Chapter 58: Unspoken Fears

Friday, September 23rd, 2005

Thursday had come and gone without much significance. Josh had worked his usual shift, taught his Aikido class, and spent a few hours on the phone with Katie before calling it a night. They had talked about her school day, her excitement about Kyle and Noel coming over, and even reminisced about past memories, reinforcing the growing sense of nostalgia and anticipation Josh felt about reconnecting with them. Meanwhile, Katie had convinced Kyle and Noel to come over on Friday to meet Josh, a step that could bridge her past friendships with the new trajectory of her life.

As Josh wrapped up his shift at the Mini Mart, he reminded himself that he needed to get home and freshen up before heading to Katie’s house. Sliding into his Mazda RX-7, he let the engine idle for a moment before shifting into gear. As he pulled onto the road, his thoughts wandered back to the first time he had met Noel and Kyle in his past life.

Noel had come first. She had been Katie’s roommate when they had shared a duplex shortly after high school. At the time, they were both around twenty-four, enjoying their freedom and frequent trips to the capital’s nightlife scene. It was during one of those outings that Noel had met her future husband, Mitch.

Noel had always been kind and a bit of a geek—passionate about video games and pop culture. Her love for gaming had been a major bonding point between her and Katie, as they often spent hours playing together, whether it was co-op adventures or late-night strategy games. Their shared enthusiasm for geek culture extended to conventions, midnight movie premieres, and heated debates over their favorite franchises, forming a deep and easy friendship. She had worked at McDonald’s while attending Ivy Tech, though Josh couldn’t quite recall her field of study. What he did remember, however, was how she had convinced Katie to enroll as well. Katie had chosen graphic design, though she ultimately never finished her degree. The burden of student loans had followed them for years, with Katie often lamenting her unfinished education, always hoping to return but never having the financial freedom to do so.

Josh pulled into his driveway, parking in the garage before heading straight for the shower. The hot water washed away the fatigue of the day, sharpening his focus for the evening ahead. Once dressed, he grabbed his phone and called Katie.

“I’m heading your way now,” he told her.

“They’re already here,” Katie responded, her voice laced with excitement. “We’re just waiting on you.”

Josh chuckled, though he felt a slight flutter of anticipation in his chest. Meeting new people—or rather, meeting them again under different circumstances—was always a strange experience. He wasn’t nervous, exactly, but there was an underlying tension, a curiosity about how the night would unfold. “Guess I better not keep them waiting then.”

He hung up and walked back out to the garage, this time settling into the driver’s seat of his Supra. He turned the key, listening as the deep, guttural purr of the 2JZ engine came to life. He let it warm up before shifting into gear and beginning the forty-minute drive to Katie’s house.

As he drove, his mind drifted to his first encounter with Kyle in his past life. Katie had arranged for them to meet at a Steak ‘n Shake. She and Josh had arrived early, securing a booth and sitting together on one side, hands intertwined, when Kyle walked in. The moment Josh saw him, his instincts kicked in—his internal gaydar had registered the signs immediately. The way Kyle moved, the subtle gestures, his careful posture—it was obvious, even if Katie had never picked up on it back in high school.

Kyle had approached the table, and after introductions, they quickly fell into easy conversation. As they ordered their food, Josh learned that Kyle was in college, studying chemistry, with ambitious plans for his future. Eventually, Kyle excused himself to use the restroom, giving Josh the perfect opportunity to tease Katie.

“You seriously never figured it out?” Josh had asked, smirking as he leaned toward her.

Katie groaned, burying her face in her hands. “I don’t know! I just thought he was ... sophisticated.”

Josh had merely laughed, shaking his head. Teasing Katie was one of his favorite pastimes, especially when it came to moments like this—her unshakable obliviousness to certain things had always been both endearing and amusing to him. He had never had any issue with Kyle being gay. His philosophy had always been simple: as long as people were happy, consenting adults, their personal lives were their own business. Over time, Kyle had met his future husband, Kevin, in college, and Josh and Katie had even attended their wedding. But, as often happened, time had created distance, and Katie had eventually lost touch with both Kyle and Noel.

