Simple Complexity

Part 6

'Sorry,' Erin began, looking at him, 'I...um..I just-'

Josh creased his brow, and chuckled standing up, 'It's okay Erin.'

His hand reached for hers and she got to her feet, and put her arms around his neck, his taking her by her waist. Erin cuddled into him, resting her cheek against his, letting it rest for a moment, then moving it, tilting her face down more. She moved again, tightening her arms around him, resting her head on his shoulder then pulling it up to look at him.

'Uncomfortable?' he asked, meaning more than the way she was holding him.

She looked down to his chest and then up at him, shaking her head, deciding to just face him instead of nuzzling into him. They danced slowly, the warmth of his arms around her was comforting and he murmured sweet words to her, telling her how incredible she was, how he loved holding her. Erin smiled at each word, realising she was only hearing the words though, not feeling them and she hung her head a little, trying to hide a small yawn.

Josh chuckled, 'Wanna come back to mine Er?'

She nearly nodded, she almost very nearly did, but she didn't, instead she shook her head, and she didn't know why. She wanted to, the sex was good, it was great actually and she loved falling into bed with him. She wanted to fall asleep curled in his arms, she wanted to wake up still in them. Letting him give her little morning kisses, as she dragged him out of bed, their naked bodies against the other as they kissed on their way to the shower. Erin loved that he walked her to work, kissed her goodbye and goodnight.

'Oh, that's okay,' Josh said, and Erin could clearly hear the disappointment.

Disappointing him for the second time in only a few minutes.

Erin liked him, she liked him a lot. She didn't love him though, not just yet.

She needed time, a lot of time before vocalising that sort of commitment.

'Next time,' Erin said with a smile, leaning in to kiss him, pulling away just to smile again and then she continued to kiss him, tightening her grip on his neck as he pulled her in, almost lifting her a little off the ground.

'Can I walk you home?'

'Work,' Erin said, 'I'm going to sleep there tonight.'

He let out a loud sigh as he pulled away from her and Erin stood looking at him, his gaze turning to the water, its lapping growing faster, and Erin turned towards it. It was loud, louder than it had been before, and she watched as the small waves settled against the bank. She was confused as to why something so small was suddenly so loud.

'To work?' he asked.

The water was crashing now, and Erin couldn't hear anything but the waves colliding with the bank, she swallowed looking back to him and she creased her eyes in confusion.

'What?' Erin asked, looking back to the river, asking more about the sudden change in volume than Josh's response.

'You really need to take a break from work,' he scoffed, shaking his head a little.

Then there was silence and Erin turned to him, then back to the water, it was still, no waves, no sound. Just still water.

She knew he didn't mean to say it the way it sounded, but Erin couldn't help but take offence and she stepped back from him as he turned to pick up the near-full pizza box.

'It's my life's work, you know that' she stated, a little annoyance in her voice, the water suddenly soft again, and she could hear the gentle lapping.

'I just mean Erin,' Josh said as he reached out his hand to hers, and she took it, looking down as they walked, 'you need to take a break, relax, have some fun.'