The World Needs More Grimm
Chapter 32
The Lyrids
It is 10:49 pm on Tuesday April 21st 2020.
It's extremely dark. Josh is driving the SUV. Trubel is in the front passenger seat. They are in a rural area far from the city. It's almost the new moon, so there is no moonlight.
Inside the SUV, it's just the two of them. They are alone together. Josh has a look of—concentration on his face, as if he's focusing on the road ahead of them or—what he has planned. Most likely both.
He reaches into the center console of the SUV, and grabs something white, small and round. He puts it into his mouth.
Trubel looks—slightly puzzled, yet she can't hide her anticipation of the surprise Josh told her he has for her.
Trubel looks at Josh, slightly smiling. "Now will you tell me where we're going?" She asks.
Josh smiles back at her. "Not yet. But soon." He says.
Trubel ponders. "I hope I'm prepared for where ever it is that we're going." She comments.
Josh nods. "You are Trubel. I brought everything else, so don't worry." He informs her.
Trubel glances at him. "That's good. I guess I didn't notice." She says.
Josh returns the look. "It's all in the back." He tells her.
Trubel nods, smiles slightly but doesn't say anything.
Josh looks at her. "We're almost there." He says.
Josh is driving up a hill on a winding, switchback road. It's desolate. There are no other cars on the road. He approaches a hilltop that has a small parking area. It is not paved. He pulls up to a grassy area that has no trees nearby. He turns the SUV around so the back is facing the grass, then he parks, being sure to engage the parking brake. He turns the SUV off.
Trubel turns to him, somewhat anxious. "Okay Josh, you're killing me. Tell me. NOW." She says slightly smiling.
Josh nods. "Alright. In April of 2017, a month after I became a Grimm, Gary Hatfield and I were assisting with this case in a rural area of Pennsylvania." He explains.
Trubel looks at him. "I follow you. Go on." She tells him.
Josh smiles. "We spent the entire night doing surveillance and—watched the meteor shower." He says.
Trubel is puzzled. "Sounds—interesting." She responds.
Josh turns to face her. "Every year from April 16th to April 25th the Lyrid Meteor shower occurs. The peak day and time are NOW. Until just before sunrise." He smiles. "It's best viewed in the Northern Hemisphere, away from the city lights." He explains.
Trubel is surprised. "Really? That's why we're here?" She asks.
Josh nods. "Yes Trubel." He nervously hesitates a moment. "I hope that's alright with you?" He asks, somewhat apprehensively.
Trubel smiles. "Yes Josh." She replies.
Josh readies to exit the vehicle. "You definitely want to grab your coat." He points to the temperature display on the dashboard. "It's 22 degrees outside." He informs her.
Trubel is surprised. "What! Yeah, I will for sure." She says.
Josh nods. "It's because of the high elevation." He explains.
Josh & Trubel exit the vehicle, grab their coats and put them on. And of course, no Grimm goes anywhere without their weapons. Josh & Trubel each grab their machetes.
Josh removes 2 small flashlights from the center console. He passes 1 to Trubel.
Josh grabs a handful of the small, round white items from the center console. It's clear they are peppermints. He puts them into his coat pocket.
Trubel, using her flashlight, walks out into the grassy field. She immediately notices the drop off to a valley below. There are only a few lights in the valley. She imagines how beautiful the view would be in daylight.
She looks up and realizes Josh picked this spot because of the breathtaking view of the stars. There are no obstructions either. She turns around and walks to the rear of the SUV.
Josh has already opened the back door of the SUV and removed a camping lantern. He turns it on, and hands it to Trubel to hold so he can continue unloading.
Next, he removes a tripod and picks a spot almost dead center in the grassy area. He begins mounting a telescope to the top of the tripod.
Trubel holds the lantern up to the tripod, to assist Josh in his assembly. He looks up at her and smiles.
With the telescope-tripod assembly complete, he now removes an extra-large, extra-wide chaise lounge chair from the back of the SUV.
He strategically places it to the right of the telescope. It's close enough to be able to stand, without tripping over it to use it, but not too close that the telescope obstructs the view of the stars with the naked eye.
Next, he grabs binoculars then looks at Trubel. "I guess I'll hang these binoculars off the telescope right here. You can use them whenever you want to." He shows her where he hangs them.
Trubel nods. "Alright Josh." She acknowledges him.
Josh stops a moment and pops another peppermint into his mouth.
This time Trubel notices. "What are you eating?" She asks.
