Chapter 10

Chapter 10

 “So he is Josh”. Josh was squirming under the intense gaze of Bolt’s parent. 

 They had arrived not an hour ago and after they had a detailed discussion with the doctor and Bolt, they turned their attention to the beautiful man sitting beside their stupid son, their words. 

 “Yes Mom Dad, he is Josh”. Bolt sighed for the umpteenth time. Josh looked at Bolt looking so frustrated and started giggling. 

 Bolt looked at his and his lips stretched into a smile too. He held Josh’s hand who tried to glare at him but ended up blushing. 

 Bolt’s parents had accepted him the very moment they saw him, and now they fell for him too, looking at the way he was looking at Bolt. 

 They were impressed at his achievements and promised to visit his restaurant once Bolt was discharged from the hospital. 

 “Why do I feel you have started to love him more than me”. Bolt pouted at his parents, showering their love and attention at Josh. 

 “Yes. In fact we are adopting him as our son. You can go fetch yourself”. Bolt’s mother said in a mocking style. 

 Josh was just giggling over the antics of Bolt and his parents, enjoying it thoroughly. They stayed for two hours and left with a promise to come back the next day. 

 “Mom, I will be discharged in two days. Why don't you guys stay at my place until then instead of the hotel?” Bolt said holding his mother's hand. 

 “But son”. His dad was hesitant. 

 “No buts Dad. It's spare anyway. It's stocked and you can ask Richard for anything you need. You can find the keys to my truck in the bowl on the counter”. Bolt said with love in his voice. 

 Josh was experiencing a new side of Bolt. A personality where he was so tender and respectful towards them. 

 His parents bid them goodbye, assuring Josh that he could always complain to them about Bolt and they might come in handy. 

 He was still giggling after they left. 

 “Did you have fun laughing on my account, huh”? Bolt smiled fondly at him. 

 “Yeah. I like your folks. They are very loving”. He said simply. 

 “Yes they are. And they like you too. I wanted you to meet then someday, not under these circumstances anyway. But I am glad you guys go along”. Bolt held his hand. 

 “So, how will it go”. Josh waved a hand between them. 

 “It will be how you want it to be. There is no rush Josh. I want to know you. I want to see life through your eyes. I want you to know me inside out. 

 I just have a few things to say.”. Bolt stopped himself. 

 “As in?” 

 “I believe in expressions and expressing how you feel. I want you to trust me fully. I want you to know that you have someone to talk to, to lean on and I promise I will always be there for you. 

 I don't hate anything but lies and miscommunication. Talk to me and I will sort you everything for you. For us. 

 I am a handy person, and I had adopted this trait from my parents. I like to hold hands or hug. And I might kiss you to greet. I am not against PDA so if you are uneasy with it, let me know. I would appreciate if you use your words”. Bolt said it all. 

 “It's nothing I cannot comply, Bolt. I…. I am not against PDA. I mean I… I appreciate it if there is anything. Because I am expressive myself. 

 I will never disrespect you in front of your colleagues and office fellows, and I would love to visit you in your office if that's allowed. And I would love to see you coming at my restaurant. 

 But… look, I have a past, I believe everyone has. And it isn't a good one to say because I want to seriously move on. I am a commitment sort of a person. One man only. 

 You trust me, I will never break it. I will never decieve you. That's not me. I have been broken in the worst way. And that's why it took me time to open my heart for you. But let's be honest, there are still fragments of my past that might hurt me or surface time to time. 

 I may get rude to you because there are certain aspects that I have held to my heart and soul. But I promise I will never hide anything from you. Can you just wait until I trust myself enough that it won't hurt to share again”. Josh grasped his hands but it was the fear in his eyes that made Bolt pull him in his arms. 

 “I am here for you, handsome. I will always be here for you”. He said in a stern tone and he knew Josh understood it completely. 

 —-----

 Marshal entered the restaurant holding Natasha's hand. The manager greeted them and guided them to a table reserved for them. 

 He was about to take his seat when he saw two men laughing their heart out. He turned to see them standing in each other's embrace. 

 He smiled briefly at their interactions. Surely they were bantering with eath other but he appreciated the way they both were handsy and without any care of how people were looking at them. 

 He sighed, rubbing his chest subtly. Sometimes he did miss the man he destroyed because of his cowardice. 

 He was almost crouched down when he stood up straight. No way. It cant be him. He couldn't be Josh right. How could Josh be with some other man right? He had only loved him. 

 “What are you waiting for Marshal?” He turned to see Natasha looking at him with indifferent expressions. 

 “Oh, nothing darling. Are we ready to order?” He waved at the waitress once Natasha nodded.

