You'll Say Yes (15 page)

He pondered my statement for a moment. "Hmm...that is a good idea. When will you be going to the store? I could accompany you."

I rolled my eyes. "I haven’t planned on that, yet. Maybe this weekend."

He smiled. "That's good. We also have time to look for a new apartment."

I frowned. "Seriously, Joshua?"

He grinned. "Don't worry, Abby. It'll be alright."

Uh-huh, but then I remembered I owed him for making an appearance at my apartment this morning. I linked my hands with his as Joshua looked at me curiously.

I grinned. "I owe you for waking me up this morning. Dinner is on me."

He grinned back. "After you, my lady."

~O~

The week passed in a blur. I had another new author to work with and an invitation for a book launching from one of my authors in two weeks. My schedule was tight. Joshua insisted on us living together but with my busy agenda I wasn’t sure if I had the time to move my things into our new apartment.

Stella called me on Wednesday asking how I've been. I told her about the living arrangements plan and my tight schedule. Stella suggested that I speak with Joshua about it. Even though we were not engaged emotionally, well, at least on my part, but we were still in this relationship together. My parents called me, too, asking the same thing. I repeated what I’d told Stella to them.

The work environment was thick with competition. I guessed the news about the new office in London and New York was already spreading.

Finally, Friday came. I walked home at five o’clock sharp because I wanted to enjoy my weekend in good terms.

I decided to buy a laptop so I didn't have to stay late at my office. I arrived at my apartment in a good mood.

I took a shower and dressed into a casual outfit. I took out a pen and a paper to write down a list of things I needed to buy at the grocery store. Then my BlackBerry vibrated. I looked at the caller ID.

Joshua.

I pressed the answer button. "Hello."

"Hello, dear," he sounded happy.

I smiled. "Hey."

"Do you have any plans for tonight?"

I looked over my list. "Um...actually I need to go to the store and do my laundry tonight. Why?"

"I was just thinking I could go visit you."

"Um...my place is a mess, Joshua," I grimaced. "I didn't have time to clean it up this week because I was super busy. I planned to clean tomorrow."

He chuckled. "Silly, Abby. Like that can stop me from seeing you." Huh? I guess not. "What time will you be home?"

I looked at the clock. "In an hour."

"All right. I'll see you in one hour. I love you."

And then he hung up.

I sighed and shook my head. I grabbed my purse and walked out of my apartment. I climbed into my truck and drove to the grocery store. I picked up everything on my list, ignoring the disgusting wink from the cashier. I walked back to my truck and unloaded the cart. I drove back to my apartment and then started on my laundry. I went to my room and put on a tank top and yoga pants. It was the most comfortable outfit I owned. I turned on the TV and put the music channel on. I pulled my hair into a messy bun and started to clean my bedroom. I hummed along with the song I recognized or laughed when the DJ made jokes. I was halfway through vacuuming my living room when I heard a loud knock on my door. I turned the vacuum off and muted the TV. I opened the door and saw Joshua standing in the doorway. His eyes widened when he saw me and he shifted uncomfortably on his feet.

I raised my eyebrows. "Joshua, is there something wrong?"

He glanced at me nervously. "Um...no...nothing." He handed me the take out bags. "Here...I brought dinner for both of us."

I smiled gratefully and took the bags. "Please, come in. Sorry, I just started cleaning. I'll dish out our dinner and meet you in the living room."

He nodded slowly.

I walked into the kitchen and put our dinner on plates. I grimaced internally. I had forgotten my own dinner. I set the plates on the coffee table in the living room. Joshua looked cozy with his grey T-shirt and jeans. I put my vacuum away and straightened up the living room to be rid of unnecessary things, so we could be comfortable. We chatted animatedly while eating dinner. Sometimes, I caught him staring at me with his piercing green eyes and my heart melted from his gaze. I took deep breaths several times to control myself. I didn't think living together would do any good for my health.

Joshua also brought DVDs. We chose Ocean's 12 first.

We sat on the couch.

I could see Joshua glancing into my direction, but he didn't say anything. Finally he mimicked my move and leaned into the couch, too.

"How's work?" He asked without removing his gaze from the TV.

I shrugged. "Hectic." I sighed and ran my hands through my messy bun. "I have a new author to work with. I have an invitation for book launching in two weeks. My schedule is tight. I don't think I have time to move. If we really want to...you know..."

He smirked. "I'll help you move."

I rolled my eyes. Of course he would. "We haven’t found a place yet."

He looked at me. "We are going to look for the place tomorrow."

"Uh-huh. I want to look for a laptop first. I really need it."

Joshua chuckled. "No problem. I'll go with you."

I narrowed my eyes. "Aren't you busy at the hospital?"

