Chapter Thirty-Two, Ten Kids, Part 2

"We're home!"

"Yayy!" Maya waved her arms triumphantly as Josh carried her into his apartment.

"Alright- get off! Off! My back...ow!" Josh murmured with a pained expression as he waited for her to disembark before stretching out his back.

"Aww...I hurt your back, Old Man Boing? I'm sorry," Maya stated with a teasing grin as she observed his stretching exercises.

Josh beamed at her. "It's aight. I haven't piggybacked you in a while so my body's not used to it anymore, I guess."

Maya chuckled amusedly at his comment. "Want me to massage you? I can give a really good back rub. But the thing is, you gotta be shirtless to get the full benefit, you know what I'm saying?" She winked at him flirtatiously.

Josh blushed as he felt his heart beginning to race. He shook his head as he brushed his hand nervously through his hair. "Thanks for the offer, but I'm good Ferret," He retorted with an amused smile.

Maya frowned. "Boing- it's been four months since we've been dating, and I still haven't seen you shirtless. Enough is enough, Boy. Take it off, right now!"

Josh burst out laughing at the urgency in her voice. "Patience, Maya-"

"Nope. No. You say that every single time," Maya interjected passionately. "I've waited long enough, Matthews! I think I deserve a freaking award for how patient I've been to see your naked tummy. Lemme see it, Boing! Now!"

"Oh my gosh, this is freaking hilarious," Josh muttered as he laughed again.

Maya approached him and wrapped her arms tightly around his waist. "You aint getting any kisses from me tonight Boing until you take this shirt off," She tugged impatiently at the grey t-shirt he was wearing.

Josh chuckled softly as he ran his fingers affectionately through her hair. "Now you know that's not fair, Lil Ferret," He muttered. "You can't just take away my kisses like that."

Maya grinned. "I don't want to do that. I'm just asking to see you shirtless Josh... just for like five minutes- that's it! Ok, Baby? Pleaaaase? Lemme see something Boing! I'm dying here! Take it off!"

"Ok, ok, ok!" Josh retorted with a teasing grin. "I'll take it off, alright? Calm down, Baby. But only for a few minutes. We need to start cooking soon and I'm not cooking shirtless."

Maya grinned widely at him. "Ok. No problem," She replied as she stepped back to give him some space.

Josh wasn't sure why he was feeling nervous. He was also feeling immensely amused about how forcefully she had demanded to see him shirtless right there and then. Ultimately, he was curious to see her reaction once she saw him.

"Ok, drumroll please! Shirt coming off!" Josh cried out dramatically as he slowly removed his t-shirt. "This is a milestone for our relationship everybody! Ferret finally gets to see Boing's naked tummy! I wonder if she passes out from the hotness and beauty of it all. Let's see what happens!"

"Just shut up and take it off already!" Maya responded.

Josh chuckled before finally removing his shirt. He felt a nervous chill run down his spine and goosebumps crawling on his skin as he stood topless before her for the first time. It was a slightly uncomfortable moment for him. But it was also a moment that he knew was going to happen sooner or later as they grew more intimate and became more comfortable around each other. He felt his heart racing as she gazed at him, speechless, with widened eyes. He couldn't figure out what she was thinking. Did she not like what she saw?

"Well? You're not saying anything Ferret...you gotta say something," He teased her with the same words she had spoken to him in the ski lodge almost a year back. "You wanted to see my naked tummy so bad. So, speak up, girl! I know I don't have a six-pack. Not sure if that's what you were looking for. It's a pretty average belly. But it works for me so...I got no complaints," He grinned as he patted his stomach affectionately. "I think I should give my tummy a name. What d'you think? Lil Belly Matthews? Nah, that's lame. Oh, I got it! Lil Belly Boing. That's it," He nodded his head with a wide, goofy grin.

Maya giggled at his silliness. "You're crazy, Boing," She murmured after her laughter subsided.

"Oh my gosh, you finally said something!" Josh retorted excitedly. "I was rambling cos you weren't saying anything, and I was getting nervous!"

