Rolling off the port with my luggage, I dragged myself into the Nashville airport, searching for the boys. I was stoned out of my mind at the moment due to my slight fear of planes. I needed something to calm my nerves but unfortunately, it made it worse.
With my blood shot eyes and holding a canvas that was half the size of me, I spot Josh hidden in the crowd. I quickly pulled my hood up higher over my head and walked straight towards the band member's.
"Hey." I greeted with a large smile. Everyone spun around and instantly greeted me back. Josh was the first to put his arms out to hug me. Behind Josh, I can see Sam holding the film camera they had back when they came to my house.
"Group hug!" Jake screamed. Not a second after everyone crowed around me, squeezing my frame. As lovely and comforting as it was, the painting I was holding was going to be crushed.
"Careful! The painting!" I cried. They all quickly backed off to see what I've made. I watched everyone react to my art, taking note of what face they made; then my eyes landed on Josh himself. He smiled so hard, it looked painful. Sam turned the camera to Josh, filming his reaction.
"Holy shit." Was all he could bring himself to say. That made me smile. If my artwork makes Josh quiet, then you know it's good.
"That's... that's fantastic. I have no words." He gawked, taking it out of my hands to get a closer look. Jake stood over his shoulder to get a look too.
"He's going to be fascinated by that all night." Sam mumbled to Danny.
"You really- you really got my jawline in there, and look at my curls! God that is gorgeous." Josh gushed. His chattiness self poking back through, making me smile more than I was.
"The brush strokes are amazing too, you can really see the type of brush you used and-" there he was.
I gazed at him with a soft look as he rambled on about my art and how great he looked, asking what photo I used of him for reference.
He looked really good tonight, wearing his black t-shirt and kaki shorts, and his hair was messier than usual, which was kinda hot. Suddenly I turned to Sam, spotting his dorky smile when I realized the camera was pointed at me. He caught me checking out his older brother. I have a fake glare at the camera before turning and laughing.
Once Josh finished talking about the painting, we all walked out the air port and into their old bronco.
"Here, let me see that." Josh said with his hands out, offering to put my luggage in the bed for me. I gave him a soft smile and a 'thank you' as I handed him my black suit case, catching him looking up at me with a grin before lifting it. There was definitely a connection between us and I couldn't wait to see it grow.
On the ride back, I sat in the back seat of the old truck between Josh and Danny; Josh sitting with our knees touching. I didn't mind at all. In fact, it made me a little giddy.
"So, Corbin." Danny started off. I turned to him, giving my full attention.
"Yes." I responded.
"Are you okay at staying in our guest room or did you want to find a hotel?" He asked me. I thought about it for a second, weighing out the pros and cons of the idea.
"I'll stay in a guest room." I said, making up my mind. It would be easier, and cheaper.
"Be prepared. We have a tequila train and you will be doing shots with us." Sam told me. I laughed and nodded my head, imagining the outcome of how that will end. I gently wrapped my sweaty hand around the necklace, calming down my nerves.
"We're also very loud, and you will not be getting sleep." Jake warned me. I laughed, remember the chaos they hold. The rest of the ride back was decently quiet, which is a little unusual for them, but Josh and Jake belting out random song lyrics here and there helped fill the silence. Oh how I missed their noise.
Once we made it back to their house, I placed my things in the guest bedroom Danny showed me too. Their house was pretty big and very beautiful. It was in a nice woodsy area with large windows to give the house sunlight. The trees here were so much better. The nature itself was much more comforting than the fucking palm trees back home.
I stood out on their lovely back porch alone, smoking a cigarette and taking in the scenery. This was nice. Behind me, I heard the sliding glass door open and close, hearing heavy foot steps coming towards me.
"Hey." Josh greeted, standing next to me. I took one hit from my cigarette before handing it to him, wondering if he would accept my offer and share again.
"Long time no see." I joked. He grabbed the lit cigarette from my hand and took a drag, blowing it into the wind.
"Indeed so!" He raised his tone in a jokingly way. "How have you been?" He asked me, putting on a straight face.
"Pretty good. Since you guys left, I had this new found inspiration and energy to do shit, so I've been much more active with myself." I told him, proud of what I've done. "I've also been singing more, despite my lack of confidence." I laughed.
"Oh, you sing?" He asked, peaking up with interest. I knew what he was going to say next, hoping he wouldn't. "I want to hear. Go ahead, sing." He joked, talking with his hands and taking a step back, pretending to give me the stage. I quickly shut him down.
