Chapter 34: I Want To Be With You

Josh woke abruptly to sobs. It sounded like someone was really hurting. Realizing almost instantly that Payton wasn't in bed, he panicked and sat up looking to see if he could find her. Payton sat on the floor by the closet with her mom's journal in her hands. Grabbing his shorts, he pulled them on and sat next to her. When he put his arm around her, she collapsed into his side and he could feel her shaking as she cried.

"What's wrong?"

She stuttered trying to explain, "My... mom... she... she... dad."

"Shh, calm down."

Her body trembled as she continued to sob. After a bit, her sobs turned to hiccups, and then she quietly sighed. The whole time Josh did the only thing he could think of, he held on to her as tight as he could.

"The guy..." she whimpered again, "The guy she was dating was my dad."

"But I thought you said..." Josh trailed off not knowing how to finish the thought.

She must have known, though, "I did too."

He was thoroughly confused, "It doesn't make sense."