Josh looks at her. "Peppermints. Want some?" He offers.
Trubel suddenly realizes why he's eating peppermints. She tries very hard to hide her smile. "No thanks." She says.
Josh smiles widely. "Alright. But let me know if you change your mind." He tells her.
Trubel nods. "I will." She lets out a deep sigh. "Josh, it's FREEZING. Sorry. I'm really cold, even with my coat." She informs him.
Josh smiles at her. "Oh, I got something for that too." He says confidently.
Josh walks over to her and reaches for the lantern in her hand. He walks back to the SUV, grabs two micro-fiber blankets and lays them on the chaise lounge. Leaving the lantern in the back of the SUV, he grabs another blanket and walks towards Trubel with it in his hand, turning it around, unfolding it.
Josh looks at her. "This is one of those wearable blankets. You'll need to move your machete." He instructs her softly.
Trubel moves her machete to hang from her belt loop, still in its case. Josh then moves in very close, facing her. He takes the blanket and places it over her shoulders. He slowly assists Trubel with putting on each arm. She suddenly becomes very quiet.
He is standing so very close to her. She can smell his cologne, hear him breathing, feel the heat radiating from his body and smell the peppermints on his breath. She's thinking that he will kiss her any second. Or in the very least pull her close to him for a hug. But he doesn't. Surprisingly, he continues the task at hand.
Since this is still so new for Trubel, her heart starts racing, and she gets butterflies in the pit of her stomach. She feels as if all the fluid suddenly drained from her body and now her mouth is so incredibly dry, she's very thirsty.
Tonight is different from the night they came clean with each other. That night, Josh held her close because of his intense feelings, as well as to comfort Trubel because she was crying so much. Out of curiosity, she encouraged him to kiss her for the first time. That night, she was responding to his feelings.
Tonight is different because Trubel is finally in touch with her own feelings. She's finding herself very attracted to Josh, and at the same time being overwhelmed by those feelings.
She's sexually inexperienced, but Trubel is a modern woman; she's not clueless to what Josh is doing. She feels it, not nearly as much as he does, but the chemistry is there—and tonight, it's high.
Josh sees the look on her face. He can sense her nervousness, her hesitation. He decides to slow down his movements, and make each touch as gentle as possible. He reaches over and gently pulls the hoodie over her head.
Josh nods. "Keeping your ears covered should help keep you warm." He whispers.
He looks at her once again, and notices the hoodie messed her hair up, with strands coming out over her eyes. So very gently, Josh attempts to tuck her hair inside the hoodie. In the process his fingers gently touch her cheeks, and the sides of her face.
Finally, he stops, and gazes into her eyes. Even though he wants to, he doesn't verbalize what he's thinking; Trubel, you're so beautiful.
With a dry mouth and an aloof look in her eyes, Trubel finally has the courage to say only one thing to him. "Thanks." She quickly responds.
Josh smiles at her. Secretly, he's relieved. For a moment he thought the night might turn ugly-maybe dramatic. He's determined not to make her angry again; and after Sunday night, he definitely doesn't want to make her cry.
Josh slowly turns back to the SUV. "I brought one more thing for warmth." He informs her.
He once again approaches the back of the SUV. He removes what appears to be a medium-sized insulated, travel mug. He pours a liquid into it from a large container, and then makes sure the lid is on securely before he hands it to Trubel.
Josh nods. "Hot Chocolate." He informs her.
Trubel finally smiles widely at Josh. She feels emotionally warm inside, thinking that somehow, he read her mind.
It's the perfect temperature—warm vs. hot. Being thirsty, she drinks it all rather quickly.
Josh returns to the back of the SUV. He removes a folding chair and sets it up to the left of the telescope. He then removes a small folding table, and sets that up also. He places the lantern on top of the table.
The time is 11:22 pm on Tuesday April 21st 2020.
Josh begins using the telescope. He can see the stars, but the meteor shower hasn't started yet. He checks the focus, moves it around a bit and finally feels comfortable where it is.
The last thing he does is remove a small speaker from the back of the SUV. It has a USB port, and he plugs it into his phone. He places the speaker and his phone on the small table next to the lantern.
He had a song playlist already downloaded. The music begins quietly playing. The music has a calming effect on Trubel.
Inside, she's calmed down—a lot. Now she's feeling a bit—guilty, regretful, slightly disappointed in herself for letting the butterflies keep her aloof. She's wishing that Josh had kissed her.
