Pierced: Pierced Trilogy Boxed Set (74 page)

On my way out the door, I grab my iPod and stuff it into my purse. Maybe I’ll get a chance to listen to Josh’s playlist at lunchtime. When I get into my car and open up the garage door with the automatic opener, I feel a slight twinge of nerves as I glance over at the Charger. I know that Josh is being incredibly sweet by allowing me to park my car in the garage next to his prized possession and I’m a little nervous about backing out and pulling in beside her. I know that there’s plenty of room between the two cars but, I make a point of paying close attention to what I’m doing so as not to come into contact with her in any way. Once I clear the garage, I hit the button to let the door down and then back out onto the road. Success!

When I get to work, my boss and my supervisor are both very sympathetic to the ordeal I’ve just been through. I would even describe them as fawning, and I can’t help but wonder if their behavior has anything to do with the fact that Lucas is the one who actually spoke with my boss on Monday. I know he means well but, sometimes he can be a bit intimidating and heavy handed when he’s dealing with others. I know it’s a byproduct of his job but, it’s a little annoying sometimes. I don’t want any special treatment here at the museum just because my name is Colby.

To my delight, and horror, my supervisor gives the go ahead for me to continue my training by allowing me to give my first tour today. Nicole will be shadowing me this time, and evaluating me, but the tour is all mine. And if it goes well, I can take the second tour as well, and then we’ll go over how I did. I’m so excited! The first tour is a group of visiting youngsters from a nearby elementary school on a field trip and it will begin in less than half an hour. I have just enough time to run to the bathroom to pee. I’d like to go over the notes I took when I was shadowing Nicole last week but, I know that I don’t have time. While I’m in the bathroom stall, I send Josh a quick text:

OMG.

Giving my first solo tour at work.

Wish me luck!

His response takes a few minutes and I know that he must be busy at work. But when he answers me as I’m exiting the bathroom, his text makes me smile.

U could give that tour

in your sleep, baby.

You’re gonna do great.

I know it.

He always makes me feel like I can do anything. I love that about him! I put my phone away and head out to greet the children. I’m nervous as can be but, thankfully I don’t think any of them notice. As I take them around and show them the various works of art, I am aware of Nicole at the back of the group with the children’s chaperones. She is smiling supportively as she listens, and I can see her occasionally scribbling on her evaluation form. I try not to wonder about what she’s writing and instead, focus my attention on the little ones. I try to engage them by asking them questions that they can relate to, and to my delight, they seem to respond. Soon, I have them talking about the art and answering my questions. Some even ask me questions of their own and I take great pleasure in answering them and teaching them about the different works I’m showing them.

When our tour is over, I wave to them as they head off in the direction of the gift shop and then I glance nervously at Nicole. She smiles broadly at me.

“That was excellent, Samantha,” she says.

“Really?”

“Yes. How did it feel for you?”

I shrug my shoulders nervously. “It felt really good. I felt like I connected with them.”

“You did connect with them. I’m very pleased. The next tour is a group of mature ladies from the Historical Society. They can sometimes get a little boisterous but, I’d like you to take it. Think you’re up for it?”

“Sure!” I’m so excited right now, I feel as if I could handle anything!

*****

After my second tour of the day, Nicole and I sit in the office to go over her evaluation of me. I’m very pleased to hear that she feels I did a terrific job. She informs me that she will be shadowing me again as I give tours tomorrow and then, assuming all goes well, I will be given a regular schedule of tours working four days a week. I’m so excited to have this new schedule because it will leave me time to work on putting my gallery show together with Lola.

After my evaluation meeting, I head to the cafeteria for lunch and I am just about to pull out my iPod when my cellphone rings. It’s Megan.

“So how did Detective Yummy react to the new and improved love nest?” she asks as soon as I answer the phone.

I smile and roll my eyes slightly, taking a bite of my apple. “It was odd at first,” I say, remembering his look of total bewilderment. “I think it sort of scared him a little for some reason. But then … he recovered really quickly and said that he wants me to feel comfortable there. He was really sweet, actually. He’s always really sweet.”

