You'll Say Yes (17 page)

He smiled and turned and walked to the elevator when suddenly an idea popped into my head.

"Wait!"

Joshua turned and looked at me immediately. "Yes?"

Suddenly, I felt nervous. I never did this to a man before. I could feel my heart thump loudly in my chest.

"Um...if you're not busy...in the next two weeks...would you like to...go with me..to...the book launching?"

He raised his eyebrows. I bit my lip and prepared for his rejection. I guess it'd serve me right if he did reject me. I swallowed hard.

Joshua grinned and his eyes glinted with humor. I frowned. I didn't like it when he had that expression on his face. "Are you asking me on a date, Miss Bennett?"

Right! I really didn't like it at all. I blushed. "Um...no. I was just asking you to go with me." I could feel my face flush. Please, just answer it and leave me alone with my embarrassment!

He chuckled and walked over to me. He kissed my forehead and cupped my face. "I would love to go with you, Abby. Thank you for asking me."

I couldn't believe what I just heard. "Really?" My face must have looked like a child’s on Christmas day.

Joshua laughed and kissed me one more time. "Of course, dear. I'll never say no to you. Now, have a good sleep tonight. You'll have a busy day tomorrow."

I sighed. "Not just tomorrow. This is my busy week."

He smiled and kissed my hair. "That's why you need your rest. I'll call you later, ok?"

I smiled and nodded.

Joshua stroked my hair for the last time, before he walked to the elevator. I opened my door and walked in. I shut and leaned against the door. I smiled involuntarily. There was no doubt, I was beginning to like Joshua Walsh.

~O~

The week was more hectic than I expected.

English was not my author’s first language, so it took more time to edit. She had an amazing story, but I had to work very hard to fix her grammar and vocabulary. I was grateful that I’d bought a laptop last week, so I didn't have to stay late at the office. I was positive the book would be a best seller once it was released and I'd make sure to attend the launch even with Joshua.

Every time I thought about him or whenever I read or heard the word 'Joshua', I could feel my cheeks go flush, my heart would do some erratic rhythm, or my blood would run faster in my veins. Sometimes I had to go to the pantry and make myself a cup of coffee or tea just to tame my mood. I was beginning to get lovesick and honestly, it was making me uncomfortable.

I couldn't forget all of my memories about Joshua when we were in high school, though.

Somehow, I feared he would return to his old self and I would end up heartbroken. I had read a lot of stories about people who had been heartbroken and I didn't think I'd be able to handle that.

Snap out of it, Abby! They were just stories. Joshua loves you
, my conscience told me.

Huh, thank you!

I started to call or text him, just asking how he's doing and Joshua seemed happy whenever he answered my phone call or replied to my text messages. Slowly but surely, we were beginning to understand each other better.

Joshua called me on Thursday when I was walking to an Italian restaurant to order my lunch. He told me he already moved all of his things into the apartment and he’d begun unpacking. He promised to help me during the weekend. I had already put more of my stuff into more boxes. I had only left some of my work clothes, my casual clothes, and my sleep clothes out until Saturday. I was glad I had got the laptop, because I had more time for myself and my last minute things at my current apartment. If the moving company arrived at my place, they would only have to carry my heavier stuff and the boxes.

Saturday morning came and I was already awake when the time on the clock showed seven fifteen. Joshua and the moving company were meant to be arriving at eight. I buzzed around my apartment for a final check. A sad feeling crept into my heart. This was my first apartment and it has been my witness when I first moved to Seattle, when I got home my first day of work, and when I got home from my first disappointing date. This place wasn't great, but it was cozy enough for me. I liked the landlord and my neighbors, although I didn't see them very often.

A soft knock cut my daydream and I looked over at the clock.

Eight A.M.

Always the punctual one.

I composed my face and opened the door. I saw Joshua and three other men standing in front of me. Joshua smiled at me.

"Morning, dear. They are the guys from the moving company. They'll be helping us move today."

I smiled and nodded to the guys. "Hello. Thank you for helping me today."

One of the guys smiled and nodded. "It's our pleasure, ma’am."

I instructed them to the stuff left in my apartment. They walked in and out of my room to lift my heavy things while Joshua carried my boxes to his car. We were finished around lunch. The guys excused themselves to have lunch while Joshua and I had lunch ourselves. I successfully made Joshua have lunch with me and take my Sedan to get it. I grinned when I saw his expression.

"I swear to you, Abby. I’ll never trust your Sedan," he grumbled while fastening his seat belt.

I rolled my eyes. "This is a nice car, Joshua. The machine is still decent."

He snorted. "I know...I know...Your friend, Ethan, re-built the machine for you."

I chuckled and turned the engine on. He winced when my Sedan came to life. "I can't believe this thing made its way from Long Beach to Seattle."

I shrugged. "It has its moments."

Joshua rolled his eyes. "When we're married, you must get rid of it."