"No, absolutely not." I said. "If you weren't as good as you are, then maybe." I laughed. He threw his head back and cackled, taking a step back towards me while taking a drag of the cigarette, handing it back.
"You can go to the studio and practice. I promise no one will go in." He said. "Safe zone." He added. I nodded, taking note of the idea. It would be nice to try with some nicer equipment.
"I'll think about it." I snickered, taking a drag after. We sat on the wooden stairs in silence for a few minutes, enjoying each other's company and sharing the one cigarette until it burned out. I enjoyed spending time with him like this, and since we've been texting everyday getting to know each other more, I felt much closer to him this time.
————
"I'm going to bed." I told the boys as they stood at the guest room door, staring at me with puppy eyes, begging to drink with them. I was already in sweat pants and a tank top, ready to lay in bed until they came knocking.
"Come onnn." Danny whined, plopping himself onto the bed next to my open suitcase. The three others followed his lead and laid on the neatly made bed. Danny sat while Sam laid down on Jakes legs, who was also laying down the opposite way. Josh laid next to Sam, sitting up on one arm.
"Whoa! That tattoo!" Josh yelled, pointing it out as I was turning around to throw my dirty clothes in the hamper. Turning red, I quickly spun back around, embarrassed about it. My reaction caught everyone's attention.
"Lemme see!" Josh commanded, getting up and walking towards me. I backed up against the corner of the room.
"No! It's embarrassing because I know you guys now." I laughed, not letting him see. On my back, I had their new albums symbols tattooed down along my spine. I guess my tank top exposed part of it.
"Show us!" Sam yelled. Josh bent down and wrapped his strong arms around my legs, lifting me over his shoulder and throwing me into the bed with the boys, stomach down. I quickly flipped on my back, refusing to let them see it. Soon we were all fighting.
"Fine! Fine! I'll show you!" I cried, hopping off the bed and away from them. I spun around and lifted the back of my tank, exposing the tattoo.
"I got it not long after you released Battle At Gardens Gates." I told them.
"I think that is so cool. That's very creative." Josh complimented, looking at the other boys with a nod of approval.
"What made you get this?" Jake asked, sitting up and crossing his legs. I turned back around, pulling down my tank.
"I am to say nothing." I teased them. I can't tell them, it feels too weird to tell them that they made my life a little better when I heard their music. All the boys groaned.
"You can't show us our album on your back and not tell us why you got it!" Sam cried.
"Another time! Here, let's go drink." I said, trying to change the subject. Little did they know, I also have a quote from Josh tattooed on my thigh, at the very top where the underwear band sits at. It covers my scars from when I was in a really bad place.
'Love isn't greed, it's a need that goes unspoken.' I loved it so much, I had to get it done, and I refuse to let any of them see or even be remotely aware.
————
"Shot glass!" Sam ordered Jake. I stood at the table with the boys nervously, still a little stoned and riddled with anxiety. I was afraid I was going to fuck up something if I got too drunk. God forbid I take off my clothes or do something stupid like they do in the movies.
As I watched Sam messily pour tequila in the small glasses in front of me, I gulped. I've only drank beer, never hard liquor.
Please don't do anything stupid. I'll just have one shot.
"Ready men!" Sam yelled, lifting the shot glass. "And ladies." He added, looking at me with a grin. I lifted my shot with a nod and a smirk, mentally preparing myself for how bad this will taste.
"Ready!" The boys yelled, tapping down their shots on the counter before drinking it. I followed along and leaned my head back, downing the clear liquor with surprisingly no problem.
"Ah, refreshing!" Sam laughed. Danny and Sam both made a face afterwards, the nasty alcohol sticking to the back of their throat. Suddenly, you hear a small train horn from the other room; the tequila train entering the kitchen. The boys screamed again, placing their glasses down for a second.
Alright. So a second shot, then I'll stop there.
We tapped the glass on the counter and took the second, this time Sam didn't make a face. I was starting to feel it at this point, making me sit down for a second to collect myself.
"Sitting down already?" Danny asked, walking over to me. I laughed in a higher pitch than I normally do, mentally cringing at myself for it.
"Yup. I'm not a drinker!" I said with a large smile. "I'm very light weighted." I said, giggling. I caught Josh's attention.