She looks at Josh playing with the telescope. "Josh, did you bring bottled water to drink?" She asks him casually.
Josh nods. "Yep. It's next to the hot chocolate in the SUV. I don't want it to freeze. I brought hot coffee also. You know, to stay awake." He explains.
Trubel smiles slightly. "Good. You thought of everything." She says.
Josh looks at her. "I brought snacks too. Are you still thirsty?" He asks.
Trubel smiles, somewhat embarrassed she gulped down her hot chocolate. "Yeah." Is all she can say.
Josh smiles back at her. "Well, there's no bathroom here, so unless you don't mind the bushes, maybe you'd better pace your beverage intake." He advises.
Trubel ponders a moment. "Ah, of course. Well, I guess I should change my mind and have some of those peppermints instead." She informs him.
Josh is surprised. "Alright." He responds quickly.
Trubel approaches Josh. He pulls out 2 peppermints and places them into her hand. She puts them into her mouth. Again, their eyes meet. Intuitively, Josh realizes that now she's ready. He wants to give her time, however, to eat the peppermints.
He plays with the telescope for another minute. She's standing about 4 feet from him, with her back to him, staring up at the stars. He approaches, slowly. He places his hand on her shoulder. She turns around to face him.
Josh looks at her with soft eyes. "Trubel—please come here." He says, almost whispering.
He holds out his hand. She slowly puts her hand into his. She then cautiously takes one step towards him. He pulls her close. Remembering how she responded to his gentle touch earlier while pulling the hoodie over her, he kisses her as tenderly as he can.
Trubel, of course, feels the butterflies come back again. But this time, she's happy it doesn't feel as overwhelming as it did a few minutes ago.
Josh finishes kissing her and pulls her closer to him for a warm embrace. She responds by hugging him back.
Josh slowly pulls back to face her. He's at a loss for words. "Wow." Is all he can say.
Trubel finally feels extremely brave. She puts her head back and looks at him with surrendering eyes. Josh understands this look immediately. He realizes that she is ready now to trust him with how she's feeling.
Her eyes water up. "Josh I can't believe this is happening." Trubel says, barely above a whisper.
Josh looks at her tenderly. "Is that good or bad?" He asks.
Trubel ponders. "Both. Mostly good." She explains.
Josh reaches out and gently touches her face. "I'm sure this isn't easy for you." He says, almost whispering.
Trubel shakes her head. "Nope." She replies.
Josh sighs. "I-uh-I—" He hesitates. "I worry that I'm going to drive you away again Trubel." He reveals.
Trubel is momentarily puzzled. "Seriously? Oh—you mean like how I left and went back to Portland without you last month?" She asks.
Josh nods. "Yes. Sometimes I worry I might wake up and find you left without saying goodbye." He reveals.
She ponders what Josh just said. Instantly, Trubel realizes she's a changed woman. In the past she would've run. Now she feels—upset with herself for giving him that impression. "Oh Josh—I won't do that." She reassures him.
Josh looks at her skeptically. "Really? I saw the look on your face a few minutes ago and got that feeling." He explains.
Trubel slightly smiles. "When you put the blanket on me?" She asks.
Josh nods. "Yes." He says quickly.
Trubel ponders. "I-I don't know what that was Josh. All I can tell you is my heart was racing, I felt butterflies in my stomach and my mouth was suddenly dry. A rush of emotion I guess is all it was." She reveals.
Josh looks at her surprised. "Really?" He ponders. "Sounds to me like-chemistry, attraction, and probably—" He lowers his voice. "—sexual arousal." He says reluctantly.
Trubel looks at him intently but doesn't say anything.
Josh slightly smiles. "Hey—relax. I won't be taking my clothes off anytime soon. It's WAY too cold up here anyway." He explains.
Trubel ponders. "Is that why you picked this spot Josh?" She asks.
Josh nods. "One of many reasons. I knew we'd be alone. That's important." He slightly smiles.
Trubel smiles. "Yeah. Confronting and killing Wesen don't mix with a romantic evening. I mean morning." She jokes.
Josh agrees. "Yep." He nods at her.
Trubel looks at him apologetically. "Josh—I'm sorry I made you feel that way. Thinking I might run. I want you to know that I meant what I said on Sunday night. You know, because I lost Meisner, I can't lose you." She explains.
Josh smiles. "I'm glad to hear you say that." He tells her.
Trubel moves in closer to Josh. She looks at him again with surrendering eyes. "Josh, what else was going through your mind when you were putting the blanket on me?" She asks.