Now, Josh wondered if things could be different this time. Would Katie be able to hold onto these friendships? Could reconnecting with them make a difference in how their future unfolded? Unlike Katie, Josh had never maintained ties with anyone from his school days—not in his past life, nor in this one. He had always been more of a loner, and his accelerated schooling in this timeline had further distanced him from familiar faces. Occasionally, he recognized old classmates coming into the Mini Mart, but to them, he was just another stranger.

As these thoughts swirled in his mind, Josh finally pulled into Katie’s driveway. He couldn’t help but wonder if this meeting would go the same way as before or if this time, with all the knowledge he carried from his past life, he could help shape stronger, lasting connections. A sense of cautious optimism settled over him—this was a second chance, and he intended to make the most of it. He shut off the engine, shifted into first gear, and engaged the emergency brake before stepping out. He had barely closed the car door when the front door of the house swung open, and Katie came running out to meet him.

Josh steadied himself as Katie sprinted toward him, launching into his arms. He caught her effortlessly, wrapping her in a tight embrace as their lips met in a deep, longing kiss. They poured a week’s worth of longing into the moment, neither wanting to let go.

Kyle and Noel, who had followed Katie outside, froze at the sight. They exchanged uncertain glances, Kyle raising an eyebrow while Noel folded her arms, shifting uncomfortably. Katie had never been one for public affection, and yet here she was, entirely absorbed in Josh’s arms. This wasn’t the reserved, cautious friend they had always known.

Katie, suddenly remembering their audience, pulled back, her cheeks tinged with embarrassment. She climbed down from Josh, smoothing out her shirt before turning to face her friends.

“Oh, uh—Kyle, Noel—this is Josh,” she said, gesturing between them.

Josh stepped forward, offering his hand. “Great to finally meet you two,” he said, smiling warmly, though he could feel their scrutiny before either of them spoke.

Noel and Kyle exchanged another glance before accepting the handshake. Noel’s grip was firm but brief, her expression carefully neutral, while Kyle hesitated for a moment before shaking Josh’s hand. The skepticism in their eyes was unmistakable. Josh could practically see the questions forming in their minds. He looked older than them, more self-assured. At first, they wondered if Katie was being manipulated, but something about the way she looked at Josh—comfortable, completely at ease—made them hesitate to jump to conclusions.

“Nice to meet you,” Noel said cautiously. “Katie’s been talking about you a lot this past week.”

Kyle nodded. “Yeah, and after that greeting, I think we got the message loud and clear.” He smirked at Katie, who groaned and covered her face.

“Come on, let’s go inside,” she muttered, grabbing Josh’s hand and leading him toward the house.

Inside, Judith and Hannah were waiting in the living room. Josh gave them a respectful nod.

“Judith, Hannah, good to see you both again,” he greeted.

Judith smiled. “You too, Josh. So, Katie decided to introduce you to her friends.”

Josh glanced at Kyle and Noel. “Yeah, it’s good to finally meet the people she’s been telling me about.”

Noel grinned. “For real. We only just heard about you last week, but with how much she’s talked, it feels like longer.”

The group settled in, gradually easing into conversation. Kyle and Noel shared high school stories, filling Josh in on the things Katie had never mentioned. Josh reciprocated, offering vague but entertaining anecdotes, careful to avoid anything that would raise suspicions.

After a while, Judith stretched and stood up. “Alright, is anyone else getting hungry? I was thinking about ordering pizza. I know what Kyle and Noel like, but I’m not sure about you, Josh.”

Josh turned toward Katie while mid-conversation with Kyle. “You know what I like. Go help your mom figure it out while I keep these two entertained.”

Katie rolled her eyes but smiled. “Alright, alright, I got it.” She and Judith headed toward the kitchen.

As soon as they were out of earshot, Noel leaned forward, arms crossed. “Okay, seriously. How did you two even meet? And don’t just say ‘football game.’ This whole thing feels ... fast.”