Introverted Hearts // Josh Dun

chapter twenty five :: poolside babes

After he was finished, he wrapped his arms around her, admiring her body in the mirror.

"I don't like it." CJ shook her head, resting her hands over his.

"It's not bad," Josh replied. "It's just a little more.. naked than you usually are."

"That's the issue," CJ motioned to her whole torso. "I don't like.. this."

Josh pulled his phone from his pocket and snapped a quick picture of them, despite her protests.

"Delete that!" CJ wrestled him for his phone.

"No," Josh told her. "One day, you'll look back on it and be like wow, I look so hot in that, and I'll be like I told you so. Because you really do look so good in it."

"It's not the actual bathing suit," CJ clarified. "It's me."

"I know. I'll be right back." Josh let go of her, got one of his shirts from his room, then returned to her. "Here."

CJ slipped on, letting out a deep breath once it was on.

"Better?" Josh wrapped his arms around her once again.

"Yeah." CJ nodded.

"I don't care." Josh slowly swayed back and forth with his girl in the mirror.

"Hm?"

"I don't really care what your body looks like," Josh started. "I don't care how many scars you have or how you got them. It won't change how much I love you."

"Thank you." CJ turned her head and faced him, giving him a small peck on the lips.

Josh held CJ's hand the entire elevator ride down, their bag dangling on the other arm.

"Sunscreen, babe." Josh handed her the bottle and turned his back to her.

CJ lathered it on his back, smiling as she did so.

"Remember that one night," CJ mentioned. "Before we were together?"

"We had many of those."

"I mean when you spent the night on the couch and ate my oreos?"

"Oh yeah," Josh smiled as he turned back to her, letting her do his chest. "Why are you half naked in my kitchen?"

"This reminds me of that," CJ rested her hands on his chest. "Because you were so warm and you said it was because you were nervous, but you had no reason to be nervous."

"It was because of you," Josh told her. "I was nervous because you were there."

CJ was silent as she shook her head.

"How do you think we got where we are today?" Josh asked.

"It still puzzles me." CJ remarked as Josh shook his head.

"Close your eyes." Josh rubbed sunscreen over her nose. "What about your chest?"

"You can do it." CJ tilted her head back and pulled the t-shirt up, giving Josh full entrance to her chest.

"Are you sure?" Josh asked.

"Yeah," CJ nodded. "And if I feel uncomfortable, I'll take over."

"Okay." Josh nodded as he began lathering the sunscreen on her. He occasionally glanced at her, trying to read her face to see what she was thinking. When he saw her squeeze her eyes shut as hard as she could, he stopped.

"No," CJ placed his hands back where they were. "You're fine."

"Are you sure?" Josh wanted her full assurance.