Chapter 31: I’ll post whatever I want
Hey everyone! I’m so sorry I couldn’t upload last Thrusday, there’s too much goin on right now but here it is!! Chapter 31!
Read chapter 30
- I missed your lip biting thing – Josh said to Anastasia while walking through a Venice square, on the way to the restaurant where a big lunch was going to be held.
- I missed your guitarist fingers – Anastasia said back to him, a little bit flushed.
- Are you blushing? – Josh asked laughing.
- No, I’m not. It’s the heat – Anastasia lied. It was actually very hot outside in that city and Anastasia had to choose a light outfit, a grey flower-printed crop top with a low cleavage, a pair of baby blue jeans, grey oxfords on her feet and a grey, wide-brim fedora.
- You look amazing, by the way – Josh said to her once again – Well, you always do. Even when dressing so sensual you have such a taste…
- Thank you – Anastasia said – Are you adulating me because I gave you the best sex of your life last night? – Josh laughed.
- The Anastasia I know is back. I’m adulating you because you’ve given me the best sex of my life in general – This was getting weird for Anastasia.
- Josh… - She didn’t know if she should ask about his girlfriend. She actually didn’t want neither if it was going to break the spell. It was obvious they were together but she wanted to know if this was just a one night stand or something more. At the same time she didn’t want it to be something more, she couldn’t go through that again – Never mind.
- No, tell me.
- Don’t worry, we are already here – She said looking at the whole travel crew sitting at a large table in the restaurant’s balcony.
They made their way there and Anastasia had a glimpse of the place, it was beautiful. You could see the ocean from the balcony and the boats riding in the back. She chose a chair next to Barbara and in front of Mandy, while Josh sat a little bit away, next to Flea. She felt Barb and Mandy’s keen eyes, so she smiled at them with a funny grin. She then could see Mandy moving her lips to her forming the words “Fuck you”, Anastasia laughed.
Lunch was amazing, everybody there got along so well. They all had crazy conversation topics, they talked about life on tour and making music, they even talked about the old times when Anthony and Barbara were a mess, way before Anastasia moved to LA, then Anthony mentioned when An moved and everything changed for Barbara, but in a good sense and how Barbara took her to almost every concert she could. An was feeling good, so well. Better than the last months. She even stopped thinking about Josh’s girlfriend; suddenly she wasn’t worried about it anymore. She was enjoying that moment, right there without any obstacles.
After lunch everybody was up for a walk, they needed it because they all ate so much pasta. They visited the magnificent Piazza San Marco, then went to the Basilica, walked through small streets and visited some local stores and then everybody wanted to do some boat rides on the Grand Canal. But Josh had some other plans.
- What do you say if we skip the boat ride and go for gelato? – He asked to Anastasia almost whispering in her ear.
- You know I’m always down for gelato – She answered smiling.
She excused herself to the group saying she was feeling a little bit sick for a boat ride, and they both walked away from them. Then they arrived to a place called Boutique del Gelato, which was pretty famous in the city.
- The people at the hotel recommend it – Josh told Anastasia – And I know how much you love it, so I wanted to bring you here.
- I want lemon and pistachio – Anastasia ordered.
- What? That’s the weirdest mix ever! – Josh laughed.
- Oh, I’m sure you are going to ask for something basic like chocolate and vanilla – Anastasia mocked him.
- No… I’m going to order chocolate and… strawberry – Josh laughed and Anastasia joined him – I’m joking, I want hazelnut and Stracciatella.
- Uh! Fancy! – Anastasia said.
- The occasion warrants it, after all I'm with one of the fanciest people I know – He said.
- Ok. Stop it, Josh – Anastasia said rolling her eyes.
- And I’ll pay for it – Josh warned her – It’s your birthday weekend.
- That makes me feel guilty – Anastasia said – I don’t like people paying for my stuff.
- You are impossible – He said rolling his eyes but with a smile on his face.
They ate their gelatos while walking around. Watching the city, avoiding the places with bad smell and just enjoying each other’s company. It was like the old days, even before they were a couple. She felt so good at that moment; she forgot everything he did, even if that was possible. It was the same old Josh, the one she met at Eric’s birthday party all those years ago.
At one moment she got lost with the view, the Venice canals opening to the ocean and then she heard a camera click at her back. She turned around fast and Josh was holding his phone and laughing.
- What are you doing? – She asked very confused.
- Taking a picture – He said smiling like a dumbass.
- Of me? – She asked again.
- Well, you were on the way – He answered – But look, it’s beautiful – He showed her the photo and indeed it was a gorgeous picture. It showed her from the back looking at the horizon – Come here, let’s take a picture together.
- Oh… that’s weird – She said smiling.
Josh got close to her and they took a selfie with the Venetian landscape in the back.
- Look at you taking selfies! – Anastasia said mocking him.
