Worlds Apart

Chapter 14

WORLDS APART: Chapter 14

(Lyric Video above Tori Kelly ft Ed Sheeran 'I Was Made For Loving You). 🥰

~ Joshua Garland ~

As Sarah returned I almost felt tempted to ask why she'd gone after Linda down the hallway, my mouth half opened about to speak but I stopped myself. I didn't want to come across as bordering obsessive and had to give her, her own breathing space.

We enjoyed dinner in silence whilst I did notice a few times Sarah sneak small smirks here and there at me. I probably was doing the same thing without realizing.

***

~ Sarah Evans ~

"Dinner was amazing! ...So um, Joshua is it OK if I ask about your family? What is your sister and your parents like?". If he didn't want to talk about his family, then hopefully if I asked about his career that would divert any awkwardness. To my surprise he was eager to tell me about his family, starting with his sister Laurel. With the mention of her he couldn't stop smiling. Joshua's older sister Laurel sounded just like my older sister. Hardworking and really grounded and easy to get along with.

The mood of the night was going smoothly right up until I asked about the last time he'd gone to visit his family back in San Francisco. I realised I'd made him feel uncomfortable, and that I shouldn't have asked in the first place. He froze up at the mention of visiting them, and admittedly he told me that he hadn't seen them since Christmas three years ago. He looked up at me probably half expecting me to be frowning or questioning why, but for some reason I didn't. Well I was left a little speechless, but I could sense he'd wished he could've changed that.

***

~ Joshua Garland ~

Linda strolled in to announce she would be serving desert. That seemed like perfect timing. I automatically noticed Linda and Sarah smile at each other and wondered what they were talking about earlier. It looked like Sarah was about to say something to Linda but Linda managed to beat her to it. "...Sarah don't worry, I promise I will try a slice of the cheesecake out the back soon". I turned with a questioning stare towards Sarah, what had she said to Linda prior to dinner.

***

~ Sarah Evans ~

Linda had a way of coming across really heartfelt and I already felt comfortable around her. I smiled and admired Linda' tempting dessert. I couldn't wait to try this! The first spoonful reminded me of when I was a kid. Dessert was my favourite part of the evening. I looked up to see Josh smiling, but what he didn't notice was that he had chocolate smeared at the corner of his mouth. A smirk forming on my face as I hinted to him pointing to the corner of my mouth, then to him that he had food on his face. He grinned with his charming smile before cleaning his face with one of the table napkins. Josh leaned forward with a huge spoonful of cheesecake, "Hay what was that about with Linda?"

"You mean our quick chat earlier" He nodded and I continued "...ah I just wanted to thank her for cooking tonight and to make sure she enjoyed the food too since she prepared it... And well she did mention a few other things, but you don't have to worry. I think she was only trying to lighten the mood. She probably sensed my nerves and only wanted to make me relax a bit" I replied reassuringly. I reached out my hand to touch his, "And hay thanks for tonight Joshua!".

I'd had an amazing evening hanging out with Joshua and by nine I told him I'd better turn it in for the night as my flight home was 9:30 am tomorrow morning. As soon as I mentioned that it was as if he'd turned a shade whiter and went quiet all of a sudden, or maybe he was just nervous about his auditions in the morning.