You'll Say Yes Page 5

  After another small talk, we said our goodbyes.

  I promised William and Farah to visit them in Long Beach this weekend.

  During our journey home, I was thinking about my future in-laws. They were really nice. I couldn't believe they are the parents of a boy I hated so much when we were in high school. Our small talk during Joshua’s absence gave me something to think about. There was so much I needed to know about Joshua.

  We had a chance to really get to know each other because the seven years of not seeing one another gave us that opportunity. We were like strangers all over again.

  "We need to talk," I said to Joshua after some moments of uncomfortable silence.

  Joshua looked at me. "Okay, we can talk now."

  I shook my head. "No, I mean we need to really talk."

  Joshua didn't answer me.

  He was staring at the road, then he sighed. "Alright. Where do you want to talk? At lunch tomorrow?"

  "Somewhere private. Just you and I."

  Joshua gave me a sly smile and stared back at me. "We could talk at me place, and I could cook you dinner."

  I gaped. I didn't expect his answer. I was more thinking of talk at my place.

  Joshua sensed my weariness and sighed. "I promise I won't do anything inappropriate to you, and we are just having dinner. You never visited my place, right?"

  "Um..."

  "Please..." Not those damn puppy-dog eyes again!

  I threw my hands in the air. "Fine! Just give me your address, and I'll drive."

  Joshua pursed his lips. "All right. You could bring your sedan in one condition."

  I narrowed my eyes. "What condition?"

  Joshua grinned. "You'll let me give you a ride to Long Beach."

  Chapter 6

  The Talk and The Sleep Over

  I gaped at him and scoffed. "What kind of condition is that?"

  "Take it or leave it."

  "Definitely leave it."

  "I still can give you a ride to my place."

  "We can talk at my place."

  "Are you sure you don't want to see my place?"

  I rolled my eyes. "We can do this all night, Joshua. Just let me drive to your place; we will have dinner and then I will go back to my place. The next day I'll check my car first before I drive to Long Beach and I'll meet you there."

  Joshua shook his head. "I don't trust your car."

  I sighed. "So, we are having an argument in your luxury car about my Sedan? Nice move, Josh."

  Joshua ran his fingers through his hair. "What I want to say is I want you to be safe,” he paused, then pinched the bridge of his nose. “Are you sure your car will make it?"

  "Of course, I drove it from Long Beach when I first moved to Seattle. Ethan rebuilt the engine for me."

  "Ethan?"

  "Yes."

  Ethan was my best friend back in Long Beach. His dad and my dad were friends.

  "Do I know him?"

  "Of course you do."

  Joshua narrowed his eyes. "Ethan as in Ethan White?"

  "Yes."

  He stared at the road, and his jaw clenched. "I don't like him."

  "Excuse me?" I blinked several times.

  "He likes you more than a friend."

  "Oh, please. Not this again, Joshua."

  "Well, you should know, Abby," He said, stubbornly. "He was hoping to be your boyfriend. Even an elementary student can see that."

  I laughed nervously. Somehow, I did think he liked me, but to me, Ethan was only a best friend.

  "Hey, I'm not a kid anymore,” I told Joshua. “Besides he’s already engaged to a girl named Samantha Graham. So, there's no competition."

  "Really?"

  I giggled. "Really. So, how about our deal?"

  Joshua smirked. "I still give you a ride to Long Beach."

  "What?"

  Like I said, he was a determined person.

  No need to argue with Joshua when he already made a decision. He had a way of making people agree with him even when they didn’t want to; just like now. Joshua left me in front of my door once more after saying thank you for accompanying him to dinner. By the way his eyes lingered on my lips I thought he was going to try and kiss them again. But instead he kissed my cheek. I was glad he chose the cheek because I wasn't ready to kiss him, not yet anyway.

  After several phone calls to Stella and my parents, I slept peacefully.

  Stella asked me the details on the dinner I’d had with Josh and his parents, but I just gave her the major details, minus my conversation with William and Farah. My father seemed happy I’m going home. I haven't seen him since Christmas, and it seemed like a lifetime ago.

  I woke up in the morning with an easy feeling. It was Friday and I'll spend my weekend with my old friends in my hometown. What could be more fun than that?

  I prepared for the day, as usual, put my files and other important documents into my bag. I was about to toss my BlackBerry in as well when I saw a text message on the screen.

  Morning, beautiful. Have a nice Friday. Can't wait for our dinner tonight. I'm sorry if I couldn't text you or call you often today. I have an emergency patient, and he's under my supervision. I'll call you at 5. Be safe. -J-

  I smiled. I fingered my phone and sent my reply.

  Morning, handsome. Have a nice Friday too. Be a good doctor today. Take care. -A-

  I looked at the digital clock, put my phone into my bag and walked to my office.

