Chapter 39

Ann decided what she had on would be enough, so she just went upstairs to grab her bag. Josh came with her, not leaving her side for a second.

„You sure you're okay about this?" He asked.

„Of course." She smiled at him, trying to hide the fact that she was totally not okay. „I told you it's in the past."

„Yeah, I know, it's just... Weird."

„Yeah, I mean, I can't not have contact with him. We work together. And I'm friends with Sophie." Ann shrugged.

„As long as you're comfortable." He smiled, lightly stroking her shoulder.

„Let's go." She said, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek.

Joe and Sophie were already waiting in the car. They were sat in the back and Josh decided to sit in the front as he was bigger. To her luck, Joe was sitting in the middle seat, so as she sat down, her body was basically pressed against him.

Her body trembled, just by feeling the warmth of his body. Joe cleared his throat and shifted in his place uncomfortably.

The ride was quiet and awkward. With every turn their bodies pressed more against each other and Ann just wanted to get out of there.

Finally the ride came to an end and Ann almost ran out of the car. They got into the elevator and Ann wrapped herself around Josh's arm looking for some comfort. He chuckled and kissed the top of her head.

They reached Joe's apartment and Ann started to take off her shoes.

„You want something to drink?" Josh asked Ann.

„I'll bring her." Joe said, walking into the kitchen area. „What do you drink?" He said referring to Josh. „Is tequila okay?"

„Sure. Thanks."

They sat on the couch, Sophie joining them. Josh put a hand on Ann's knee, making her smile at him. They started some small talk with Sophie, until Joe joined them with drinks. He passed Ann a glass and Josh frowned.

„Orange juice?"

„Virgin mimosa, stupid." Ann chuckled, making Joe smile.

„Thank you, babe." Sophie said, taking a glass of tequila from him and turning to Josh. „So, are you coming to any of the upcoming shows?"

„Actually... It was meant to be a surprise, but fuck it. I cleared my schedule for the next week. So if you're okay with it..." he said turning his attention to Ann.

„Are you serious? Of course!" Ann laughed, hugging him. „Joe, could we get him VIP?"

He rolled his eyes. „Sure."

„I'm so excited!" Sophie said, clapping her hands. „You're going to love it."

„I'm sure I will." He nodded. „I didn't get to hear her sing yet."

„No way!" Sophie gasped. „Oh, she has one of the most beautiful voices. Right, Joe?"

Joe snapped out, clearly lost in his thoughts. „What?"

„Tell Josh how you found out about Ann."

„Well..." he said, shifting in his place. „She played backup in a band that I went to see. And I instantly fell in love..." he stopped, locking eyes with her. Ann's eyes grew wide and he quickly snapped out. „With her voice, of course." He laughed nervously.

Ann felt Josh fixing his hair nervously as Ann looked at Sophie who didn't seem bothered at all. Was she really that oblivious or was she just pretending?

„I went to several concerts, than to her solo gigs and than I sent out our agent to give her the proposition."  He said, looking at the glass in his hand.

„Yeah yeah, whatever. Tell Josh what is Ann's voice to you, so he knows what to expect. You've told me that so many times and I still don't get enough of hearing it." Sophie said with a smile.

He did? He's talking about her to Sophie?

Joe sighed and played with the glass, trying to avoid eye contact with anyone in the room. Ann could see with a corner of her eyes that his cheeks gained a slight red color.

„She's um... I mean, her voice..." He stuttered, brushing a hand on the back of his neck. He sighed and Ann saw his lips go into a little smirk. „It's like something you've never heard before. The passion, the emotions... The comfort it brings you. It's an out of world experience. Whenever I hear her sing, backstage or during rehearsal, I still can't believe I get to work with her." He locked eyes with her. „She's our star."

Ann bit her lip and looked down, trying to hide how red she probably was.

„I mean, if that didn't sell her to you, I don't know what will." Sophie said, throwing her hands in the air.

Josh chuckled. „He didn't have to. I already knew she's amazing." He said kissing her forehead.

Sophie pouted her lip at them. „Aren't they the cutest?" She said looking at Joe.

He just smiled a little, not taking eyes off of her. „Yeah."

