Catching Feelings [bwwm]

Chapter 4- Mr. Antisocial

I stuffed a big, fluffy marshmallow in my mouth, "Hey Josie, pass the graham crackers out the pantry."

"You know, I actually wasn't surprised when my dad fired Liv to hire you," Josie admitted, reaching up for the crackers on the shelf. "You are way prettier than Liv."

I snorted, "Yeah, how about we just stick to making s'mores sweetheart."

Nodding, she walked back over to me with the crackers in hand. She put them down on the counter before starting to unwrap the chocolate and sticking it in a bowl.

I've been over to 'babysit' Josie a little more than a dozen times and I was starting to feel an attachment to this little teenage girl. Truthfully, I was glad Liv got fired because if she hadn't, I never would've gotten this job or met this little girl.

"Hey, Daddy!" Josie exclaimed.

I looked up from the crackers I was arranging and saw James walking in wearing a tight, white v-neck and black jeans.

Hot damn.

Okay, so maybe Josie wasn't the only reason I kept coming over.

"Hey James," I smiled with a small wave.

Out of all the times I've been over here, I've seen James once or twice, and in both cases, he practically ran from me. The most contact I've had with him, not counting the first day I arrived, has been him transferring my pay into my bank account.

Without even a glance in my direction, James gave a soft nod and headed straight to the fridge.

"How was your week?" I asked, attempting to make conversation.

He shrugged his shoulders, hiding his face in the fridge. As he bent over and reached onto a shelf, his back muscles tightened and the vein in his arm became visible.

Mamma mia.

Josie giggled and threw a marshmallow at me, obviously catching me eyeing her unsuspecting father.

I cleared my throat, "I just wanted to say thanks for allowing me to come back and chill with your daughter."

He nodded, "Welcome."

After that, he shut the fridge door and left with a box of pizza in his grasp.

Wow, somebody's antisocial. At least I got a word out of him.

"Your dad's not big on talking, is he?"

"Nope, not really."

I threw some marshmallows into a bowl for them to be put in the microwave as I saw Josie stick the chocolate in and shut the door.

"I can not wait for the One Direction concert!" Josie squealed out of the blue.

"Oh really now? Your dad doesn't seem like the concert type of guy."

She laughed, "He's not, which is the reason my Uncle Jon is taking me."

I stopped what I was doing. "Wait, what?"

"I wish I was able to go before Zayn left the band," She began fanning her face, trying not to cry, "I was - am - a Zayn girl."

"Does your Uncle Jon have a last name?" I asked.

"Of course he does, Mia," She laughed, "Everyone has a last name."

"And his is..."

"Jon Stiller - he's my dad's brother."

What in the world? Jonathan said they weren't friends! I mean, technically they're brothers, not friends, but still! I swear next time I see him he's going to wish his mother never made that final push. That lying, inconsiderate, son of a b-

"Shit!" Josie screamed as I heard the sound of a glass shattering.

I stood there frozen as Josie held onto her right hand tightly, the hot, melted chocolate spread all over the floor mixed in with the shattered glass bowl it was once in.

James came barreling into the kitchen and took one look at his crying daughter before going red in the face.

"What the hell did you do to her?" He exploded, marching over to me.

"Excuse me?"

He slammed his hand down on the counter, "What the hell did you do to my daughter?"

"I didn't do anything! Why don't you check on her and stop yelling at me like you don't have any fucking sense!"

He pointed his finger at me, "Watch your goddamn mouth."

As if that's actually going to happen...

James strode around the counter and made his way to Josie, who was now holding her burnt hand underneath running water. He ran his fingers over her hair as he examined her hand closely, turning it over and over. He wiped her tears before pulling her into a hug and kissing her forehead.

"C'mon, let's get you to bed," He said softly, leading her out the room.

As soon as they left, I grabbed paper towels, wet them, and began cleaning up the mess. First, I wiped up the chocolate and glass off the floor, making sure I got everything. After that, I washed and packed away all the dishes, then put away everything we were using. When I finished, I sat down at the counter with the bag of marshmallows.

Minutes later, I heard footsteps descending the stairs. James entered seconds later but stopped when he saw me.

"You're still here?"

"Considering you're staring me right in the face, yeah, I'm still here."

James' jaw visibly clenched, "I think it's time for you to leave."

"You know I wouldn't hurt her, right?"

"I don't even know you," He mumbled.

"But-"

"But nothing, Mia," James interrupted, "Leave."

I scoffed, "Fine."

I grabbed my bag off the chair and made my way to the door, James following closely behind me. As I made it through the door, I began to turn around to try and apologize but was met with the door that James had slammed in my face.

Fucking asshole.

―

ahhh i havent updated in forever!

i have the next couple of chapters planned out so it shouldnt take me too long to get them up

bear with me yall bc these first couple of chapters arent too exciting - im trying to get yall to understand the characters personalities a little bit better

the picture in multimedia is Josie

thanks for 7.4k my loves!

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originally published: october 2015

edited: december 2020