Chapter 002
True to his word, Joe called her every few days at first, but found himself yearning to hear more. The way she still tried to talk through a yawn, how she’d sing under her breath as cooked in the kitchen, the fact she had a seven different laughs; he loved everything. Soon his phone calls became more frequent moving from every other night, to every night, finally settling with any break in his day.
It took six visits and hundreds of phone calls for him to finally ask her to be his girlfriend. This was a new feeling for him; Joe was known for being a ladies man. The female gender didn’t phase him, but Rachel did. “Why would you want to date me?” she asked, laughing as they looked up at the stars.
“Are you kidding? Why wouldn’t I?” He leaned in and brushed his lips against hers, softly at first, waiting for any kind of acceptance. Rachel placed her hand on his cheek and pulled him closer. “I’m thinking that’s a yes,” Joe smiled, his lips still lingering on hers.
She moved her hand from his face, back towards his hair and delicately pushed a strand behind his ear. “Only if you cut your hair.”
“I love my hair!”
“A trim then.” When Rachel had met him that day by the pool, he’d been sporting a much shorter hairstyle that fans adoringly called the “Joehawk.” Somehow it’d become an unruly mess that took longer to piece together than her own hair. A quick shower, a little hair spray, and she was all set. “I won’t date you if you’re a diva.”
Her honesty, although sometimes brutal, was something he adored about her. With a laugh, Joe pulled her into his chest, warming her from the cool October air. This was their one night off for the month, and amidst her protests, he flew across country to spend the evening with her. At approximately 5:30 a.m. she’d be driving him back to the airport where business would keep him away for another month or two. “That’s why I love you.”
Rachel scoffed. “You don’t love me.”
“Why would you say that?”
She sat up, breaking apart from his touch. As Rachel leaned back onto one hand, she pulled her other one up, revealing a watch. “We’ve been dating all of three minutes and thirty nine seconds. It’s not possible.”
Joe laughed, no, howled. “What, is that a stopwatch?” She flashed it in front of his face with a teasing pout. It wasn’t a stopwatch, but it did have a second counter, she had explained. Rather than looking at it, he grabbed her wrist and yanked it playfully so that she was hovering over him. Rachel giggled, laugh #3, he noted. This one was her shy one, the least frequent one. She was very strong minded and sure of herself. Joe reached up and ran his fingers through her hair. “I do love you, and I always will.”
“And you know this how?”
“I’m Joe Jonas. I know everything.” Laugh # 7; his laugh. Rachel saved this one just for him, or so he’d like to believe. She’d never used in relation to anyone else, and to him it felt special and private. It was for his ears only. Joe adored each of her laughs, but this was by far his favorite. Even her eyes glowed differently as she laughed. They looked more alive, more in love.
Standing, he offered Rachel both of his hands and pulled her to her feet. Instinctively he wrapped his arms around her neck. She fit perfectly in his arms, standing barely above 5’1”. Hugging him closely around his waist, Rachel gave silent thanks to God. She’d been praying for a night like this ever since their first three-hour phone conversation.
Joe sparked something inside of her she’d been so desperate to feel for so long. After a string of unfortunate relationships, Rachel had been reluctant to delve into anything so early in her college experience, but being with Joe came easily. It felt natural. She attributed that to the fact they’d started off as friends, learning each other inside out, before even considering anything deeper.
But they’d always been something deeper, whether or not the title was attached. With Joe she felt complete. He’d just asked her to be his girlfriend, but she’d been his all along. No one held a candle to Joe. “I’m cold,” she murmured into his chest. Placing his finger under her chin, he lifted her lips to meet with his. “Feeling a little warmer.” He kissed her again. “And warmer.”
Joe reached down and tickled her sides furiously before dashing away. She smirked and ran after him, jumping on his back. “I let you catch me,” he breathed, spinning her around in circles. Rachel squealed, and planted a quick kiss on his neck. “Let’s go home.” She nodded, but he couldn’t see. Joe carried her to the car and chided on about how happy he was. He was so much more fragile than people perceived him to be.
For the brother always talked up to be the funny guy, his jokes pointed more toward insecurities than comedic timing. Rachel was someone who understood him; she didn’t judge him on his bad days or when he wasn’t up for telling jokes. He liked that in a world of expectations, be here, do this, say that, she expected nothing. Joe didn’t have to carry the façade for her. She cared for him regardless.
They drove the short distance to her apartment and crept in the front door. It was late and her roommate was sure to be sleeping. “Now I definitely don’t want you to leave,” she whispered, crawling beneath the covers. Joe slept beside her in a sleeping bag on the floor; her Winnie the Pooh sleeping bag, to be exact.
“Absence makes the heart grow fonder,” he replied, wiggling around. The sleeping bag ended just above the bottom of his rib cage, but Joe had insisted he was okay.
“I’m plenty fond enough.” Rolling on her side, her body shook in silent laughter. Laugh #2, the quiet riot. “You okay down there?”
Joe sighed and kicked his way out. “Scootch, I’m comin’ in.” He plopped down beside her in the small twin, and after a bit of maneuvering, they settled in comfortably. “I remember my Barney sleeping bag being bigger.” He paused, smiling. “And way cooler.”
“I’ll always be second best, won’t I? I’ll never outshine Barney. That’s the real love of your life, isn’t it?’
He kissed the top of her head. “No, it’s always going to be you. Always.”