  The weather was not so hot today, so I enjoyed my walk to my office. I went straight to the Pantry and made myself a tea this time instead of coffee. My stomach already had its tolerance of coffee. I walked to my desk and began to open my files when Camila's nasal voice interrupted.

  "Well, look who's here."

  I frowned and turned to her. "A simple good morning will suffice."

  Camila smirked. "Guess what, Abby. I met someone yesterday, and he told me interesting news about you."

  I furrowed my eyebrows. "What news?"

  Camila pretended to play with her fake nails. "I just heard that you happened to be engaged to a man named Joshua Walsh."

  I froze.

  Where did she hear that? Nobody knew about this. Only Joshua, my parents, and Joshua's parents and...oh, hell, no!

  I narrowed my eyes. "This someone...does he have blond hair and blue eyes? Always spends his time trying to get into my pants?"

  Camila raised her head and looked at me. "How do you know?"

  I snorted. Bingo! "He made Joshua upset. It serves him right." I looked at her. "So, you guys still keep in touch, then? I thought you both were over."

  "Is it true about the engagement?" She asked again, ignoring my question.

  "What is it to you?" I asked, sharply. "You still have tons of males to attack, but you just can’t leave a good man for me? Such a friend."

  Camila's face turned red and disappeared into her cubicle. I rolled my eyes. For all of my working days she had to ruin it on this perfect Friday.

  Great!

  I buried myself in my work, trying to have a proper lunch, and ignoring Camila all day. I had enough with her this week. Joshua texted me at five pm giving me his address along with his room number. Surprising enough it was only half an hour from my apartment. He also asked me what kind of food I would like to eat. I answered him anything would be fine because the one thing crossed my mind was not the food, but our talk.

  I went home, showered and changed my clothes to simple jeans, T-shirt, and a cardigan. The weather was warm so I won't need a jacket. I brushed my hair, applied light makeup before grabbing my purse, and locking my door. I got into my black Sedan and turned the engine on to heat it up. I waited five minutes and pulled out of the parking lot. I put the radio on and switched the channel to a classic station. I started to hum along.

  Finally, I arrived at Joshua's apartment. My eyes widened. He lived in one of the most luxurious places in Seattle. That didn't surprise me, though. I took a deep breath and looked at my
clothes. I grimaced, hoping the security didn't throw me out of the building. I climbed out of my truck and walked in the entrance. I greeted the doorman and pressed the intercom.

  "Hello," a warm voice rang from the speaker.

  I smiled. "Hello, yourself."

  "Abby!" He seemed both relieved and happy when he heard my voice. "Come on in!"

  "Ok!"

  After looking around a couple of times I finally found his apartment door and knocked. I fidgeted with the hem of my cardigan when the door opened. My heart skipped a beat when I saw him. He only wore a dark button-up T-shirt and dark jeans, but he was still beautiful. I shook my head to regain my concentration.

  "Hi!"

  He smiled. "Hi, please, come in!"

  "Thank you."

  I stepped in awkwardly. This was my first time to visit a man's apartment. His room was twice bigger than mine, too big for a bachelor. His apartment had two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room, a kitchen and a dining room.

  Wow! I could see Farah's influence in this room.

  "Your place is...nice," I complimented him.

  He smiled. "Thank you. I'll go finish dinner while you make yourself at home and watch TV in the living room."

  "Ok."

  He smiled once again and disappeared into the kitchen.

  I looked around. This room was dominated with black and white. A plasma TV with DVDs and bookshelf occupied the living room along with a big couch. On the wall, I could see a huge board of memorabilia full with pictures and a Harvard banner. I stepped closer and looked over the pictures. I could see his pictures with William and Farah, pictures from different places, pictures when he graduated, pictures of him in front of Harvard’s building where he gained his medical degree, and most of all I saw a picture of a boy and a girl standing next to each other. The boy had red-brown hair and hazel eyes while the girl had dark-brown hair and blue eyes. I furrowed my eyebrows and moved closer to see the picture clearly. The picture seemed to be taken in a local park, a lot of blur people could be seen behind them. And for the second time, a memory flashed through my mind.

  *Flashback*

  "Come and get me, Abby," Joshua shouted from the distance. His laughter filled the air.

  I was standing breathless after trying to catch him.

  "Not fair," I shouted back at him. "I can't catch you. Your legs are longer."

  Joshua laughed and ran back to me, but stopped a few steps in front of me. "All right. Try to catch me now."

  I pouted and started to run, being clumsy as I was, I fell down on the grass and hit a small rock. "Ow!"

  Joshua's laughter stopped and he kneeled down beside me. His face was troubled. "Are you ok, Abby?"

