stayed plastered to the back of her seat.
"Are you going to be okay?" I asked.
"I've never been on a plane before. She said, her voice a much higher pitch than usual.
Ethan, my parent's neighbor, who they've known for the last three years, turned around from the front seat of the plane. He took one look at Sawyer’s face and said, "First time on a plane?"
"How did you know?" she asked shakily. Her hand squeezed mine tighter and tighter with each bump and jolt of the plane. I didn't even care that I was losing circulation. I was too excited that I got to share in Sawyer's first plane ride with her.
"Just a guess," Ethan said with a smile. "You are doing great!" He turning back around to the controls.
We entered a puffy white cloud. The plane began to shake like a bus driving over a rocky road.
"Is this normal?" she asked. Her knee bounced furiously until I place my hand over it before she bounced herself right out of the plane.
"You are doing great, baby," I reassured her. "And yes, this is all normal."
"Do you remember when you told me all of those facts during the storm to distract me?"
"Of course," I said. How could I ever forget? It was on the best nights of my life. It was the first-time help Sawyer in my arms. In my bed.
"Do you have any more of those? I could really use them right now." The plane dipped to the left. A smooth turn. Sawyer jumped as if someone had scared her from behind.
I lost all feeling my hand. I still didn't care. "Did you know, that in the history of aviation, that turbulence has never taken down a plane before?"
She shook her head in response squeezing her eyes shut.
"it's true. Turbulence is perfectly normal. Is not an indication of engine trouble. Think of it like a car on a bumpy road. These planes were made to drive on bumpy roads. Or bumpy air