My Diane

Josh felt his body freeze for a second.

There was nothing to explain - in fact, looking for excuses might make the situation worse.

"I'm sorry". That was all he managed before raising the towel to wrap his waist. "I don't know what came over me".

"Just leave me". She whispered weakly before he left to the sitting room.

Did she have the strength to wash herself? Why did he even do that?!

Josh felt conflicted in his head. How could he just take advantage of someone so vulnerable like that? But how could he say no either when she was headstrong about pushing him away?

But the way she cried just now.... It was sad and yet arousing in a messed-up way. Her eyes were narrowed with tears streaming down them and he wanted nothing more than to see them again.

Was he losing his head or just getting desperate?

Did it even matter what the answer was?

When he returned to the bathroom some minutes later, he knocked for permission. "I apologize for what I did, but you're still sick so it's not safe to leave you alone". When there was no reply, he quietly opened the door.

Diane was wrapped in a towel down to her upper thighs with her dark hair plastered on her skin. She looked so fragile. So vulnerable - it made him want to wrap her in an embrace. "Please, leave". She placed a hand on the wall for support while staggering towards the door.

"I said I'm sorry!". His voice had come out harsher than intended. "All I did was kiss you so why are you behaving this way?". His tone dropped and he knew he had crossed the line but he needed a reaction from her. Anything would be acceptable.

It was until his phone rang in the living room that he left to get it.

"Gwen". His lips carver downwards.

"Are you at Diane's place? I know she must be angry with me but I'm at the airport now although the flight is being delayed by a few hours. I hope she's alright?".

"She is". He gritted his teeth in restraint. Why was it so irritating speaking with other women? And she just had to interrupt before he could make up with Diane.

"Why didn't she take her calls?".

"She somehow broke her phone".

"Really? Could you pass the phone to her?".

His jaw clenched in annoyance. "Of course". He let out a smile before moving to the doorway of the bathroom where Diane stood. "It's Gwen". He held it out for her to speak since it had been placed on speaker in fear that she might tell her friend about what had happened.

"Hello? Are you there, baby girl?". Her voice was as cheerful as ever.

"Hey". Her eyes met Josh's for a second before averting from his gaze.

"Thanks for taking me home last night, you should have spent the night over. And how did your phone break?".

Diane took a few seconds to catch her breath. Just standing up was exhausting. "I can't remember much from after I left your place, I did call an Uber".

"Are you alright? You don't sound so good".

"Just a bit under the weather". She lied through her teeth. There was something she wasn't telling Gwen. Maybe it was the fact that couldn't stand another minute of Josh's watchful gaze.

"If you need anything let me know, okay? I sent you some money so please take it as a parting gift". There was an almost pleading tone in Gwen's voice which only served to further aggravate Josh.

"You really didn't have to, I'll send it back the next time I go to the bank".

"Then I'll keep resending till you accept! Your job at Timeless West starts tomorrow so buy yourself some food and get some medicine. Where is Josh?".

"Right here".

Gwen had just spilled the beans about the location of her new job. And Josh had tried to convince her to work in his father's company or his mother's fashion emporium.

"I didn't know you'd gotten a job". He frowned.

"Ohh... Josh is still there". Gwen laughed with embarrassment. "Well, I gotta go now. I love you". Were her last words before cutting the call.

'I love her more'. Josh retorted in his head.

Diane went into her bedroom and closed the door behind her while Josh returned to the sofa to go through his gallery.

There was an album of her pictures from when she was seventeen and he went through each of the four hundred whenever he missed her. 'I miss the old Diane'. He shut his eyes before drifting into sleep.

The next time his eyes came open was due to the sound of running water in the kitchen. He groaned before raising his phone to check the time.

3:15.

He'd slept for about three hours, but how was Diane coping? He abruptly sat up.

'The rain has stopped'. He felt more depressed than pleased at the thought of leaving. Maybe he should drop by whenever it rained?

His body leaned back to stretch out after getting up as Diane came out from the kitchen with a glass of water. At the sight of him, she tried to rush back into her room.

"Wait!". He stopped her. "I'm leaving, so you don't have to keep avoiding me". He approached to touch her face but she pulled away.

His heart sank at her obvious distress. "How can I make it up to you?".

"Don't come around my work place". Her hand fell on the doorknob but he stopped her from leaving.

"You still need to go to the hospital, let me do this last thing for you".

She almost laughed at those words, "How do I know you won't kidnap me".

"Diane".  He pleaded. "I'm not going to hurt you, I promise".

For a moment she stared at him, her hand on the doorknob. She hated the helpless feeling crawling inside of her chest but knowing Josh, he would refuse to leave unless she got a check-up.

"Okay". She left to change before Josh realized his suit was still wet. Although he had a change of clothes in his car for bad days. "Umm.... Diane".

Her door opened as if expectant and she tossed a set of his old shirt and shorts she'd forgotten to give out to charity. "Wear that".

At the sight of the clothes on the floor, a nostalgic smile formed on his lips. 'My Diane'.