“Yeah, I can see that about him,” she says thoughtfully. “You know, he sort of reminds me of Uncle Richie in that way.”

“You know, it’s weird you would say that,” I answer. “He reminds me a lot of Dad sometimes. His gentle, sweet nature, and the way he’s always so protective of me. And that take-charge attitude of his.”

“Yeah, there’s just something about him. I think Uncle Richie would’ve liked him,” she says, and I smile.

“I am so into him, Megan,” I whisper. “I love him so much.”

“Aww. Have you told him that?” she asks.

“Yes, I have,” I say quietly. “He hasn’t said it back though.”

“He hasn’t?” Her voice is slightly alarmed.

“No. He’s scared, Meg,” I say quietly. “He says that those words scare him.”

She’s quiet for several seconds and then sighs. “Well. After everything you’ve told me about his parents’ marriage … I guess his fear is understandable, Sam.”

“Yeah, I know. And I keep trying to remind myself of that.”

“You do know that he’s crazy about you, right?” she says. And her words take me by surprise. “Sam, the way he looks at you. Even if he’s afraid to say those words, or afraid to admit how he feels … he is so totally into you. Just be patient with him. He’s got some extenuating circumstances going on. Cut him a little slack. He’ll get there.”

Her words make me smile. “When did you become so wise?”

“Well, I’m about to be an old married lady in two days,” she says brightly. “I think wisdom comes with the Vera Wang dress.” At that, we both dissolve into a fit of giggles.

We chat for a little while longer and then my lunch break is over. I give one more tour when I return to work and then my supervisor wants to talk with me about Nicole’s evaluation of me. Then she asks once again how I’m doing after my scary ordeal and wants to know if there’s anything she can do to make things easier for me at work. I tell her that I’m fine and that I’m grateful for this new position and how much I’m enjoying it.

When I finally leave for the day and get into my car, I realize that I’m sort of beat. I guess it’s all the excitement of being back after the attack and giving my first tours. Whatever the reason, I just want to get home and get comfortable and cook Josh a nice dinner. I love cooking for him. He’s got such a big appetite and he’s always so generous with his praise.

I strap into my seat belt and I’m just about to plug my iPod into my car stereo system when my cellphone rings. I sigh and stuff the gadget back into my purse and answer my phone instead. “Hello?”

“Hey, Pita, it’s me.”

“Hi Lucas. What’s going on?” I ask, as I pull out of the parking lot and out into traffic.

“Listen, I know that you don’t really want to go back to your place, especially not by yourself so, I took the liberty of hiring someone to go over and clean up all the debris from the attack. They’ll go over with Martin and he’ll stay and supervise until it’s done.”

“Lucas, you didn’t have to do that.” I am so touched at my brother’s efforts to take care of me. “That was so thoughtful; I appreciate it.”

“I’m just trying to help, Sam,” he says mildly. “When you’re ready to move out of there, just let me know and we’ll get some professional movers to help you, all right? We’ll get you out and into someplace new in no time.”

“Thanks, Lucas.”

“You’re welcome.” He’s silent for a beat, and then, “How are things with Josh?”

“Things are great,” I answer lightly. And then I think of something. “Hey, speaking of Josh…,” I hesitate a little.

“Yeah?”

“I plan on bringing him this weekend,” I say guardedly. I know that Lucas promised he wouldn’t give Josh and me a hard time. And he’s seemed genuinely nice to him the couple of times I’ve seen them interact but, he’s never really said what he thinks of him and that has me a little nervous.

“To the wedding?” he asks, his voice neutral.

“And to the rehearsal dinner.”

“Okay.” His voice is unreadable and it makes me roll my eyes.

“Well, say something,” I prompt him.

“What do you want me to say, Sam? I’m not surprised that you want to bring Josh with you.”

“But do you think it would be all right?”

“Does Meg know?” he asks.

“Of course she knows; she invited him.”

“Well then, I guess it would be all right,” he says. And I can hear his aggravation over the phone. It makes me sigh loudly.

“Come on, Lucas. You know what I’m getting at,” I say with exasperation. “Do you think Mom will be openly hostile or just mildly bitchy when I show up with Josh?”