Josh can't help it. He smiles at her. "I wanted to tell you that you are so beautiful." He reveals.
Trubel is slightly embarrassed yet flattered at the same time. "Really?" She asks.
Josh nods. "Yes, you are." He responds smiling.
Trubel returns the smile. "I just don't get that, but okay. If you say so." She rolls her eyes slightly.
Josh looks at her with soft eyes. "I love you Trubel." He says almost whispering.
Trubel nods. "I don't get that either, but okay." She replies.
Josh is suddenly puzzled. "Huh?" Is all he can say.
Trubel is caught off-guard a moment. "No. No Josh, I'm not questioning your feelings at all. It's—It's just that, I have to ask—I mean, I have to know-what did I do to make you love me? Or was it something I said?" She asks, eagerly waiting for his answer.
Josh smiles. "Trubel—it wasn't anything you did. It wasn't anything you said either. It—" He hesitates.
Finally, Josh feels he got through her tough exterior. He's delighted—tonight they are really connecting. But the last thing he wants to do is screw up.
Josh looks at her with a slight smile. "I'll tell you what. Why don't you take your spot on the chaise lounge chair while I mess with the telescope some more and I'll tell you the REAL truth, okay?" He offers.
Trubel is intrigued. "Alright. Can I have some more hot chocolate?" She asks him as she smiles slightly. "And yes, I can handle the bushes Josh." She informs him, laughing.
Josh smiles. "Of course you can." He replies.
They walk back over to where Josh setup everything. Trubel grabs the blankets and makes herself comfortable on the chaise lounge. From the back of the SUV, Josh pours hot chocolate into her empty travel mug. He gives her a warm smile as he hands it to her. Trubel looks at Josh as she slowly sips her hot chocolate this time.
The time is 12:07 am on Wednesday April 22nd 2020.
Josh is deeply pondering. He stares into the sky for a moment, and checks the view through the telescope without saying a word. The meteor shower still hasn't begun. He pulls his folding chair closer to Trubel as well as the telescope, and sits down.
Josh begins. "You know, all my life I thought my dad was crazy. When we went on the road trip to Portland to find Nick, I thought he'd lost it completely. Part of me does feel bad I didn't pay more attention to the things he was trying to tell me." He explains.
Trubel shakes her head. "You had no way of knowing how things would turn out Josh. You shouldn't feel bad." She says.
Josh looks at her. "Yeah, but I still do. When he died it became the darkest time of my life, especially when the Hundjägers were in my dad's house and I ran out of there. Except for you, Trubel. You—were the bright light in a dark place to me, you know?" He reveals.
Trubel is slightly puzzled. "But Josh, I had just found out that I was a Grimm." She explains.
Josh nods. "That's what it was. Your power & strength as a Grimm just—fascinated me." He informs her.
Trubel ponders. "Okay. I guess I'm not following you." She says.
Josh looks at her with a slight smile. "My dad passes away, and at the same time I meet someone my age who—completely confirms everything he told me all my life was true. Sort of a crazy-past thing converging with a modern-future thing at that time. Then, on March 24th 2017 it becomes real for me." He explains, speaking slowly.
Trubel gets it now. "Oh-okay. Sort of like me being one of Santa's elves that proves he's real?" She asks.
Josh smiles widely. "Yeah, except Santa was my father." He adds.
Trubel laughs. "Alright. I get what you're saying." She responds.
Josh looks at her. "You know—I had a hard time accepting your help, your protection. I felt so—" He hesitates, searching for the right word. "-Inadequate next to you Trubel." He explains.
Trubel is puzzled again. "Really? I'm sorry I made you feel that way Josh. I didn't mean to." She apologizes.
Josh shakes his head. "No. No it wasn't you at all." He smiles. "YOU always made me feel as if I was enough. It was just the situation, you know. You were a Grimm and I wasn't. The same reason I didn't come after you when you returned to Portland." He explains.
Trubel ponders. "Alright. I think I understand now." She responds.
Josh continues. "And then, there's your personality. I felt we just clicked-as friends at first." He explains.
Trubel nods. "Yeah, we did." She replies.
Josh looks at her. "And you deciding to come with me to Philadelphia—you made me feel special." He reveals.
Trubel looks at him curiously. "Well—I wasn't about to let you return to Philadelphia alone." She explains.
Josh nods. "I'm really glad you didn't." He reveals.
Trubel ponders. "Yeah, if you did return alone, you would've been an easy target." She adds.
