[B][center][h2]Joel Nicolosi[/h2][/center][/b]

Joel glanced away towards the plane as Marlin spoke. He wasn't sure where she was going with her explanation. [I]Admitting weakness?[/i] He had no idea what she was talking about. All he wanted and all he asked for was a simple reason [i]why[/i] she felt like she needed to apologize to him. Or, what could have been much easier, she could have just asked him [i]why[/i] he left the bar, but no one seemed the least bit interested in that answer which made him really wonder if she just didn't want to hear it. As far as what Sio had said, he didn't see where she had any need to be ashamed. For a woman that looked like Marlin, he was pretty much [i]expecting[/i] her to be talking to other guys. Why be embarrassed about It? Did she think she was the first girl he ever talked to? That was a bizarre and comical thought in itself. Sio hadn't said anything out of the way, but the two sisters damn sure played right into her hands with the way they reacted and it seemed like she was continuing to needle them even days later. [I]Geez[/i].

He didn't need to hear about Victoria and certainly not about Bob before he flew out. The resolution she seemed to think she wanted, she didn't appear to really want to face. It felt like she wanted to just dump all her baggage out, expect him to accept it and move on like nothing happened. Fortunately, Joel had a poker face for the ages and he continued to just listen. In all honesty, the party had felt more like a victory party [i]for them[/i] rather than for him and Tommy, but he'd kept his mouth shut and tried to enjoy it. Her family were not the kind of people he partied with and the more she tried to passively defend the indefensible, the more he felt drawn towards... Sio, like some symbol of rebellion. He didn't know if it was completely out of spite or because he found their redheaded kryptonite to be challenging. Marlin was interested, but how much did she just want him as some trophy? It was frustrating and weird. He wasn't in the mood to be frustrated or weird. 

When the boarding call came up he retrieved a small set of headphones from his bag as she continued to talk. He stretched a little and tossed the bag back over his shoulder. A server immediately changed out his empty glass and handed him another for the plane. In his mind, he was almost already there. Cherry blossoms, neon lights, speed runs on the Wangan and no one to bother him. He didn't know what she was expecting from him at this point and he wasn't going to indulge any lovey-dovey bullshit either. There was plenty he wanted to say as he stuck his free hand in his pocket, but as usual, he bottled it up until it was asked. "I just need some space for a while." He said, simultaneously thinking he could speak no firmer truth. He'd only been able to get a few words in against her exposition. "You should get back in the saddle," He continued, echoing his words when they were at the cargo airport. He scanned his phone one last time at the top of the jetway. "This office stuff doesn't suit you." He said glancing back. 

In a few strides he was stepping onboard with his headphones blaring, glancing up briefly at the dataplate as he entered and being greeted like a King in spacious first class. He put his bag and drink down, stretched out and waited for pushback. 

[@PrinceAlexus]

Joel's Playlist 
[YouTube]https://youtu.be/3y-1HpMdUVM[/YouTube]