Shout-outs: Ranggy, kitawolf12, Lynn, Ella and Mini

Rated: T

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

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Chapter 6

Lunch was a quiet affair, they had both grown into comfortable silence over the years they had become friends and Maya was thankful they didn't need to have any sort of conversation. They already knew everything that had gone on the past couple years because they had kept up a correspondence with each other.

She studied him with her artist's eye and was struck with how much he hadn't changed over the years they had been apart. He was still boyishly good-looking, still as serious as ever. Except he looked lonelier than she had ever seen him look.

"You're staring," Josh told her suddenly.

"I am?" Maya answered, looking down into her Coke. "Sorry, habit of the trade. I was taking a picture of you in my head."

"I don't do pictures unless I have to. I'm not very photogenic," Josh said.

Maya laughed. "Now I know that's not true!"

"Then I don't have time to get my picture taken," Josh replied.

"Now that I do believe!" Maya said. "You're very good at what you do Josh but when do you make time just to live?"

"There isn't any time. Dad has entrusted me with more and more of the company and there never seems to be enough hours in the day," Josh told her.

Maya took a sip of her drink. "Even your father made time to enjoy himself and have a life outside of the office."

"He did," Josh agreed. "But with three brothers who have decided to do something else with their life than help with the family empire, I have a lot of slack to pick up."

"You're not the only employee who works there," Maya reminded him. "I'm sure everyone on staff can do just as good a job as you do."

"And what do you suggest I do with all the free time you're talking about?" Josh asked. "If I did make more time for life's little pleasures, I wouldn't know what to do with myself."

"You could find somebody to have a relationship with," Maya suggested.

Josh sighed. "I'm not sure there are many women who'd date me for something other than my bank account. You might not realize it since you're too close but I'm sort of boring."

"I would hardly call you boring."

"You're only saying that because you're supposed to."

"Not really! I know you have more to offer than talking about the family business. You're one of the strongest dancers that I know. You could take a girl out to swing or waltz or something. Maybe cook her dinner or take her to see a movie. Take a trip to Coney Island. Or at least let her order dessert before you take her home."

"And who do you suggest I take out to dinner or dancing or a movie or Coney Island? All the girls I know are married or my employees or in love with someone else."

"Join eHarmony or something," Maya said.

"You're just full of good ideas today!" Josh replied sarcastically.

"Well, I do try!" Maya answered cheerfully, ignoring his exasperation with her.

Josh wished they would go back to eating their lunch in silence. He hated talking about his personal life, especially with the person he could have been in love with since he was a boy. Especially when she was (unknowingly?) pushing him away from her.

"Just stop worrying about it," Josh requested. "If I meet somebody one day then I meet somebody one day. If I don't, I'll be the best uncle ever."

"Oh Josh, it isn't about the money!" Maya said. "It's about being with somebody for the rest of your life and sharing your life with them."

"And what are you planning on doing?" Josh asked.

"Huh?"

"Now that Lucas is getting married to somebody else. Are you going to find somebody else that you like just as much or are you going to spend the rest of your life alone?"

"This isn't about me."

"You don't like it so much now that the shoe is on the other foot, do you?"

Josh was right, she didn't like that he had turned it on her. But she wasn't going to tell him that she was hoping Lucas would change his mind while there was still time. Because if he didn't, she would probably spend the rest of her life alone too.

"Well?" Josh asked, interjecting into her thoughts. "Are you planning on spending the rest of your life alone?"

"Yes," she finally said. "I am."

If life was a movie, this would be the scene where Maya and Josh both agreed that if they didn't meet somebody than they would spend the rest of their lives together because they liked each other enough and it wouldn't be an uncomfortable life. There'd hardly even be any disagreements, they got along so well.

But neither of them uttered the Hollywood ending and the moment passed them by. Maya pushed her hair behind her ears and sighed.

"Are you ready to go?" Josh asked out of nowhere. "We could go for a bike ride along the pier."

"Just like old times?" Maya finished for him. "Aren't you too busy for that sort of stuff?"

"No. I cleared my whole entire day. . . for you."

"Just for me? I do feel special!" Maya replied falling right back into her old pattern of teasing him, even though she knew he had canceled his whole entire day for her. He had said as much when he'd asked her to join him in Nantucket.

"Come on, "Josh said, signaling for their waitress so he could pay their bill before leaving.

Maya took a few more bites of pizza and washed it down with the last of her soda.

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Maya closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of the wind in her face and hair, breathing in the beach air. It wasn't until she was in the moment that even while she had been in Paris, surrounded by all its beauty, she had missed the quiet of the Cape. She looked over at Josh, pedaling his bike next to her with careful precision and she was struck with just how much she had missed him too. Maybe just as much as she had missed Lucas.

But Josh had been there with her the whole entire time with his letters, so she hadn't had a chance to realize it, hadn't had a chance to miss him because he had been as constant as ever. She looked at him again and wondered what her life would look like if she had fallen in love with Josh instead of Lucas.

Would have there been a chance that he'd look up from his paperwork long enough to notice her more than he already did? She shook her head and looked back at the road. It wouldn't do any good to entertain thoughts about the other Matthews brother. She had never looked at him that way and she certainly wasn't going to start doing it either.

Not after she had just said she was going to spend the rest of her life alone.

Besides, they were just two childhood friends catching up.

At least that's how it appeared.

There couldn't have been anything else going on other than that.

She was sure of it.

TBC. . .

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Author's Note:

I hope this doesn't seem too forced. I wrote most of it hidden in the corner of Starbucks on Saturday. I have a few ideas for the next chapter but Josh is going rouge. So, it requires me to listen to him and completely diverge from the story or ignore it and go on as planned.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I will be back in a couple weeks with the next installment. I'm still having a slight struggle with writer's block, so I can't make any promises for a new multi-chapter like I was planning for the month of June. But we'll see the month has just begun!

My family is planning another trip to New Hampshire at the end of July/beginning of August. So, I'm trying to plan stories around that. We will see what happens. Until then, drop a review and tell me what you thought please!

Until Next Time!

Lots of Love,

Holly, 6/