Josh looks at her with soft eyes. "It was your essence, your power as a Grimm, your friendship, your integrity, your intelligence, your sense of humor—" He lets out a nervous laugh. "-Just everything that you are—that made me love you." He finishes his explanation.
Once again, Trubel feels emotionally warm inside. "Thanks Josh. For sharing that with me." She responds appreciatively.
Josh smiles. "You're welcome. You know—at least I fell in love with you for all the right reasons." He adds.
Trubel ponders. "Yep. That is true." She responds.
Josh looks at her curiously. "Trubel, can I ask you something?" He says barely above a whisper.
Trubel tenses up slightly. "Yeeah, depending on what it is." Immediately she realizes her comment was rude. She lets out a nervous laugh. "Sorry Josh. That was mean. Go ahead." She smiles at him.
Josh smiles back. "That's alright Trubel. You don't have to answer any question that makes you feel uncomfortable." He explains.
Trubel nods. "Thanks. What did you want to ask me?" She says, slightly smiling.
Josh looks at her with soft eyes. "Have you ever been in love before?" He asks, almost whispering.
Trubel tries hard to hide a smile. "Yes—Once. Maybe not in love but beginning to fall in love." She explains, speaking slowly.
Josh ponders a second, then turns and looks at her knowing the answer. "It was Meisner, wasn't it?" He asks, barely above a whisper.
Trubel smiles wistfully. "Yes Josh." She's surprised at how she feels—sad but happy to share it with him, and in the process receiving more closure.
Josh looks at her with soft eyes again. "I'm sorry Trubel." Is all he can say.
Again, she's touched with his compassion. "Thanks Josh." She nods.
Josh tries to lighten the mood a bit. "And—your high school boyfriend, your first kiss—you weren't in love with him, were you?" He asks with a flirty tone in his voice.
Trubel slightly smiles. "Josh—we already had this conversation." She responds, speaking slowly.
Josh is puzzled. "Are you saying—"
Trubel cuts him off. "Josh, I became a Grimm when I was a teenager. A Siegbarste killed my foster parents and I ended up on the run. I didn't go back to school after that." She explains factually while trying to hold back a smile.
His eyes light up. "Are you—you're trying to tell me that Sunday night when you and I kissed—it was your first kiss EVER?" Josh asks, surprised.
Trubel smiles at him softly. "Yes Josh." She reveals.
Josh is suddenly embarrassed. "Well—I guess I missed that. Sorry." He responds apologetically.
Trubel nods. "That's okay Josh. Now you know." She responds matter-of-factly, feeling his embarrassment.
Josh lets out a nervous laugh. "Wow, I'm speechless." Is all he can say.
Trubel wants to change the subject. "So Josh, I want to ask you a question now." She says quickly.
Josh looks at her. "Alright." He nods.
Trubel slightly smiles. "Since we're talking about past loves, who was your last girlfriend and would you tell me about her?" She asks.
Josh is surprised. "Sure." He smiles at her. "I have nothing to hide from you." He says.
Trubel nods. "That's good." She responds.
Josh looks at her. "Her name was Caroline, and we were together almost a year-and-a-half." He reveals.
Trubel ponders her next question. "How did you meet and when?" She asks.
Josh nods. "We met in 2012 at a Halloween party. My friends knew her friends, but it wasn't a blind date or anything. We started going out and we moved in together before Christmas." He explains.
Trubel looks at him softly. "Did you love her Josh?" She asks, almost whispering.
Josh ponders only a moment. "Yeah, I did. I don't know, maybe I didn't love her enough and that's why things starting getting rough between us." He confesses.
Trubel looks at him curiously. "So-what happened?" She asks.
Josh ponders, remembering. "Well, at the end of 2013 when dad started getting sick, I'd try to spend more time with him. You know, get all his affairs in order. She started calling me up when I was over at dad's house, accusing me of seeing another woman." He explains.
Trubel is shocked. "What! That's terrible Josh. And so not who you are. I can't imagine you cheating on anybody. EVER." She tells him.
Josh smiles slightly at her. "Yeah. That's pretty much what I said to her. I tried—tried to make things up to her, even though I had no idea what I'd done wrong." He explains.
Trubel smiles. "Sounds like you were too nice." She replies.
Josh ponders. "Yeah, you're probably right." He responds.
Trubel hesitates a moment. "So-so when was the last time you two were—together?" She asks nervously.