 “Finally mom dad are here”. Bolt turned to see his parents coming in the restaurant. Josh stood up too, and only then he saw Marshal sitting with Natasha. 

 His body went rigid in Bolt’s embrace and he felt his eyes stinging to see them in love. Marshal was looking at her the way he used to look at Josh. 

 Did he ever really love him? 

 He was this close to confront him only if Bolt had not turned to greet his parents. 

 But did he notice the way Josh when rigid? Yes he did. And he wanted to talk about it as soon as they would be alone. 

 Josh managed to cheer up his mood for Bolt’s parents and in no time he was laughing out loud and blushing really hard. 

 “Son, we have something for you”. They had finished their meal when Bolt’s parents held out a box for him. He looked at them and then at Bolt who shrugged his shoulders. 

 “Open it Josh”. His dad encouraged him. 

 Josh licked his lips before taking the box and opening it. There was a wing nestled in a soft cushion bed. 

 “Thisss .. I can't. No …”. He panicked immediately. He pushed the box away but Bolt’s mother quickly held his hand. 

 “Calm down Josh. Son. Wait. This isn't a promising or a commitment ring, this is a token for you as a welcome in our family. 

 It's a heirloom, son. Bolt has the same like his dad. It had been passed to the boys of the family. Derek, my husband, is wearing one, another was gifted to Bolt by his grandfather. And now you. 

 I don't know how you will continue with your relationship, but this is to state that you are a part of this family as much as Bolt. 

 Even if you guys decide to part ways, you will always be welcomed. So please accept it”. Josh was teary. His eyes misty with the love and care. He never thought he would be accepted and love again after being deceived by a person. 

 He looked at Bolt who smiled at him. Josh was a strong person but one word of kindness and he would be in tears. And that showed how pure he was. 

 “Take it Josh. Didnt I promise, I would never impose on you. I am not tying you with me with this ring. That will be me proposing you when the time will come. I promise”. Bolt assured him and that was enough for Josh to take out the ring and wear it in his finger. 

 He was unaware of a pair of eyes who looked at him with jealousy and stormed out of the restaurant. 

 —-----

 “Someone happy eh?” Pete laughed looking at a dancing Josh in the kitchen. 

 “Who?” Josh feigned glaring at him but started chuckling. 

 “Yes I am happy, Pete”. He twirled Pete who stabled himself as he was about to fall face first. 

 “Yeah yeah. I can see that. Is it related to a certain officer in blue uniform, currently sitting in his favorite seat and waiting impatiently for you to serve his favorite food and then steal you away”. Pete said with his hands on his hips. 

 Josh looked at him with wide eyes and quickly turned to the stove, mixing the sauces into the pasta and then dishing it up. 

 “Yes, it is all to do with him. And now step away. You have already distracted me enough”. Josh held the dishes and huffed in annoyance, making Pete roll his eyes. 

 “Yes boss, it's me”. He murmured under his breath but there was no malice. He was genuithappy for Josh. 

 “Here, alferado pasta for you”. Josh served Bolt who smiled wide at him before pulling him down to plant a kiss on his cheeks. 

 “Sit with me”. Bolt requested and we'll who was Josh to say no to those puppy eyes. 

 He took his seat listening to Bolt about his day and all when he saw Bolt swirling the pasta around.

 “What happened? You didn't like it?” Josh was concerned but Bolt smiled shaking his head. 

 “I uh… I wanted to ask one thing Josh if you don't mind.” 

 “What? You know you can ask me anything.” Josh put his hand over Bolt’s on the table and smiled how both rings shined. 

 “That day in the restaurant, I found you getting stiff. I wanted to ask if there was something I did or my parents overwhelmed yu?” Bolt asked cautiously. He wanted to know but he didn't want to offend him. 

 Josh took a deep breath composing himself. He thought may be he had dodged Bolt but he forgot Bolt was an officer. 

 “I.. that… no it wasn't you or your parents, it was because I caught a sight of my Ex.” Josh told in a simple tone but it was a bomb exploded. 

 Bolt did expect something bad happened with Josh but he didnt realize how badly it would hurt him. 

 “Why didn't you tell me that day?” Bolt asked lacing their fingers together.

 “What would I told you Bolt? Hey look, there's my Ex sitting with his wife when he exclaimed he always loved me but cheated me in the end.” Josh pulled off his hand to cover his face. 

 Bolt scooted his chair closer to Josh, pulling off his hands and wiped his eyes.

 “I think we should leave. How about we go to your place and then we can talk about it hmmm?” Bolt suggested and Josh nodded because ues he didn't want to create a scene in the middle of the restaurant. 

 ----

 Tabby