"That's cos I needed a moment to take it all in! Duh!" Maya responded as she walked closer to him.

"Ok...so, what d'you think of Lil Belly Boing?" Josh asked her in a slightly nervous tone.

Maya smiled warmly at him before speaking. "I think it's cute that you actually care what I think about your tummy, Josh...and that you're nervous. Um...I'm nervous too. I think you look really nice," She smiled shyly at him as she said this, "and uh...you don't need a six-pack, Josh... I don't really care about that."

Josh beamed as he listened to her.

"Um, I guess I always thought that maybe with the experience that you have...that you wouldn't be so nervous about doing this...or really care what I think..." Maya's voice trailed off as she broke eye-contact with him and stared nervously at the floor.

"Just because I have some experience Maya, doesn't mean that I won't get nervous around the right girl, or care about what she thinks of me," Josh retorted as he gently lifted her chin so she could look at him. "I'm glad you don't care that I have a six-pack cos it takes a lot of time and discipline to look like that, and I'm just way too busy for that. I definitely don't want a beer belly though- just never thought it was very attractive- so I'm trying to cut down on my alcohol, and working out as often as I can to stay healthy so I can keep giving you piggyback rides without breaking my back."

Maya smiled at his comment.

"And um, I wanna say this Maya, cos I know a lot of girls, especially in high school, struggle with their body image and how they look..." Josh continued. "I never want you to think that you have to look a certain way or fit a certain body type just so society will see you as beautiful. That kind of thinking- it's dangerous cos it leads to a lot of eating disorders and depression. If you're ever feeling that way, please talk to me about it, cos I'd never want you to do that to yourself. I just want you to be healthy and to take care of yourself. Cos, no matter how you look like, or what your weight is, you're always going to be beautiful to the people who care about you the most. And to hell with anybody who thinks differently. Ok, Sweetheart?"

Maya beamed at him. "Alright, Boing. I really appreciate you supporting me in my goal to eat all the delicious, fatty and greasy tacos and chimichangas in the world. Hashtag: best boyfriend everrr!"

Josh burst out laughing. "You're welcome, girl. I've got no problem with that. You do you. Ok- can I put my shirt back on now so we can start cooking?"

"Uh, no. Gee, I haven't touched anything yet, Boing. Not so fast," Maya retorted.

"Wait, what?" Josh stated in confusion.

Maya grinned mischievously before she wrapped her arms around his stomach and placed her head tenderly on his bare chest.

"Ouu, I can hear your heart beating so fast and loud, Boing," She pointed out with an amused smile.

Josh chuckled softly before he responded. "That's probably cos my girlfriend is touching my naked tummy all over without my consent. I mean, I know I'm hot and all, but like, get my permission first, you know? Wait your turn, girl, like errbody else."

Maya burst out laughing. "Shut up," She shot back at him with an amused look.

Josh grinned teasingly before wrapping his arms around her and leaning down to give her a kiss.

"I love you my Lil Ferret," He whispered to her in an affectionate tone.

Maya beamed before reaching up to kiss him in response.

For a moment, they stayed entwined in each other's arms with their lips locked in a tender kiss before Maya gently pulled away.

"Truth time, Boing," She murmured.

Josh narrowed his eyes curiously at her. "Um...what's up?" He asked in a worried tone. He had not been expecting a random "truth-time" conversation with her whilst standing partially naked in his kitchen.

"I was just wondering...do you really want a lot of kids? Or were you just kidding when you were saying all of that?" Maya asked.

Josh grinned in amusement as he processed her question. "Oh, you wanna talk about our ten kids? You know, I got names for them already. Wanna hear it?"

"No."

Josh laughed.

"And stop it, Boing. I'm trying to have a serious convo about this. That's why I truth-timed you," Maya told him.

Josh raised a curious eyebrow at her. "Ok fine. But can I please put my shirt on before we start talking about this?"

"Nope," Maya retorted with a teasing grin as she rubbed her hand gently on his stomach. "Ouu, Lil Belly Boing feels so soft."

"Oh, dear Lord," Josh murmured as he blushed in embarrassment.