Josh is momentarily puzzled. "Together—?" He gets it. He smiles at her. "Oh. You mean the last time we had sex?" He asks, confident that is what she's referring to.
Trubel nods nervously. "Yeah." She admits.
Josh ponders. "It was—January 2014. After that she broke up with me. I remember being very lonely on Valentine's Day." He explains wistfully.
Trubel looks at him softly. "That's too bad Josh. I'm sorry." She responds compassionately.
Josh feels it. "Thanks Trubel." He smiles slightly.
Trubel ponders again. "I don't get it. She wasn't being very supportive of you, considering your dad was dying." She tells him.
Josh nods. "Yeah, I know. I think she was just looking for a reason to break up with me. Maybe so SHE could see someone else." He explains.
Trubel looks at him. "Probably. Well, if it was me, I would have been very supportive of you Josh. I would have gone with you to see your dad." She tells him.
Josh smiles widely. "Yeah, but Trubel, you were there when he talked about the trunk, the books—" He smiles more. "HIS CANE, and—you were even there in the hospital once he finally met Nick." He reminds her.
Her eyes light up. "Oh—yeah." Trubel responds, slightly embarrassed she forgot. "Well, I'm glad I got a chance to meet your dad. Even if it was for only a few minutes." She reveals.
Josh nods. "Me too." He replies softly.
Trubel ponders again. "So Josh—January 2014. Was—" She hesitates a moment. "Was that the last time you—ever had sex with anyone?" She finally gets her question out.
Josh is surprised at how he feels. Not embarrassed—just somewhat sad. "Yes, it was." He replies honestly.
Trubel looks at him curiously. "That was more than 6 years ago. Isn't that a long time for a guy?" She asks, speaking slowly.
Josh nods. "Yes, it is. Unusually long. Abnormally long. So long, that I imagine my former buddies asking what's wrong with me." He suddenly lets out a nervous laugh. "But Trubel, you already know the reasons why. You said it yourself on Sunday night, remember?" He looks at her with soft eyes.
Trubel gets it. "Yeah. Well, I guess it would take another Grimm to understand that." She adds.
Josh looks at her. "I'm glad you do." He ponders a moment. "You know, I've also thought that my breakup with Caroline was another reason why I didn't tell you how I felt about you before you left Philadelphia." He reveals.
Trubel is puzzled. "What do you mean?" She asks for clarification.
Josh holds back a smile. "I knew eventually we'd be having this conversation about her. I didn't want you to think that you were the rebound girl." He explains.
Trubel smiles. She looks at him. "I see. I DO know what that means Josh. I understand." She says.
Suddenly Josh is overcome with emotion, reminiscing about the last 6 years of his life. He looks at Trubel as his eyes water up. "You-you're just the most important person to me. In the whole world." He chokes up a little as he holds back tears. "I—HAD to do everything right by you. Even if that meant letting you go." He barely gets the words out.
Trubel is touched by Josh's' honestly. The depth of his feelings for her for the past 5 years finally sunk in. She's momentarily speechless.
She realizes what Josh just said deserves an honest response. She looks at him with soft eyes. "You fell hard for me Josh. I only just now realized that." She says, speaking slowly.
Josh wipes the tears from his eyes and lets out a nervous laugh. "Yeah, you're right. I did-twice." He nods in an attempt to stop the tears.
Trubel smiles widely at Josh which he finds comforting. He returns the smile. Once again, he's happy they are really connecting.
The time is 12:28 am on Wednesday April 22nd 2020. Trubel stares into the sky, and she finally sees a shooting star. "Josh I just saw one! A shooting star!" She tells him excitedly.
Josh snaps to attention. "Where?" He asks intently.
Trubel points to the area in the sky. "Right there." She uses her fingers to show its trajectory.
Josh quickly points his telescope in that direction. He waits, and watches for a few moments. He sees the next one. "Incredible!" He exclaims loudly.
After only a few minutes, Josh pulls away from the telescope. "Trubel, you wanna look?" He asks her.
Trubel ponders a moment. "I'll take the binoculars for now." She says.
He smiles as he hands them to her. They continue stargazing, making small talk about astronomy, as the meteor shower continues.
Josh encourages her to look through the telescope at least once. Trubel finally does so, and at just the right moment, she sees several shooting stars.
The early morning continues. Trubel is impressed how Josh did the entire set-up. They share the snacks that he had packed.
As the early morning counts down to sunrise, the music on Josh's' cell phone continues to play songs.
Trubel is sitting in the chair next to the telescope that Josh was earlier. She can't help but notice the song that comes up next on Josh's' playlist.
