Mama's Boy

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Nathan showed up to Josie's house, almost surprised to see she was ready to go. More surprising, though, was the scowl on her face when she opened the door, glaring up at him.

"Am I late?" he wondered, perplexed, rubbing his neck.

"No, you're on time," she reassured him before unwrapping the scarf from her neck, looking him directly in his eyes, .

Nathan didn't understand the issue, his eyebrows knitting together as he looked at her.

His eyes raked her over in the mini skirt and button up blouse. He could see the hickeys he'd left on her neck as he made his way up, and he bit his lip to prevent himself smiling.

"So you think this shit is funny?" she wondered.

"Do I think what is funny?"

Josie glared lasers into Nathan, her lips pursed as she placed a hand on her hip. She knew that he had noticed the hickeys. There was no other reason for the goofy ass grin that suddenly touched his lips.

"These fucking hickeys?"

Now, Nathan fell into a fit of laughter, and Josie wasn't a bit amused as she huffed out a breath.

"I didn't think they were funny, Josie. However, your reaction to them is hilarious."

"Well I don't find anything about this funny. I am a grown ass woman and you will not be marking your territory like I am some teenage girl."

Nathan didn't make any reply to this statement, instead reaching his hand out for hers. The fact that he hadn't said anything didn't pass Josie by.

"You look nice, Josie."

"Mm hm."

Nathan chuckled. He had never met a woman with such a strong reaction to hickeys. He hadn't even meant to leave them. He was just in the moment, just as she must have been not to notice him leaving them.

Josie locked the house up and Nathan led her to his car, helping her in before he walked around. When he got in, he glanced at her, still chuckling under his breath before he pulled into traffic.

Josie just rolled her eyes and sat back to enjoy the ride.

It told Nathan something that she didn't ask any questions about where he was taking her. Whether she knew it or not, it signified to him that she trusted him, even if only slightly.

He took her Nuxa Bar and Grille, glancing over at her before he got out. "Have you been here before?" he asked her, and she smirked slightly as he took her hand. She didn't answer the question, but it was soon answered when the hostess recognized her and greeted her by name. She then looked confused momentarily as she bit her lip before asking, "Whose usual table?"

"We'll do the outdoor bar," Nathan answered, looking down at Josie for a moment.

The hostess led the two outside and to the bar. When they sat down, Josie just smiled over at Nathan and he shook his head.

All this time, they had been frequenting the same bar. He could have run into her any number of times. He could have glanced over her a million times and never have known it.

"I really like their burgers," she explained. "And the cocktails aren't half bad either. I come with my sister usually on Saturdays when she's free."

"You mean that I could have met you much sooner?"

"Possibly. But I think we met just when we were supposed to."

Nathan didn't understand why she felt that way. If he could have met her months, even years, sooner, he would have gone out of his way to do just that.