„I don't know about you guys, but I'm kind of hungry." Said Sophie. „How about some pizza?"

„Yes!" Ann screamed, feeling her stomach growl at the thought.

„Any preferences?"

„I'm not that hungry, we could take one to eat together." Josh said to Ann. „I would crash a pepperoni one, what do you think?"

„She's a vegetarian." Joe said, making them all turn heads at him.

It never really came up in a conversation with him, so he was really thrown off by the comment Joe made. Ann frowned at him frustrated. Was this really necessary? What was he trying to do? Show him that he knows her better? For what?

„So... Margarita?" He said to Ann, giving her a weak smile.

„Margarita." She smiled, rubbing his arm, trying to calm him down, as she saw how uncomfortable he was.

„Okay, I'm going to go order." Sophie said, leaving the room.

They sat there in an awkward silence for a while, before Joe sighed and stood up.

„I need a refill." He said, going to the kitchen.

„Hey." Ann whispered, trying to catch Josh attention. „You okay?"

„Yeah." He smiled at her, but she immediately saw he wasn't.

„I'm sorry about him." Ann sighed. „I don't know what's up with him."

„Yeah, I think I know..." Josh chuckled. Ann frowned, but didn't get to hear him out as his phone went off. „Sorry, gotta take this."

„Okay." Ann said, watching him leave to the bathroom.

She sighed and looked at the kitchen area, seeing Joe precisely pour tequila into his glass. She stood up, deciding to confront him.

„How's your mimosa?" He smiled, throwing ice cubes into his glass.

„Good. As always." She smiled back, leaning against the counter.

„It's a really hard recipe, so I'm glad I perfected it."

Ann laughed, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. He never failed to amuse her.

„About what you said..." Ann started. "Thank you." She looked down at the floor.

He took a few steps closer to her and Ann looked up, locking their eyes together. He was dangerously close. She hadn't seen him like this in a long time. Even though she didn't want to, he still did stuff to her. She was addicted to him.

„Please be nicer to him." She whispered.

„I'm sorry, I can't."

„Just try to tolerate him at least."

„I don't like him, Ann. Sorry." He shrugged.

„Why? Because he's dating me?" She frowned.

„No?" He scoffed.

„Yeah, right." Ann scoffed as well.

„Oh what, you think I'm jealous?" He frowned.

„Yeah. Yes. That's exactly what I think."

„Well, you're wrong." He rolled his eyes.

„I gave you well too many chances, Joe. You failed and I moved on. So please, at least try to be happy for me." She whispered through clenched teeth, feeling her frustration rising. "By the way, I told him."

Joe frowned, taking a step back. "You what?"

"Yeah. Look at me being a fucking adult and telling the person I'm dating that I'm having a baby." She scoffed. "Not everyone can do that. At least you can perfectly pour an orange juice." She rolled her eyes as he squinted his eyes at her.

"You know him a few days, Ann. How do you know he's not from the media?"

"Oh, come on." She threw her hands in the air. "Not everything is about you, Joe."

"You're new to this world. Things like this happen."

"And you know what? I don't fucking care." She shrugged.

"Is everything okay in here?" Josh said, joining them.

"Totally." She quickly plastered on a smile and gave him a side hug. Joe didn't say anything, instead he sighed taking his glass and sitting back down on the couch.

"What were you talking about?" Josh continued to ask.

"I told him that you know about the baby. He didn't take it well." Ann sighed.

"Why?" He frowned. "I see Sophie is okay with it."

"He didn't tell her." She said quietly, feeling embarrassed for Joe.

"Seriously?" He widened his eyes.

"Yeah." Ann scoffed. "She doesn't even know we were going out."

"Okay, pizza ordered, they'll be here in half an hour." Sophie said, coming back from the bedroom. "What did I miss?"

Everyone stayed quiet, just looking at each other. Josh and Ann went back to the couch and Joe quickly changed the subject.

"By the way Ann, you left your clothes here from the other night." Joe said with a smirk. Ann's heart stopped for a moment and she cussed him in her mind. That little fucker.

Josh frowned and looked at Ann, but she didn't know what to say.