While Josh is standing next to the SUV putting a few things away, Trubel looks at him—and the look on her face reveals part shock, part denial. "JOSH! You didn't download that song on purpose, I hope?" She finally asks him.
He turns around to face her. Josh can't help it. He tries hard to hide a wide smile. "Yes Trubel, I did." He replies with smug satisfaction.
Trubel pretends to be upset with his decision in downloading the song. She gives him the look. She then ponders deeply, reminiscing. "You know, I STILL hate that song." She finally says.
Josh laughs, also reminiscing. "Really? It was the #1 song playing on the radio during our drive to Philadelphia." He reminds her.
Trubel looks at him perplexed. "Is that WHY you like it Josh? Because it was the #1 song during the last week of December 2014?" She asks pointedly.
Josh looks at her with smug satisfaction again. "One of many reasons. It's also a reminder of the time we spent together back then, you know?" He pauses then smiles at her. "Come on, it's not THAT bad, is it?" He asks, hoping she'll change her mind.
Trubel doesn't say anything this time. Instead, she gives him the look. He returns with a surrendering look. She then smiles at him. More than 5 years have passed, and nothing has changed. They agree to disagree about the song.
As if the song provided a cue, Josh goes to the back of the SUV and pulls out bottled water. He drinks a small amount. "Trubel, you want something else to drink?" He asks her.
Trubel shakes her head. "No thanks Josh. I'm pacing myself now." She explains.
Josh nods. "Alright." He pops another peppermint into his mouth.
Trubel is still sitting in the chair near the telescope. "Trubel I'm going to warm up on the chaise lounge now." He informs her.
Trubel smiles. "Are you cold Josh?" She thinks to herself finally, he knows how cold it really is.
Josh nods. "Yeah." He replies.
She misses completely how Josh setup his next move. He pulls the blankets over him as he settles into the chaise lounge.
They both continue watching the meteor shower, in silence. After a while, the temperature drops again.
Trubel sighs deeply. "The temperature just dropped Josh. I can feel it. I'm cold again." She informs him.
It worked just as Josh had hoped. He looks at her. "Well then, why don't you come over here and lay down next to me?" He asks her, casually.
Trubel looks at him intently but doesn't say anything.
Josh smiles at her. "Look. I brought 2 blankets, so we didn't have to share. Plus, this chaise lounge is rated to 500 pounds. We'll be fine. Trust me." He says reassuringly.
Trubel hesitates. "I see." Is all she can say.
Josh looks at her. "The night—I mean, morning is almost over. Can I just hold you awhile? Please?" He asks persuasively.
She can't hide how she feels anymore. She really DOES want him to hold her. And kiss her. Even though thinking about it makes her nervous all over again.
Trubel makes up her mind. "Alright Josh. I trust you." She responds softly.
In a repeat of Sunday night, April 19th 2020, Trubel eases into Josh's' arms once again. He makes sure to gently cover her body with the entire blanket. They settle in, being sure they both have a view of the stars, and each other.
Josh smiles. "Are you warm now?" He almost whispers.
Trubel nods nervously. "Yes, I am Josh. Thank you." She responds softly.
Intuitively, Josh changes the subject, hoping to relax her. "As we approach 5 am, the meteor shower is supposed to be incredible, and best viewed with the naked eye, laying down." He states factually.
Trubel is intrigued. "Oh, alright. I get it now. No neck straining." She says.
Josh nods. "Yep. My neck already needs a break." With his left hand, he quickly rubs the right side of his neck.
Trubel ponders. "I wonder what time it is?" She says, thinking out loud.
Josh remembers. "Last I checked, it was 3:37 am. So right now, probably approaching 4:15 am I would guess." He adds.
"Okay." Trubel responds nervously.
Josh senses she's still uncomfortable. "How are you feeling Trubel?" He asks casually.
Trubel forces a slight smile. "Nervous. The butterflies are back. And—I also feel glad I'm here." She reveals.
Josh tries to comfort her. "That's understandable." He ponders. "I was thinking it would be good for me to ask how you're feeling, rather than assume anything." He reveals.
Trubel sighs. "Alright Josh. But what do I say if I don't know HOW I'm feeling? She asks.
Josh nods. "Say the closest thing that comes to mind." He ponders again. "You know, it's okay to tell me you don't know how you're feeling. We could talk about it and figure it out together." He explains.
Again, Trubel is touched with his compassion. "Sounds good Josh. Thanks." She responds.
