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Josh lay alone in his bed, his arms folded behind his head. He heard hushed voices in the front of the bus. Most everyone was up and drinking their morning coffee. He was enjoying some private time something he didn’t always have and not often wanted but today he felt he needed it. His thoughts drifted to Teddy. She was probably out at the table sipping her morning decaf. She had been acting oddly lately and quite frankly it was bothering him. For a year now he’d been hoping to get together with her and now that they had he couldn’t be happier except for the strange way Teddy had changed. She used the “pre-menstrual syndrome” excuse but he’d been around women long enough to know that PMS didn’t last a month. More then once he’d come home from the studio to find her sitting on the couch sobbing hysterically. She blamed it on a movie she had been watching. He was suspicious. She was always so even tempered, it was one of her most beautiful qualities and now … she would holler at the smallest things, toothpaste on the sink, the toilet seat up, clean clothes stuffed into his drawers without being folded … He closed his eyes. He started to question himself. What if she felt he was too immature? What if she had another man, an older one that she was interested in? Quite frequently she got angry when they were out and fans would interrupt their time for autographs and photos, maybe she couldn’t handle the pressure of public life. He sighed. Anyone that was with him would have to accept the public Josh, the fans, the publicity, the personal appearances. He felt a pain in his chest when he questioned whether or not Teddy was the woman for him. He knew she was, perhaps she didn’t think the same. He wished she would come back to bed, he ached to put his arms around her and hold her tight. There hadn’t been much of that lately either. These days once she crawled into bed she was out. He would have loved to cry but that wasn’t going to solve the problem. He had to think of something that would liven up their relationship without substantial damage to his career. Teddy was the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, he prayed she felt the same. He wanted to ask her to marry him but if he did that now she might surely say no. He couldn’t live with that. He decided that he would call his mom for advice. He reached for the phone when he heard the small door to the bedroom opened and Teddy stuck her head in.
“Oh you’re awake.” She said and then came in. She set a cup of coffee down next to him on the bedside table and then crawled into bed next to him. She grabbed the remote and clicked on the TV. He sipped the hot liquid and leaned back on the pillow.
“How are you feeling today, Teddy?” He asked covering his eyes with his arm. She lifted his arm and he looked at her.
“I’m okay hon, how are you?” He closed his eyes.
“All right. I’m just tired.” She smiled at him.
“Why don’t you take a little nap? I’ll turn off the TV.” She clicked off the set and turned to him.
“How about you cuddle with me a little while.” He pulled her close. She curled up into him draping one of her legs over his thighs.
“If it would make you happy.” He buried his nose in her hair. It was floral scented. He breathed deeply.
“It does make me happy.” He was silent a moment. “Are you happy?” He whispered, not sure if he wanted to hear the answer. She responded by cuddling closer to him. He sighed.
“I’m very happy. I love you, Josh.” He kissed her forehead.
“I’m so glad. I was afraid you were angry with me.” She pulled away and looked at him.
“What would I have to be angry with you about?” He shrugged.
“You just seem … angry.” She touched his face lightly, her fingers trailing to his forehead and then into his soft curls.
“I’m not angry. I love you.” He kissed her mouth and felt a slight, if temporary sense of relief.
