CJ and I get back to her room. Because of my ankle, the guys helped carry my things. I hugged Toby and Sam and thanked them for their help and they left for the evening. CJ invited Josh into the room for a few minutes.
"Do you need any more help with anything else before I leave?" he asks me, nervously.
"Josh, I'm right here. If Donna needs any help, I think I can handle it."
"CJ, do you mind if we had a minute, please?" I asked her. She glanced at me, raised her arms in defeat, went to the bureau to gather her pajamas and headed off to the bathroom. Once the door was closed, I went and stood right in front of Josh. I wanted to make sure that I was not overheard by anyone. "I wanted to thank you for everything tonight. I had fun." I could see the blush start to appear. "But I do have a question for you."
OK. The blush is gone now and I see shear terror on his face. I place my hands on his arms to help him relax. It didn't work.
"Josh, I know I left my job a couple of months ago and you have absolutely no reason to forgive me, but…"I am now chewing on my lip and fidgeting.
"Donna…"
"Just let me finish, please. You have no reason to forgive me but is there any way I can have my job back?"
"Well…" he starts, as he backs away from me and starts pacing.
My shoulders slump. "I guess it was too much to ask", I say sadly.
"Donna…" He is now right behind me with his hands on my shoulders. I can feel his warm breath on the back of my neck. He is just millimeters from me. "Now it's your turn to just let me finish." The feel of his breath has me covered in goose bumps. "I can't do this job without you. You have become too valuable to me. Just like you told me you would."
I whip around to face him and see that 1000-watt smile and full force dimples.
Wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him into an intense hug, I thank him. I must resist the urge to kiss him. I must resist the urge to kiss him. Wait… Where did that come from? It sounds like I have created a new mantra for myself.
It is at this point that I hear someone clearing their throat. We both look up to see that CJ has emerged from the bathroom. Releasing myself from around Josh, we both look at each other and start to blush.
"Am I interrupting something?" She places her hands on her hips in a very defiant gesture.
"CJ, Josh is letting me have my job back!"
"She looks from me to Josh and back to me and says, "Yea, like THAT wasn't gonna happen."
"What?" "CJ!" Both Josh and I shout at the same time.
"Josh, you know you can't survive this campaign without Donna, and Donna, we all know that you are the only one who can handle Josh. I wasn't lying before when I said that Josh has not been able to keep an assistant for more than 5 minutes in the past 6 weeks. Leo even told him to go and try to find you!"
"CJ!" I can see the smoke coming out of his ears at this point.
"What? Am I lying, Josh? If I'm lying, set the record straight!"
I look over at Josh and his eyes seem to be throwing daggers at CJ. His hands are running through his already messy hair and his face appears to be on fire, if you go by the color it is. Totally frustrated, he hangs his head and leaves the hotel room. I can hear him grunting from his room right next door. Wishing I knew what was going on around here, I turn to CJ to see if she will elaborate.
"Donna, look. He has been a complete ass since you left. Everyone has been on edge as it is and once Josh shows up in a room, the atmosphere gets completely unbearable."
"But what makes you think that my coming back is going to make any difference? Maybe he just needs a night off to spend with Mandy? By the way, where is Mandy?" It is only at this point that I realize that I have not seen Josh's girlfriend. Could this be the reason he is so on edge?
"They broke up a couple of weeks ago" CJ states.
"Why?
"Look, Donna. I don't like getting in the middle of people's personal business, but if you ask me, and you did, I'd say he was taking the fact that you left out on her."
"What? Why?"
"Because he thinks you left because of her."
"How could he think that?" I say to CJ knowing that my volume is over the top. "I left of my own stupidity, back to a man who I thought loved me. Who, as it turned out, only wanted to know if there was more money that he could sponge off of me." The tears are starting to stream down my face. CJ reaches out for me and draws me into a hug to try and calm me.
"Donna, I am so sorry that that happened to you." She is rocking me back and forth in her arms. I am trying to stop myself from crying, to no avail. "Shh…shh…shh."
"I'm sorry, CJ. I really am." I say as I try and remove myself from her grasp.
"Hey, don't worry about it. You have every right to cry." She releases me from her hold and stares at my face. "You ok now?"
"Yea, thanks."
"Good. Then what do you say we try and get some sleep."
"Sounds good to me. After almost 17 hours of driving in the past 27 hours, I don't think I'm gonna make it until my head hits the pillow."
CJ laughs a little at my comment before reaching over and turning out the light.
Thinking back over our conversation, I realize something. "CJ? You asleep yet?"
"Not yet, but I thought you would be." I can hear her smirking at me.
"You never answered my question."
"What question was that?"
"How come Josh thought I left because of Mandy?"
"Oh, THAT question."
"Yes, that question. How could he think that?"
There is a long pause as I can almost hear the wheels turning in her mind. "I think he thought that you might have felt intimidated by her."
"You're kidding, right?"
"Nope."
"OK, well THAT will get resolved tomorrow." I say with a little venom in my words.
"Donna, he was just very worried about you. I'd let it go."
"You think?"
"I do."
"Oh, all right, if you think that's best. But don't think I won't use it if I have to."
I mull my conversation with CJ over in my head for a while before I hear the soft rhythmic breathing coming from the other bed and I know she has fallen asleep. Yawning, I know that I am not too far behind her. I guess I will try and figure more things out tomorrow.
TBC
Please don't forget to review after you read. I am new to this and would love to hear some constructive criticism or some praise. Whichever you wish.