Joshua Healy (The Mitchell/Healy Family #10)(42)

I ignore my morning call from Tamsyn because I’m too sick to speak to her. Instead I shoot her a message letting her know that I got drunk with my dad and I’m under the weather. Of course she messages me back wishing she was here to take care of me.

I’m the worst person on the face of the earth. The longer I’m awake, the harder it is to deny I slept with Liv. By noon I’m forced to call her to figure it out.

When she answers I cringe at the sound of her voice. “Josh. How are you feeling?”

She knows I was drunk. This is terrible. “What the f*ck did you do to me?”

“I got the truth. Don’t be mad. We can talk about it later today.”

“The hell we will. Whatever you think happened between us, didn’t. Do you catch my drift? Are you hearing me clearly, Liv? It never happened. Furthermore, I want you to stay the hell away from me and Tamsyn.”

“But.”

“No. Shut the f*ck up and listen for once. We are nothing. I have a girlfriend that I adore. Last night was a big f*cking mistake. I won’t let you take her from me. Please, if you ever gave a shit about me, you’ll let me be happy.”

She’s crying again, and I don’t even care anymore. “Josh. You can’t ask me to do that.”

“I’m not asking. I’m telling you. I’ll deny it. I’ll lie until I’m blue in the face. Nothing happened between us. We’re over. I don’t love you. Anything I felt for you ended last night when you took advantage of me. You manipulated me while I was intoxicated. What kind of sick and pathetic person does that?”

“You’re being an *. Maybe you need some time to rethink this.”

“I don’t need time. Pack your shit and go back to New York. There’s nothing left here for you.”

“You won’t be with her forever, Josh. It’s a fling. You’ll see.”

“Fuck off,” I say as I close out the call. I’m a nervous wreck, hoping and praying she doesn’t use last night as an excuse to call my girlfriend.



Each day that passes gets a little easier, but no better. I’m lying. I’ve cheated. I had unprotected sex with Liv while my girlfriend was out of the country. I’m a sick bastard who doesn’t deserve the love of a good, decent woman like Tamsyn, but I care too much to let her go, or to hurt her because of my stupid actions. Either way I’m screwed. I have to look at myself in the mirror and know what I did to her. I have to accept that I’ll always have a secret she can’t ever know. It breaks my heart.

I don’t hear from Liv again. Tamsyn comes home and I’m at the airport to pick her up. The moment I see her I have to fight back my emotions. My love for her is real. It’s crippling. I need this beautiful woman to love me back, but I know I carry a burden that could destroy everything we’ve worked to build. In one more week we’ll have been an official couple for two months. In that time she’s shown me more about relationships than I ever knew was possible.

She kisses me the way romance movies end. I’m holding her close, taking in the way she smells, and how her body fits perfectly in my arms. “God I missed you,” I say against her lips.

“I missed you too.”

She’s here in the flesh and I owe her something I promised. “I love you.”

Her smile is electrifying. Happiness radiates off of her. “A man of his word. I’m impressed.”

It’s a kick to the gut. I want to come clean, but now isn’t the time. I think about it and decide that waiting is the key. If we can manage to stay together for the rest of the year without conflict, I’ll come clean after the holidays. Time will have passed, and maybe she’ll be able to overlook it since we were just starting off.

Okay, I already know she won’t be able to let it go. I’m prolonging the inevitable for my own selfish needs, but also because I don’t want to be another guy who broke her heart. I want to be the one guy who did everything in his power to make things right.





Chapter 19


Tamsyn


It's three days before the annual Mitchell Healy Halloween party and I can hardly contain my excitement. Josh and I have decided to dress up as Batman and Catwoman. I've already seen him in his costume, and it's going to be difficult to keep my hands to myself when he's showing off his fit body in that tight outfit. As for me, I'm saving my special suit for the big night, because Josh is going to go bonkers when he sees me wearing it.

I'm also excited because I get to meet his extended family from Kentucky. It's great since they'll be hosting Thanksgiving, and even asked my parents to come along, even though they aren’t able.

Being with Josh has made every relationship before him seem like a waste of time. He's sweet and protective. He puts me first and often compliments me for the strangest things. I barely wear makeup anymore, because he likes me just the way I am. The past several months have been a whirlwind. I never expected to fall in love after four fantastic weeks, but it's true. I love him. We're in sync. It’s like we’re the same people. He gets me like no other ever could.

After helping his mother make some decorations for the shindig, I find Josh in his room. He's sitting on his bed watching television with one arm behind his head. As soon as he sees me his eyes light up. "There's my girl."