I frowned. "I told you I'll get a replacement if it dies for good."

I drove out of the parking lot while Joshua looked out of his window.

“Abby...have you ever thought about our wedding?"

I nearly choked on air. I gripped the steering wheel. I never thought about that and mostly I didn’t expect him to ask me if I had. It was too early for me, with these new feelings and living arrangements. I shook my head from the vertigo.

"Abby?"

I breathed several times. "Marriage was never a priority for me. My parents are divorced. Well, I do want to have a family someday, but I've never even seriously considered it until today."

Silence.

"Are you afraid you'll end up like your parents?"

I swallowed hard and stared at the road. "Yes."

Joshua sighed. "We're different, Abby. I'll never do that to you. I loved you since we were kids and I still love you now. Isn't that enough proof?"

"People change, Joshua. And so does life," I said, sternly.

"Then, we're going to change together."

I looked at him immediately. He stared at me deeply. I turned my eyes back to the road again.

"I've spent all my time to get your attention, but I failed miserably. I want to spend my time with you, Abby, to experience life’s changes together," he whispered.

I exhaled.

Joshua took one of my hands off the steering wheel and held it to his chest. "I swear to you, Abby."

Slowly, I looked at him. His eyes showed me his devotion and his promise. I closed my eyes and turned back to the road. "I'll try."

I continued to drive until I reached McDonald’s Drive Thru. There were only two cars in line. Joshua raised his eyebrows and I grinned in response. "McD’s? Are you serious?"

I giggled. "Just think of your orders. The line is moving."

Joshua rolled his eyes, but gave his order to the drive thru attendee. I placed my orders and then drove to the pickup counter to pick up our order. Fifteen minutes later we arrived back at my apartment. We ate our lunch on the living room floor. The guys came back at one thirty as Joshua and I finished our lunch. At two, I took a final glance at my now empty apartment and sighed. I felt Joshua squeeze my hand and I looked at him.

He smiled. "Come on, dear”.

I nodded and closed the door for the last time. I met with my landlord and gave him back the apartment key. My landlord was an elderly man, a widow with no children. His name was John McCane. He never thought about remarrying after his wife passed away. He smiled when he took my keys and hugged me.

"Thank you for everything, John. Wish me luck," I said to him and leaned out of his embrace.

John winked and looked over at Joshua. He offered his hand and Joshua took it. "Take care of her, young man."

Joshua nodded. "I will, sir. You have my word."

I smiled and hugged John for the last time. But, just as I was walking out of the building for the last time, I swore I saw him wipe a tear from his cheek.

Finally, I moved out of my apartment. Joshua drove in front, the moving truck behind him, and me in my Sedan behind them. It was more like a convoy. The journey took half an hour from my old apartment. Once we arrived, we got busy again. I was surprised to see all Joshua's stuff already placed inside the apartment. I was curious when I saw Joshua's room. Apparently, he only moved one of his beds. I had to ask him what happened to his other bed.

One of our neighbors greeted us between moving things into the apartment and promised us a visit after we finished. They finished moving my stuff into our apartment at five P.M. I thanked them as I looked over the unopened boxes. I sighed and put my arms on my hips. Joshua stood beside me and mimicked my move.

"So...are we going to open the boxes now or doing something else?"

I pursued my lips and looked over the plasma TV. I tapped my chin. "How about we have dinner and a movie night? You know...to celebrate the move?"

Joshua grinned and kissed my cheek. "Deal."

I prepared a quick dinner after getting a warm bath while Joshua arranged the living room for our movie night. I put our dinner on the coffee table in front of the TV while Joshua took his shower. Half an hour later we were sitting on the floor and ate our dinner. It was simple, but nice. We watched a Saturday night talk show until we finished our dinner. Joshua offered to wash the dishes while I chose the movie we would watch. I looked over Joshua's DVDs, but I didn't find a movie I was in the mood to watch. I opened a box labeled 'Abby's DVDs' and dug through it. I caught a glimpse of three DVD boxes and grinned.

Joshua appeared in the living room and sat on the couch. "So, what is our movie for tonight?"

I showed him the DVD box. Joshua's face was mixed between amusement and surprise. "The Lord of The Rings Special Extended Edition?"

I grinned and nodded.

He rolled his eyes. "Abby, even without the extended part, the movie is long enough."

I giggled and opened the box. I put the first disc into the player and pressed play on the remote. Joshua didn't protest, again. We both settled on the mattress Joshua prepared for us. Our backs against the seat of the couch and I leaned into his shoulder. We watched the movie in silence. I heard his steady breathing as I inhaled his scent.

"Tolkien is a genius," I muttered when Arwen made an appearance on the screen.

"Why?"

"He could make a love story in between the war themes. Its sweet."

Joshua chuckled. "I agree with you. I know you're an editor, but I didn't know you're a Tolkien fan. You bought those DVDs?"