- Stop – He laughed – Gonna post this – Anastasia’s heart stopped.
- Where? – She asked – Where are you gonna post it?
- On Facebook, it’s the only social media I use – He said using his phone and she thought it was time to bring it up.
- Josh, don’t! You have a girlfriend! – She had to say it. His face changed from happiness to confusion.
- First of all, I don’t have a girlfriend – He said and that shocked Anastasia – Second, I’ll post it wherever I want to – She was about to ask “What about Lauren?” but she decided not take it further.
The flight back served as a thinking session for Anastasia. Josh denied Lauren without hesitation, and he was acting so friendly the whole weekend, he apologized for everything he did and he looked honest doing so. They even had sex, the wine had a lot to do over there, but the next morning there wasn’t a drop of shame or regret in that hotel room. It all felt so natural, like if they were longtime friends that liked each other. Surprisingly she wasn’t even confused, she had peace in her heart, she was happy, of course… and just like that Anastasia had her hopes up again.
- You need to tell me everything – Mandy took a seat in front of her at Anastasia’s booth on the plane, luckily this time Josh was far from them.
- What can I tell you? – Anastasia smiled at her friend – We had dinner and then went back to his room, we had sex, we ate gelato and then he denied the fact that he has a girlfriend.
- What?! – Mandy couldn’t scream because the plane was so quiet – Anastasia, did you sleep with him?
- You didn’t realize that I didn’t sleep in our room?
- No. I was drunk and there were two bedrooms, I thought you were inside. I can’t believe this… And he denied her?
- He said she wasn’t his girlfriend.
- Oh my God, An! – Mandy said – I don’t want to see you suffer, please, please, please, stay strong. You don’t deserve this, you deserve a man for you alone, a man that only loves you.
- Don’t worry about it.
- I’ll be here in the end, as usual. That’s my mission in this planet – Mandy said checking her phone and suddenly she had a surprised expression on her face – Look!
Mandy handled Anastasia the phone and An saw the photos Josh published on Facebook, first the one where she was alone, and then the selfie he took of them. He wrote “I wish all my trips around the world were like this” on the description box. Both friends shared a glance.
- He doesn’t have her as a friend on Facebook – Mandy said – I stalked him – She said before Anastasia could ask – Look, there’s more!
A video from An’s birthday party of her singing No Scrubs with Kelly was there too, he captioned it “Two girls who won’t take no scrubs”, a bunch of his friends left comments like “I want your life” and “I can’t believe you hang out with someone as hot as Anastasia Truman”, that one made her feel good.
- Why is he posting all this? – Anastasia asked.
- No idea – Mandy said.
- He didn’t even do this when we were a couple.
- It’s weird indeed – Mandy said – Aw, An! Be careful, please!
- How was your weekend? – Anastasia changed the subject violently.
- It was amazing! – Mandy answered with light in her eyes – I had so much fun with all the food and everyone. Josh stole you, but anyway.
- People noticed? – Anastasia was ashamed now.
- Oh yeah. Anthony didn’t stop making jokes about it – Mandy said – I’m going to sleep a little bit, try to do the same.
- You know I don’t sleep on planes – Anastasia said.
- TRY! – Mandy screamed ignoring the rest of the people that were actually sleeping.
Anastasia was confused now; this wasn’t a normal attitude on Josh. She got up from her seat and tried to look out for Josh. She saw him at her right, he was awake and she could see the reflective light on his face from his notebook. She walked towards him, he took his headphones off and smiled at her, then moved to make some room so she could sit next to him.
- Don’t you think those Facebook posts are going to get you in trouble? – Anastasia asked.
- I already told you that no – Josh answered rolling his eyes – They are great pictures and the world should see them.
- And that video.
- That video was hilarious – He said laughing – If it is such a big deal for you I’ll take them down.
- No! It’s fine… for real – She said – Don’t worry. It’s just that you used to be so private.
- I still am – He answered – And I know who I have on my Facebook page just like you know who follows you on your Instagram. You used to post pictures of me and of us, and I never had a problem with it. By the way, I noticed you never deleted them.
- Why would I? It was a great moment in my life. I’m not a teenager, Josh…
He just smiled and didn’t say anything back to that.
Back at her seat, she couldn’t help but to think about it. He wasn’t hiding her and she wasn’t sure if they were going to repeat what happened that weekend but right now she was happy, for real this time, for the first time in months, she was happy. Deep inside she knew it was a fake happiness but she didn’t mind it. All of her life she had to deal with anxiety and now she was ready to be better. Yes, Josh hurt her but also, she still had feelings for him and she could tell he still had feelings for her too. The way he made love to her the night before was filled with desire and passion. It didn’t feel like a stranger or a one night stand at all, it was two people in love giving themselves to each other.
Tour was about to start again and the future never looked so bright before her eyes.
Read chapter 32
