Page 63 of Theirs to Treasure

“They make you feel loved,” Kara said wistfully.

“They make me feel loved. I never thought that would happen for me,” Josie said softly.

Kara and Lola both raised their glasses. “Welcome to Fate Harbor and the wonderful world of ménage relationships,” Lola toasted.

Josie slowly picked up her glass and clicked it with the other women, realizing that there were more ramifications to her lifestyle choice than she’d originally considered. If she was serious about this, and it seemed she was, she was going to have to have an earnest talk with her sisters, and that meant she’d have to see them in person. I’ll talk to Elise about covering two days.

* * *

“Let us in, Josie. We’re just going to stand here on your porch all night, if necessary.”

Josie sat on her couch and hugged her pillow harder. The sound of Chance’s voice hurt. He sounded so comforting, and she just needed a hug, but not right now. First, she had to get her head together. She wasn’t ready to face them. She’d be ready tomorrow. Tomorrow would be much better. She just needed a little more time.

“Josie, open this door, or I’m going to break it down.” And there was Sam. His demanding voice was somehow comforting, too. God, she was really one messed-up woman. She walked over to the door, not wanting to yell across the room. She leaned her head against the wood. The short walk from the couch to the door had made her dizzy.

“Please, let’s talk tomorrow after the shop closes. I just can’t do this tonight, okay?” She was proud that she’d kept her voice level. If she’d thought herself capable of doing that, she would’ve answered their phone calls, and saved herself this late night visit.

“It’s too late for that, Baby. You promised to keep in touch, and you failed. Now open. The. Goddamn. Door.” She was too numb to be scared or aroused by Sam’s dominant voice, she just responded to it. So, she unhooked the chain and unlocked the door, which was immediately opened by one large, concerned male. Josie looked up at Sam in a daze. Funny, she expected him to be angry.

“I wasn’t angry, Baby, I was scared.” She must have said that aloud.

“You did,” Chance answered. She turned her head to look at him, feeling like she was under water. How were they reading her mind?

“Zee, you’re saying everything out loud. Jesus, she’s burning up. Sam, get her to the couch.” Josie felt the room drop from beneath her, and then she was flying. Sam gently lowered her to the sofa. When she looked into his beautiful green eyes, she felt really happy, but he didn’t. Maybe he didn’t like her as much as she liked him.

“Jesus, Josie, you’re killing me here.” Sam’s hands felt so good against her forehead, so cool and dry. Why was he being nice, if he didn’t like her?

“I swear to everything holy, I like you. Did you catch something from one of your sisters? Are they okay?”

“You’re wonderful to ask that. You’re freaking wonderful. Why can’t they understand that you two are wonderful?” her voice faded. “Just wonderful.”

“Chance, get the thermometer, she’s not making sense.”

“Still looking, it’s not in her medicine chest,” he called from her bathroom.

“Are your sisters all right?” Sam asked again.

“No, they’re not sick, Becca’s sad. Not sick. The person next to me on the plane was sick,” she mumbled. Josie’s eyes shut just as Chance came back with the thermometer.

“About damn time,” Sam said, taking the instrument from Chance’s hand.

“Did you find out how it went in Florida?” Chance asked. “Open your mouth, Zee.” Josie opened her eyes and stared up at him. Then she saw that pretty sunny color that was Chance’s hair, and she moved her head.

“Josie, stay still, look at me, and open your mouth.”

“I think there’s problems.” Sam answered Chance’s question.

She turned back to Chance, and Sam immediately tipped her chin back toward him.

She didn’t want to move her head. It hurt. Hurting was bad. What Becca said had hurt. She didn’t want to hurt Sam and Chance. There was so much hurt.

“Take out the thermometer,” Chance instructed Sam.

“It’s almost one hundred and three! I think we need to take her to the hospital.” Sam eased her to a reclining position on the couch, pulling together the lapels of her robe.

“Hold on, let me call Mom.” Chance pulled out his phone and was immediately talking to Betty, explaining the situation. “Zee, have you been throwing up?” She looked up at Chance in confusion. Why did he want her to get up? She had just gotten comfortable. She struggled to sit up.

Chance crouched down in front of her, gently easing her back down onto the sofa. “Zee, can you understand me?” Josie nodded, struggling to focus on him.