Josh nods. "How you feel is the most important thing to me." He reveals.
Trubel is somewhat surprised with his confidence. "You don't feel nervous Josh?" She asks.
Josh slightly smiles. "Nope. Not at all." He tells her.
Together, they watch the meteor shower intensify.
Trubel is amazed with how vivid the meteor shower has become. "This is so incredible Josh. Thank you for bringing me." She says.
Josh smiles at her. "Glad you're here." He responds.
They continue watching the show, holding each other. They haven't kissed since Trubel laid down. Finally, she is beginning to relax. Her nervousness goes away. She looks at him slightly smiling. "Josh you have very nice eyes." She informs him, speaking softly.
Josh can't help it. He's flattered she said that. He smiles widely at her. "I'm really glad you think so." He tells her.
Trubel is puzzled. "Why?" She asks.
Josh hesitates, searching for the right words. "Uh-well, a guy likes to know that there's physical attraction." He finally tells her.
Trubel senses his sudden insecurity. "Josh I already told you I thought you were cute." She reassures him.
Josh smiles nervously. "That was more than 5 years ago! I don't assume you think the same thing now." He reveals.
Trubel tries to hold back a smile. "Well, you should. Because I still think you are cute." She reveals.
His confidence is back. Josh smiles widely. "Thanks." He says.
They continue watching the grand finale of the Lyrid Meteor Shower. And because of the music playlist Josh compiled, modern love songs continue to play, one after another.
Trubel knows some of the songs. Her eyes water up as she feels her heart slowly melting. Josh gazes into her eyes for a moment. Because of the music, he sees emotion in her watery eyes. "I love you Trubel." He says whispering.
Now Trubel can't help it. Her heart melts completely. She finds herself leaning into him for a kiss. Josh kisses her tenderly, with some passion. They stop kissing briefly and glance at the stars. When they look at each other, they start kissing again, this time passionately.
They make out awhile, passionately. Josh intuitively feels that Trubel has finally let go of her defenses. Because of their meaningful conversation, she's accepting of this physical contact.
Josh stops kissing her when the last song on his playlist ends. He pulls back, breathing hard. He places his left hand under his head to prop himself up, but also to create some distance between them.
Trubel is speechless. She hasn't moved. She's breathing hard. She's never experienced passionate kissing before, so she's trying to absorb everything that just happened. She looks at Josh with a slight smile.
Josh sighs deeply. "OMG you are just so hot!" He finally says, barely above a whisper.
Trubel can't help it. She lets out a nervous laugh, then smiles at him.
Josh looks at her. "Well now, that's a good sign. I don't have to ask how you're feeling at the moment." He responds, smiling also.
Trubel rolls her eyes in a playful way. "Perceptive." She responds.
Josh can't hide how happy he is. "That was so awesome." He says.
Trubel laughs again. She quickly looks at Josh, afraid his insecurities will resurface. "I'm sorry Josh, I'm not laughing at you. It's just—so weird. So new." She tells him softly.
Josh smiles. "I understand honey." He reaches out to her. "Come here. I-I just want to hold you one more time." He tells her softly.
Dawn is fast approaching as Josh pulls her close. He holds her for almost 5 minutes. He pulls away and they look into each other's eyes.
They both want to kiss again, but they know it will only lead to them making out passionately. Josh is the first to speak. "Coffee?" He asks to lighten the mood.
Trubel smiles. "Absolutely." She replies confidently.
The outing ends as Josh and Trubel load up everything back into the SUV, including the chaise lounge chair, while they both drink coffee. Josh knows he needs to stay awake for the long drive ahead of them.
Hours later, they are inside the parking garage at HW NYC, readying to exit the SUV. Trubel is the first to speak this time. "Josh—thanks for the incredible—morning. I had a great time." She reveals.
Josh smiles widely. "I had a great time too." He responds softly.
Trubel ponders. "I think I'll get a few hours' sleep, okay?" She informs him.
Josh nods. "Alright. I think I will too." He agrees.
Trubel hesitates leaving the SUV. She looks at him. Josh immediately senses why. He leans in her direction to give her one more kiss. This time, even though he's careful to not kiss her passionately, he doesn't kiss her tenderly either. It's a kiss from a man deeply in love.
Trubel pulls away and smiles. "See you in a few hours Josh." She whispers.
Josh touches her face. "Okay. I'm already looking forward to it." He responds almost whispering.
END OF CHAPTER 32