Maya giggled at his reaction.

"Ok, if I answer your question, can you finally stop harassing me so I can get dressed?" Josh asked her.

"Yep."

"Cool," He responded with a relieved sigh. "Do I want a lot of kids? Yes, I do, actually. Ten is great. But if you're not willing to do that- maybe, fifteen..."

"Bo-ying, be serious!" Maya scolded him.

"Ok. Alright," Josh retorted with an amused chuckle. "Maybe four or five. That sounds good. And I'll want them all to be close in age so they're all friends growing up, you know? I don't want any of them to feel like they're an only child."

Maya nodded. "That's a lot of kids, Boing."

"Well, how many do you want to have?" Josh asked her curiously.

Maya thought about it for a couple seconds before she responded. "Maybe, two or three..."

"Nah. You're having five," Josh responded with a teasing grin.

"Um, you're gonna be the one having those five kids, Mister," Maya retorted in a sassy tone. "Maybe in the future, they will finally figure out how guys can give birth. And then you'll know how it feels. Good luck with that. I'm gonna be chilling living my best life."

Josh grinned. "Nah, I'm good. You can do the whole giving birth thing. I'll be there to support you though. So, you'll be just fine, Baby."

"Coward," Maya hissed as she shook her head slowly at him.

Josh shrugged. "I agree with you, actually," He stated. "I am a coward. In a lot of ways, women are a lot stronger than men. The things that you go through...I think of my Mom and everything she went through and how she stayed home to take care of us, plus helping my Dad out at the shop, and homework, and making sure we always had food to eat...I mean, my Dad couldn't do all of that. He always made sure that we appreciated everything that Mom did for us..." His voice trailed off as he started thinking about his parents. He needed to call his Mom. She was back in Philly, and he missed her a lot. He was worried about her being there, in the house, all by herself. Mr. Feeny had promised them that he would be there for her so she wouldn't feel alone, but Josh wished that he could be by her side to keep her company. He had already decided to visit her over the upcoming weekend.

"Josh, you ok?" Maya asked him in a concerned tone.

"Yeah, I'm good," He responded with a warm smile. "Did I answer your question?"

"Yeah," Maya nodded. "I don't like your answer though. But it's ok, cos I'm gonna be the one making all the rules someday. You're not really gonna have any power Boing. I'm just letting you know now so you're not surprised."

Josh burst out laughing. "Alright girl, we'll see about that. You ready to cook? I'm gonna go inside and change, and then we can start, ok?"

"Ouu, can I come with you?" Maya asked him in a flirty tone.

"Um, no," Josh responded with an amused smile.

Maya giggled in response.

"Nice try, though," Josh stated. "You really need to calm down, girl, unless you wanna start having those ten kids right now."

"Oh God, no," Maya murmured as she blushed tomato-red. "Stop it!"

Josh laughed. "That's what I thought. Alright then. I'll be right back."

"Sure, see ya," Maya replied as she watched him enter his bedroom with a fond smile.

She glanced around the apartment as she waited for him. Her eyes rested on the painting that she had made for him and Andrew a couple months back to decorate their vacant living room. It was a vibrant, water-color drawing of bundles of grapes hanging on grapevines. She had been inspired by Josh's immense love for grapes- they happened to be his favorite fruit. She couldn't help smiling as she gazed at the painting, and remembered the excited, loving look in her boyfriend's eyes when she had given it to him. The bright colors...the radiant light of the sun emanating from the painting...the beauty and simplicity...it all reflected everything she hoped for her life...for the life of her loved ones...for her future...and for her future children...

She reached into her backpack and retrieved the large bag of organic grapes she had bought secretly for him at the farmer's market. She had lied to him that she was going to the bathroom when she went to purchase them, so he wouldn't find out. Otherwise, he would have probably tried to stop her. She couldn't wait to see the pleasant surprise and excitement in his eyes when he saw them. She found a large bowl in the kitchen, dumped the green grapes inside, washed them, and started eating as she continued waiting.

After a few minutes, she saw her phone vibrating. Her heart stopped for a few seconds. Her father was finally calling her.