"It's hit somebody already? Give me another, Sammy!" Josh yelled, sliding his glass towards the younger one. "I gotta get on her level."
"Yes Berries and Cream lad! Whatever you say!" Sam yelled. I threw my head back with a full belly laugh, completely unaware they knew the fandom called Josh that.
"Hey, I am not that little man!" Josh yelled, throwing his third shot back.
"I don't know," I started, turning my chair towards him. "You dance like him when you're really into the tambourine on stage." I snickered.
"Okay well hey, fuck you and fuck, you." Josh pointed at both Sam and I. Sam and I looked at each other and laughed. "More specifically, fuck you." He hissed at me, pointing his finger in my direction. He gave a smirk as he said it, which got me thinking, maybe he meant fuck me.
"I wouldn't say no." I mumbled, turning away, just loud enough for him to hear. He snapped his head back towards me but didn't say anything. It made my heart race that I said something risky that could lead something to potentially fuck up the friendship. I was a little relieved he didn't respond.
"Give me anotha." I ordered. Jake picked up the glass bottle and poured me another. The third was not planned but seeing it gave me a little courage, it wouldn't hurt to have more.
A little later after four shots, I was back outside in the back yard, sitting in the grass and taking in the midnight breeze. I enjoyed being around groups of people but sometimes I needed to walk away to recharge myself.
The boys remained inside, partying to themselves. Pulling out swords to battle each other, the twins wrestling on the floor while Sam and Danny stood on the couch and cheered, and Josh standing on the table at one point and hitting an insane high note with ease just because he could. It was fun, very fun.
"How are you going to drink with us and then go hide outside?" Sam asked me, walking over in the grass, barefoot as usual. Also lacking pants.
"You lost your pants." I stated, ignoring his words. I was getting a little wasted at this moment.
"Get your butt out of the wet grass and come sit on the patio set, you weirdo." He laughed at me. I groaned, mentally preparing to start moving again. I dragged myself to their lovely patio and plopped down on my back on the whole sofa. Sam sat down next to me.
"Why are you hiding?" Sam asked again as a he took a sip from the martini in his hand. He was still drinking? God damn.
"I have to... recharge my batteries." I said seriously, slurring my words a bit. "Also I'm afraid I'm going to fuck up something being drunk." I confessed.
"Ahh, don't worry about that. We fuck up all the time being drunk." He told me, putting his hand out.
"I don't know." I mumbled, staring up at the sky. He didn't respond, so we both sat in comfortable silence together, looking up and enjoying the peace of nature, that was until Josh came out with a lighter and hairspray, screaming like a banshee.
"YEAHHH!" Jake yelled behind him, watching the fire light up the whole backyard in bright colors.
Ahh yes, that's right. I forgot he likes to play with fire.
"Oh my god!" Sam laughed, getting blinding by the brightness. Josh stopped and walked over to us with Jake following behind him.
"Where Danny?" Sam asked, wondering where is friend is.
"Making some fancy drinks for all of us. He said he found some cool ones on Pinterest that could range on our personalities." Jake said, shimmying his shoulders.
"Oh god, I can't drink more. I'm already gone!" I laughed nervously. It would be rude if I didn't drink it, but I also don't want to feel like death later.
"You know, for someone who doesn't drink and had four tequila shots, you don't look intoxicated at all." Josh pointed out, sitting down next to me and resting his arms along the top of the seats, putting one behind me.
"Either, I can hold my liquor, or I'm good at hiding it. I'm slurrin' some." I chuckled. I could barely form proper sentences too. I may appear fine but boy, was I struggling.
"Drinks!" Danny yelled at us, getting us back into the house. I sluggishly got up, hating the way I felt when I moved. I groaned.
"You alright?" Sam asked me with a chuckle.
"Here, come here." Josh said, putting one hand on my back and the other unexpectedly swiping me up from under my knees. I wrapped one arm around his neck and my other hand flat on his chest, completely unaware he was going to do this. Without thinking about how weird it looked, I gazed up at him, taking in all his features and feeling the vibration of his voice through his body since he was so naturally loud. At this point, the two other brothers walked in, leaving me and Josh outside.
"Don't get any ideas, missy." Josh said. I blushed. I didn't have any ideas but now that he said something, a few ideas crossed my mind.
"Don't you get, any ideas... sir." I mimicked, poking his chest. He smirked evilly, standing still.