He chuckles at me and it makes me roll my eyes once more. Then he takes a deep breath and sighs heavily. “You know as well as I do that I can’t answer that, Pita. Dealing with Mom is always a crap shoot.”

His words don’t make me feel any better and I sigh again. “Why does she always have to make my life so difficult?” I ask, not really talking to him.

“Look, Sam,” he says quietly, “I will do what I can this weekend, all right? I can’t control Mom but … I can help make sure Josh doesn’t feel like an outsider.”

“You would do that?” I ask, really loving my brother right now.

“Yes, Pita. For you, I will do that.”

*****

When I get home, I pull carefully into the garage, taking great care to leave ample distance between my car and the Charger. Then I let the door down and lock the side door of the garage the way Josh always does. I head into the house through the front door and make sure to lock it behind me. And I smile as I think about Josh telling me that he wants me to be safe.

I head straight for the bedroom and quickly get out of my heels and my work clothes and put on some comfortable sweatpants and a tank top. Then I go into the kitchen to start dinner. I bought a small roasting chicken at the market the other day and I prepare it and get it into the oven along with some fingerling potatoes and baby carrots. It will take just over an hour to cook and it should be ready by the time Josh gets home.

With dinner in the oven I can finally sit down and relax a little, so I take a bottle of water out of the fridge and go into the living room and sit down on the couch. As I do, my eyes light on the little digital radio that sits next to the TV and I suddenly remember Josh’s playlist! Quickly, I get up from the couch and find my purse in the bedroom. I fish out the iPod and carry it back to the living room with me, putting the ear buds in as I get comfortable on the couch, and pull the new throw I bought yesterday around my shoulders. Then I turn on the iPod and scroll through my playlists looking for the one Josh added. It’s not difficult to spot since he titled it ‘Detective Josh’s Playlist.’ It makes me smile as I highlight it and select it.

I see about ten or so songs on the Detective Josh Playlist; most of them are new to me. There are two songs by Aerosmith, Josh’s favorite band. I recognize the first one, “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing.” The song his band dedicated to me at The Slammer, and I think about him watching me sleep and it makes me smile. The other one is called “Sunshine.” Hmm? I hit play and the first time I listen to it, it makes no sense to me. Alice in Wonderland?
What?
But then I hit repeat and go back and listen to it again, really focusing on the words. And as I do, it suddenly hits me that he’s talking about himself. The song is all about this man who wasted his time on meaningless one night stands and he feels so mixed up, as if he’s fallen down Alice’s rabbit hole. But then one day he meets her – his Sunshine – the woman who changes everything for him, and he realizes that he needs her.

Oh my God.
I think about all the times Josh has called me Sunshine, and his embarrassment over telling me why he calls me that. I thought it was just a sweet term of endearment but … this is what he meant. I’ve spent so much time worrying and wondering about his feelings for me, but he’s been telling me how he feels all along. He’s been telling me that he realizes he needs me.
Oh Josh!

And suddenly, I am desperate to listen to every word of every song. Before he left this morning, he said that each of the songs on this playlist remind him of me in some way. I scroll through the list again. “How Do You Talk to an Angel” by The Heights. I hit play and the words melt me! They are so sweet. And they let me know that Josh has been struggling to figure out just how he feels about me. Maybe because he … loves me?

Looking over the list again, I see a few songs played on acoustic guitar. One of them is Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata,” and I smile again. That was the first song I ever heard him play, and the moment I learned what an accomplished musician he really is. There are also acoustic guitar versions of “You Are So Beautiful,” and “When a Man Loves a Woman.”
Holy cow!
Those are two of the most romantic love songs ever written, and he has included them here on this playlist.

And then there is a song that I’ve never heard before by Brian Adams, “Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman.” It has a lovely Spanish acoustic guitar driving it, but the words of the song are a revelation. They take me by surprise because they are so raw and passionate. And they tell me without a doubt that Josh does know what love is and that he understands exactly what a relationship should be.

As I listen to the music, my mind drifts back to our conversation at The Slammer when I told him that I didn’t know how he felt about me. He said that maybe I just wasn’t listening closely enough. Maybe this playlist is his way of making sure that I’m listening.