  I nodded, trying not to cry.

  "Come on. I'll help you clean the wound," Joshua said and helped me to my feet.

  I stood slowly and wobbled, but he caught me.

  I smiled weakly. "I'm sorry. I'm just a burden to you. I can walk by myself. You should continue to play."

  Joshua shook his head. "You're not a burden at all, Abby."

  "But..."

  "No."

  I sighed. "It won't be fun if you have to catch me everytime I fall, Joshua."

  "I don't care. I'll always catch you. Forever if I had to."

  *End of Flashback*

  "Abby?"

  I gasped and turned around to find Joshua standing next to me. Our faces were just inches apart and my face suddenly turned red, but he seemed oblivious.

  "Are you alright? I called you several times, but you seemed lost in your own thoughts."

  I tried to control my breathing and smiled. "Yeah, it's nothing. It's just another memory."

  Joshua went silent and looked over a picture on the board; an understanding expression written on his face. He smiled and touched the picture slightly. "I always take this picture everywhere I go. It's the only reminder of you."

  I stayed silent and finally Joshua broke the trance. "Come on. Dinner is ready."

  I smiled and followed him into the kitchen. My eyes widened when I saw the food; a plate full with pasta and a bowl of salad. "Wow! You really cooked this time."

  Joshua chuckled and pulled a chair out for me to sit. We ate our dinner in comfortable silent. Joshua was a good cook, though, and it surprised me. Not all men could cook these days.

  "This pasta is great, Joshua. Thank you so much for cooking," I said to him when I finished my food.

  Joshua smiled. "You're welcome, Abby. My mom always told me to learn how to cook. I have to thank her later."

  I smiled back. "Here...let me wash the dishes."

  Joshua frowned. "Abby, you're my guest. I won't do that to you."

  I shook my head. "You cooked for me. I can have my fair share."

  Joshua sighed. "All right."

  I grinned in victory as I stood up and collected the dirty plates and glasses. Joshua helped me dry the dishes. We make a good team.

  "So..." he said, fidgeting on his feet. "Where do you want to talk?"

  I was taken aback for a moment. Dang! I almost forgot the main reason I came here. Joshua raised his eyebrows when he saw my expression. "Um...in the living room?" I suggested.

  Joshua nodded and took my hand. He guided me to the big couch, and we sat there facing each other.

  "So, tell me about your day?" He asked.

  I frowned. "Apparently, Lucas pulled a little stunt by telling Camila that you are my fiancée."

  Joshua smirked. His eyes glinted with amusement. "He did?"

  "Uh-huh."

  "Well, that's good."

  I rolled my eyes. "And then Camila asked me if Lucas was telling her the truth."

  "And...your answer?"

  I shrugged. "I didn't say yes or no. I left her guessing."

  Silence.

  Joshua cleared his throat.

  "So, what do you want to talk about?" He asked in low voice.

  What do I want to talk about? There’s so much I want to ask him. How he had been doing all these years? What happened to those moments in high school? What was his motivation to hook up with those girls? Were there any girls who interested him?

  "Tell me about yourself," I blurted out.

  Joshua blinked several times. "What do you want to know about me?"

  "Why were you doing those things when we were in high school?"

  Joshua sighed and ran his hands through his hair several times.

  "I was an idiot back then," he began to explain. "I didn't know what was getting into my head. I couldn't control my actions and my mind whenever you were near me, and Scott made it worse."

  I looked at him. "How could you make out with all those girls, Joshua? Are you planning to do that to me too?"

  "No!" He answered immediately. His face turned somber. "I will never do that to you, Abby." He sighed again. "I was frustrated; I think, because I couldn’t get close to the girl of my dreams and they just threw themselves at me.

  I clenched my teeth. "And playing with their feelings?"

  "Abby, please-"

  "How could you, Joshua?" I asked in a tight voice. "They might be throwing themselves at you, but you could have refused."

  "I know, Abby. I know," he said, frustrated. He stood and began pacing in front of me. "I never held any interest in them. I only had my eyes on you, but I didn’t know how to approach you. It pains me more when you didn't remember me or my promise to marry you."

  I turned pale, and my heart sped up. I didn't know how to answer that.

  "For all my life, I'm in love with you, Abby. It's always been you. Can't you see?" He asked in a low voice and kneeled in front of me. His eyes full with love and longing. "I can't live without you."

  I scoffed. "Well, you were doing fine during high school."

  He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Abby, please, stop..." he said weakly.

  I looked into his anguish face. "You kissed them, Joshua...no, you were making out with them, in the school hall. What were y
ou thinking? Practice makes perfect? Because that was what I heard, 'Joshua Walsh, the greatest kisser'."