Page 53 of Freeze Frame

Josh flinched like I’d slapped him. “Why would I do that?”

My shoulders shrugged without my permission. “Your sister was pretty upset. I didn’t, don’t, won’t ever be something that comes between you and your family.”

“Come here.” Josh toed out of his shoes and after I did the same, he led me to the living room where he made me sit on thecouch. And then suddenly I had a lap full of Josh. He straddled me, letting me feel the full weight of him.

“Listen to me, David. I love my sister, and she’s important to me. But I’ve lost other family, and I’ve survived. I’ve made it this far in life living it my way, and it’s cost me, yeah, but if people can’t be in my life and be quiet about my decisions, then they don’t need to be in my life. Besides, I’m not without family. I have Lukas and Asher and Jax and Blue, and that’s just to start. I have friends who love me, who care about me. Violet isn’t going anywhere, but even if she did, I’d survive losing her. But I’m not sure I’d survive losing you.”

“Josh,” I gasped his name.

“I love you, David. And it’s not that I don’t care that you’re older. I like that you’re older. I like the salt-and-pepper hair. I like the body that’s helped you survive half a century. I like the softness around your middle and the gray hairs that have popped up on your chest. I like the way you treat me like a person. I like the way you say my name. I like the way you look after me. And when you put all of those things together, it makes me crazy about you. I’m so in love with you that I can’t think straight sometimes.”

“So… you’re not breaking up with me?”

Josh smiled and shook his head. “No, I’m not.”

“Thank fucking God, because I was trying to be okay with being without you, but I’m not. And I don’t think I’ll ever be okay with that.” I paused, seeing nothing except love and hope on his face. It was his strength that gave me the courage to whisper back, “And I love you too.”

TWENTY-SIX

JOSH

David loved me.The desire to pinch myself simmered just below the surface. There was still a lot we had to figure out, but I felt like we could make it work. I knew firsthand that sometimes love wasn’t enough. It hadn’t been enough for my own parents, but maybe it could be enough this time. Maybe this time, we could use that love to build something great.

I’d been in love before. I’d had my heart broken before. I imagined David had too. Hell, he had a whole-ass kid. But maybe this time was different for him too. Though it was hard to know what he saw in me. Whereas Jax and Blue had used their work on screen to fund different careers in different fields, I hadn’t. My ambition had moved from in front of the camera to behind it.

“What’s that look for?” David asked, his voice soft and careful.

I forced a smile. “Sorry, I got stuck in my own head for a second.”

David reached up and brushed a hair off my forehead. “Then let’s get you unstuck. What’s on your mind?”

“You. Me. My job.”

“Your job is your job. I’ve known what you do for a while, and I’ve been okay with it since I found out.”

“But that’s because I haven’t been actively filming with other people while we’ve been together.” My tone sharpened as my chest pulled tight, collapsing in on itself.

“I talked to Lukas about doing a scene,” I blurted. “Not long ago, just recently.”

“Okay.”

I gaped at him. “Okay? That’s it?”

“Thank you for telling me. I hope you’ll let me know when the big day is and maybe who you’re working with, but I’ll leave it up to you to decide what you’re comfortable telling me.”

David slid his arms around me. Sitting on his lap like this had clearly had an effect on him and the result of our position poked me in the ass. Like a gentleman, he ignored his obvious erection.

I tilted my head like I was a curious dog. “You’re really okay with it, aren’t you?”

He didn’t answer right away and when he did, his words were carefully chosen, telling me that he’d put a lot of thought into this. Maybe as much as I had. Maybe more.

“I love you, Josh. I don’t think you see how amazing you are. I think life taught you that people run the first chance they get, and today I don’t think I did a lot to disprove that notion. But I wish you could see yourself how I see you.”

David had to pause when I leaned forward and brushed my mouth against his. He tasted like home. Like safety and love and acceptance.

“How do you see me?” I was desperate to know. Perhaps knowing would unlock some sort of secret strength inside me. A new kind of confidence or something like a superpower, help melevel up. It was also possible that I was just greedy and wanted as many compliments as I could get.

“I think you’re incredible. Your kindness shines through you. You never have a bad word to say about anyone. Even though life has given you reasons to be hard or bitter, you’ve remained soft and caring. You’ve been through things that I will never understand.” David’s mouth curved up into a smile and his eyes sparkled at me. “And you’re sexy as fuck. Daring too.”