"Oh I've got plenty." He whispered in a low tone, bringing his face down towards my neck, just lightly placing his lips on my warm skin. Just as I leaned my head, giving his more space to continue, he pulled away and grinned. I gasped dramatically.
"That was mean!" I cried. He laughed louder. I squirmed in his arms, wanting to walk on my own. "Put me down! I'm hurt, I'm so hurt!" I yelled.
"You don't sound hurt! You're laughing!" He said, grabbing me tighter to his body. I notice him staring at something ahead as he turned. You could see the gears turning in his head. Suddenly he started running. I stopped and stared in confusion. He wasn't running towards the house, he was running towards their very large pool.
"Hey, hey hey, JosH!" I panicked, struggling to get out of his tight grip.
"Here we go!" He screamed, launching both of us into the air and into the slightly cold water. I swam back up to the surface, gasping for air. Josh popped up not a second after, pushing his wet hair from his face. For a second, I lost my breath watching him do that. There was just something so attractive about him that just makes me at a loss for words.
"Checking me out, huh?" He asked, catching me. "Couldn't be anymore obvious about it?" He poked fun at me, making me feel weird.
"We're supposed to hide it?" I laughed, playing stupid. He snickered.
"You clearly like me, I clearly like you. So no point of hiding, right?" I said, feeling some courage. I wasn't going to remember anything so fuck it. He didn't know what to say after that. Suddenly he vanished under the water, feeling his strong hand wrap around my ankle, yanking me under towards him. I brought my head above water, gasping for air again.
"So no more hiding it, right?" He asked in a serious tone, wrapping his hand around my lower back, pulling me closer with my legs on both sides, leaning closer to me, a smirk appearing on his face.
"I suppose not." I said, suddenly feeling really turned on. Could be the alcohol, could be him. He got quiet, staring into my eyes with a soft look that read so many things. Plenty of ideas running through my head.
Hear me out, I could. I could kiss him. Would I regret? Hell no, but what if he does? I don't really think he would either but maybe would be better if sober?
Mmm fuck it.
"Can I kiss you?" Josh asked suddenly in a soft voice and an innocent look on his face. I was surprised, but I don't know at what specifically. The fact that he asked or the fact that he wanted to kiss.
"You gotta pay me first." I joked. I gently placed my hands behind his neck as he slid his arms around my waist again, pulling me against him.
"Name the price." He said seriously, making my heart flutter. Something about the way he's talking about it instead of just doing it made me happy. He didn't force it on, he seemed so sweet and caring with it. Every other guy I've been with just kissed, they didn't care about asking to see if I was alright.
"The price is..." I stopped, thinking about what I could say. He waited patiently, staring at me as I looked away.
"You don't want to do it sober? Like, just in case or?" I whispered, losing track of what the 'price' was going to be.
"You want the truth?" He asked me. I nodded. "I'm decently sober, right now. I may have a lot in my system but it's not enough for me to make dumb last second decisions." He said. "This one is thought through, trust me." I raised my brows in slight shock. Part of me knew he wasn't as fucked up as I was, but I knew he wasn't that sober either. I stopped and stared at him, hoping he'd make the move first.
"Surprising." I giggled. "This won't, fuck up our friendship or anything, right? I don't want to wake up tomorrow and for us to be awkward, around each other." I whispered, giving him a sad look. He let go of my waist and softly cupped his wet hands on my face.
Truth is, I didn't want to be only friends after this, but I don't know if I am ready for a relationship with someone who lives on the road.
"That's if you make it that way. I promise it won't be." He whispered. The tension was building faster and faster. My heart started racing.
"Ask me again." I told him, placing my hands on top of his, softly looking into his eyes.
"Can I kiss you?" He asked quietly, just as serious as the first time.
"No." I joked again. He threw his head back and let go of my face, pushing himself away and giving a loud groan with a laugh. I giggled and swam closer to him, and grabbed his face with my hands, pulling him into an unexpected kiss.
He froze for a second before putting his hand behind my head, deepening the kiss by a little. This wasn't a hungry lustful kiss, this was 'I've been fucking waiting for this' kind of kiss. It was passionate with a spark; you can tell he's being wanting this.
Very faintly, you can hear the boys cheering us on from the inside. Josh pulled away first; a large goofy smile written across his face. God he was adorable. I felt my heart race faster when he wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me in for another. This time with more excitement and much more passion.
Shit, if I had to say it, it felt like love.