"Oh yeah." Sophie said. "Let me get them for you. I need to make a quick phone call anyway." She said standing up and disappearing in the hallway.

"Joe, seriously?" Ann said frustrated.

"Hey, calm down." Josh said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Joe, man, can I have a word with you?"

Oh no. Ann could feel her heart pounding. That's not going to end well.

"Yeah. Follow me."

She watched them leave up the stairs and prayed they wouldn't kill each other.

They went onto the rooftop terrace and Josh watched in awe how beautiful it was. Joe took a seat in one of the chairs and he did the same.

"Look man..." Josh started. "I get that you're jealous, but please try to accept the fact that she's moving on. And you should too."

"You don't know anything." Joe scoffed.

„Maybe, but I know that Ann needs a man that will be there for her at all times."

„What are you trying to say?" He frowned, vividly frustrated.

„That you need to let her go. You're with Sophie now."

„I did." He scoffed, rubbing the back of his neck.

„No, you didn't. You can raise this baby separately, it's totally fine. Many couples do it. I promise I'll be a good co-parent. I've always wanted a girl..."

„Don't you dare talk about her." Joe said between clenched teeth.

„You like it or not, Ann is with me right now. And I'll do anything to protect her. And if it means pushing her away from you, I'll do it."

Joe closed his eyes and clenched his fists, trying so hard not to punch him in the face. Just the feeling of not being able to be near her, made him furious. He stood up and started to walk back and forth. Josh stood up too, slowly and carefully, seeing how mad he was. Joe stopped and got closer to him. Josh was taller than him, but he didn't let that intimidate him.

„You don't own her." He said frowning.

„Let go, man. Why didn't you tell Sophie yet?"

„Not your business."

„Be a man and own up to your actions."

„Who are you to tell me what I need to do?"

„I'm not attacking you. Just want to give you some advice, man."

„Yeah, my advice is, go fuck yourself." Joe scoffed.

„What did you just say?" Josh frowned, pushing him a little in the shoulder.

„What you heard." Joe said, pushing him as well. „She'll never love you the way she loves me."

„She's over you, man." Josh chuckled, shaking his head.

„Oh yeah? Not what she said to me when we fucked last time." Joe smirked.

That was enough for Josh. He punched Joe right in the face, making him fall on the floor.

Meanwhile Ann sat on the couch and felt a panic attack coming. She decided to check if they're both still alive, so she got up and went up the stairs.

She screamed once she saw Joe on the floor and blood on Josh's fist. She quickly ran up to Joe and helped him up. His cheek was red and swollen, blood even on his white shirt.

„What did you do?" She screamed at Josh, tears filling her eyes.

„Ann, I..." He stuttered, even shocked himself as to want happened.

„Get out!" She screamed.

Josh stood silent for a while, before turning around and running out. Ann turned back to Joe and tried to help him out off the floor.

„Oh my god, I'm so sorry." She kept repeating as she helped him out on the chair.

„It's not your fault." He whispered.

„It is... I... We..." she gasped for air, her panic attack now filling her body.

„Hey." He grabbed her hands. „Look at me." She locked eyes with him, tears streaming down her face. „Deep breath. Count with me."

Ann nodded and closed her eyes as they counted down their breaths.

„One. Two. Three." She opened her eyes at ‚three' feeling the fear wash away. They kept their hands joined together just looking at each other.

„Thank you." She whispered.

He just gave her a weak smile. Ann brought her hand up to the cut on his cheek and he groaned in pain.

„We have to take you to the hospital."

„I'll be okay." He chuckled.

He brought his hand to his cheek, taking in her hand and smiled at her.

„What?"

„Yeah, I'm jealous."

„No shit." Ann chuckled, making him laugh as well.

„I'm going to be jealous of any guy that has you. Cause they'll be the luckiest in the world." He smiled, looking down at their hands. „I didn't deserve you. I see it now."

Ann shook her head. „You..." But she was stopped with Sophie running onto the terrace.

„Oh my god, what happened?!" She screamed running up to Joe.

__________

Guys! We are getting dangerously close to the end of this story. Only a few more chapters to go!

Any predictions as to how it's going to end?