Joshua (The Mitchell/Healy Family #10)

by Jennifer Foor

I’d been contemplating looking into a new purchase, against my father’s advice of waiting until I had a place of my own. Everything I do is the opposite of what he suggests. At the end of the day, this buy is my choice.

Her hair is long, platinum curls hanging down the front of her chest, her body slender, waist tiny, but breasts nice and perky.

It takes me a few seconds to look at her face, especially when the rest is so appealing. “Can I interest you in a test drive as well, sir?”

follow the beautiful woman like I’m a dog chasing after a juicy, scrumptious, T-bone.

“Tamsyn Ebling.” “Nice to meet you, Tamsyn. I’m Josh.”

“You used to date Livvy.” The mere mention of her name makes the hair stand at attention on my arms. It’s like a sharp knife cutting through my thick skin. Olivia Parrish; my first – everything.

It never failed, if I was with someone else she’d show up just to prove she could have me, and it was the same when I learned she was dating another guy. I’d make my presence known and take what I wanted with little effort.

Olivia doesn’t want me as a boyfriend. She never has.

What I feel for her is one-sided. She’s the only woman to ever rip my heart into shreds.

“We should head back,” she insists. “I’m interested in dating you as much as you’re actually wanting to buy this car. Let’s not waste anymore of our time today.”

“When is the last time you saw Chrissy?”

“She’s pregnant, Tam.”

“I heard it’s Shaun’s. I overheard it, I mean.”

Could he have been unfaithful right in front of my face and I not notice? What does that say about me?

“You son of a bitch. How could you do this to me?”

“Is it? Are you the father of her child? Did you stick your dick inside of my roommate?” I

“You’re disgusting!” I jerk away from him and point. “You stay away from me.”

“I don’t care what you want, Shaun. You betrayed me. You slept with my roommate. You told me you hated her.”

How good can she be? Comparable to Liv, no one has ever gotten close.

Nonetheless, I prefer not to miss an opportunity to get my dick wet, no matter how selfish I may be.

“I thought I made it clear earlier. I have no reason to hold back. I’m almost always looking for a booty call. There’s no harm if it’s cordial, right?”

“What about you, Josh? Ever cheated?” He leans forward, exuding confidence as he does it. “Never needed to.” “How is that?” “I don’t put labels on my relationships.” “So, you just screw around all the time?”

I prefer the company of a woman without strings; two people enjoying one another without a commitment.

“I don’t bring chicks here, except for Liv and we sort of grew up together. Her brother has been my best friend since we were kids. In fact, he’s married to one of my sisters now, so he’s family.” “Wow. Is that weird being around Livvy?”

“You were her first. I know that much.”

Tamsyn kisses me like she’s desperate, only fueling me to continue. This is a bad idea, and it’s all my fault for what comes next.

“You weren’t a pity fuck. I wanted to fuck you way before I pitied you,” he corrects.

By the time I make it back to the ranch I've decided to pursue my new friendship with Tamsyn to see where it can go.

There's so many little ones running around I feel threatened. I'm no longer the baby.

“You needed therapy way before Cammie showed you her tit, Josh,” Wes comments.

“I thought you were holding out for Liv,” Cammie rudely announces.

I’m terrible with women, but she’s the reason. She’s always been the reason I couldn’t commit.

She’s that one girl I’ll never be able to get over, probably because I was in constant limbo with what we were to each other.

Wait until my sister hears who you’re dating.” “Man, don’t even tell her.”

“Josh, hang on.” “What?” She waits until we’re face to face. “I know you care about Liv, so I wanted to be the one to tell you. She got engaged.”

“Why? You really have to ask? Josh, you’ve been obsessed with her. It’s like you’re holding out because you think someday she’ll come back to you.”

I’m too ashamed to admit I’ve been a fool. There’s nothing they can say or do to make this easier for me.

I want to drive to New York and shake some sense into her. I just want someone to understand what it’s like to lose hope.

“You thought I came for a booty call? It crossed my mind. It would probably help take the edge off my day.” He shakes his head. “I just want some company, Tamsyn.”

“I’m glad I met you, Josh. I don’t know what I would have done last night without you around to pick me up.” “The feeling is mutual.”

It’s nice to feel like I’ve done something right for a change, especially when I’ve been racking my brain trying to figure out what I did to warrant my boyfriend to cheat on me.

“Are you clean? We’ve obviously been having unprotected sex. It’s partly my fault, because I let it happen. I just don’t want to wake up with herpes or worse.”

We face one another and talk for hours about life. I tell him about Shaun and everything we’d been through, the good and bad. He talks about being in love once, but how she didn’t feel the same way toward him. I think it was Livvy, but I’m too afraid to ask.

If Liv can walk away from what we had and marry someone else, I need to reevaluate everything I’ve ever believed to be true. She never loved me.

In some perverse way, I think Tamsyn represents a part of Liv I always wanted to hold on to. She knew her when we first started whatever it was between us. It's sick.

Liv isn’t going to show up and give me more false hope. That part of my life is over, and like my parents have been telling me for years, it’s time to grow up and take responsibility of my life. I can’t

“I’m like a storm. I come rolling in with little warning, and when I’m done there’s usually a mess to clean up. You may want to take that warning and run while you still have the chance.”

“I can’t promise I won’t hurt your feelings. I’m a simple man with simple needs. I’m interested in you and I’d like to keep seeing you, but if you’re having second thoughts I’m willing to step back.”

“I can’t face her. She’s probably telling your father you have a floosy in your room.” It’s hard to keep a straight face when she’s being this irrational. “You’re not the first female she’s walked in on.”

My dad chuckles while approaching Tamsyn. “Darlin’, if he cleaned his room for you, it must be serious. You kids have fun. I’m hitting the sack.”