He grinned. "I'm a doctor, not a specialist, Abby. My schedule is not tight like my dad’s. I still have my spare time."

"Oh...don't you want to be...a specialist?" I asked cautiously. This was the first time I asked him about his life.

He smiled dreamily. "Maybe in the next two or three years. I want to be a pediatrician, you know. I love children."

I smiled back. "I never knew you loved kids."

He nodded and looked back at the TV. The movie didn't catch our interest anymore.

"I'm an only child. That is why I always loved being around children. I imagined to have a sister or maybe to have children of my own." And then he looked at me and caressed my cheek. "Someday."

I stared into his brilliant hazel eyes and got lost. Joshua leaned in to where our lips were just inches apart.

"Can I kiss you?" He asked in a low voice.

"I'm not a good kisser," I replied softly.

I could feel his hand on my nape and the other hand on my waist and his eyes were dark with passion.

"You have no idea what you are talking about."

He kissed me softly and his hold tightened on my waist. I gingerly raised my hands and knotted my fingers into his red hair. He deepened the kiss. His scent made me dizzy, I gripped his hair tightly. I could feel the passion surge through my body just like the first time he kissed me. He leaned in closer and snuck his hand under my tank top. I gasped and broke the kiss immediately. We were both panting and Joshua leaned his forehead into mine.

"Why did you stop?" He asked in a stern voice.

I gulped. I knew he tried to control himself. I could feel my cheeks flush and my breath shallow. "We can't. Not like this, Joshua. Please."

"You don’t love me."

It was a statement.

I smiled weakly. "Not yet. And I'm..." God, I didn't know how to say this.

"What?"

I looked back to him sheepishly. "I'm still a virgin."

Joshua stared at me for a moment and I felt uncomfortable under his gaze. I sighed.

"Forget it," I started to stand, but he pulled me back to the couch.

"Abby, I'm not angry. Really. At least we have one thing in common," Joshua said.

I looked at him in disbelief. "You're not angry?"

Joshua looked back in amusement. "Why should I be? Even if you are not a virgin anymore, I wouldn't be angry with you."

I nodded in a haze. "Ok."

"Ok.”

We stared at each other and then he sighed. "I'm sorry if I pushed you earlier. I think I got lost in our...kiss..."

I chuckled nervously. "That's all right. But, please, I want our first time to be special." At least until I could love him.

He smiled lovingly and kissed my forehead. "Anything for you, my Abby."

Joshua went home before midnight. He kissed me lightly on the lips. I couldn't say no because I also longed for his kiss and touch. These new feelings are confusing to me. Was it love or just a physical attraction?

I slept on my bed that night, didn't want another repeat performance on the couch. I woke up at seven in the morning. I took a shower and dressed comfortably. Today was the day we go apartment hunting and get my laptop. Joshua picked me up at nine thirty and we headed to the electronic shop. He helped me choose the right laptop, including the wi-fi access.

"You'll never know when you need one," he said. I just rolled my eyes.

After buying the laptop, we headed to an apartment complex not far from our offices. I was not fond of the first choice, because the neighbors were all men and I didn't want to take any chances. Joshua sensed my weariness, so we went to the next place. This next complex was a bit better with different neighbors; families and workers. The apartment had two rooms, one bathroom, a nice sized living room, a beautiful dining room, and a gorgeous kitchen. The laundry room was on the ground floor, it was just like the one at my current apartment.

We talked with the landlord and agreed to pay the down payment tomorrow. Joshua insisted on paying that payment, so here I was sitting on the playground in front of the apartment complex, waiting for him to complete the agreement with the landlord.

I sat on one of the swings and slowly swung back and forth. Some children were playing and I smiled as I was watching them.

"Hello," a voice greeted me.

I looked around and saw a boy with light brown hair and hazel eyes sitting on the swing next to me.

I smiled. "Hello."

He looked at me curiously. "Are you new here?"

I giggled. "Soon. I'll be moving here with my...fiancée." My voice faltered at the end.

"Oh." He began to swing. He looked back at me. "What's your name?"

"Abby. And yours?"

He grinned, he had two teeth missing, it was cute. "I'm Joshua."

I raised my eyebrows. "Joshua?"

He frowned. "Is there something wrong with that name?"

I chuckled. "No, I'm sorry. Of course not, it's a beautiful name."

He looked at me and nodded.

"Joshua, it's time for your nap!"

Little Joshua looked at a dark haired woman and he shouted, "Yes, mom."

He hopped off the swing and reached into his back pocket and handed me a sunflower.

I looked at him curiously while he blushed. "I wanted to give you the flower, but I didn't know how. So I pretended to talk to you.”