You'll Say Yes (26 page)

Joshua froze and turned his head to look at us. His eyes lit up and he put the chart immediately in the desk, just like Dr. Keller's predicted, ignoring the nurses who looked at me in jealousy.

Sorry, girls! But, that's my man.

"Abby!" He said happily and approached me.

I smiled and he enveloped me in a big hug.

Dr. Keller smiled. 'I've told you', He mouthed and winked once again before turning around and walked away. I needed to thank him later.

Joshua leaned away and looked at me. "I'm so happy to see you. What are you doing here? Not that I'm not happy to see you, but shouldn't you be at work?" His hazel eyes danced happily and my heart swelled with pride that he was happy to see me.

I chuckled. "Slow down. I have an extra day off. Mr. Smith gave it to me. So, I brought you lunch," I raised my hand which hold the take out bags.

He was eyeing the take out in my hand and raised his eyebrows. "Chinese for lunch?"

"Hmmmm..." I tapped my chin and looked at him. "That's all right if you don't want to eat it. I'll have lunch by myself in our apartment."

I turned around and was about to take a step when suddenly Joshua grabbed my shoulders lightly and turned me around to face him.

"No, no, no. I won't let you get out of here that easily, Ms. Bennett," His eyes glinted mischievously. He took the take out bags from my hand. "Let's have lunch, shall we?" He asked and offered me his arm.

I chuckled and put my hand in his arm.

Joshua guided me to a lounge. He said it was the leisure lounge for the staffs. Usually they used this lounge for letting the stress go after a long surgery or an emergency situation. He told me he has spent one time in this lounge after assisting Dr. Keller in one of his surgeries.

"It was the most stressful moment in my job as long as I worked here," Joshua resumed his story.

It was a rare thing he talked about his patient with me. We've already finished our lunch and now we're sitting next to each other. The empty bags were scattered in front of us. I reminded myself to clean it up later.

"So, Mr. Smith gave you a day off?" He asked.

I nodded. "And another two days. It's up to me when I'll use it."

Joshua sighed and took my hand. He played with the promise ring he gave me. He looked...sad. I felt nervous. Was I that obvious hiding something from him?

"Joshua?" I asked cautiously. "What is it?"

He smiled timidly and looked at me. "I wish I could spend those two days with you, Abby. But, I can't ask for any day offs right now. Apparently I've messed up some of my schedules," He grinned sheepishly.

I frowned. Was it something to do with his exchanged shifts? "Is it because you changed your shift often?"

He sighed and nodded glumly.

"I'm sorry," I said to him, feeling guilty. "Why didn't you tell me that? I won't mind if you can't spend your time with me that often."

He chuckled. "Are you joking, Abby? I would rather stay in this hospital for two entire days just to have one day off with you."

I shivered and smiled glumly. He didn't know the effect he did to my body when he started to be a loving man.

He sighed. "Did Mr. Smith tell you anything else?"

I gaped at him. "Are you sure you can't read me, Joshua?"

"I can't," He assured me. "I just know you better."

Yeah, I think I heard that one before.

I swallowed hard and begun to play with the hem of my loose shirt. I felt Joshua's finger in my chin and he lifted my face to look at him. His piercing green eyes met mine and I felt weak in my knees. It was a good thing we were already sitting.

"What is it, Abby?" He asked me softly.

I stared at his eyes at a moment and sighed. I guess I must tell him now. "He told me about the-"

"Hey, Walsh. Did you hear about the gala dinner?"

A man burst in into the lounge room and I instantly looked at him. He was Asian with dark hair and dark eyes. He was not tall, but not short either and wearing scrubs. From the corner of my eyes, I could see Joshua roll his eyes and leaned back to his chair.

The man saw me and grinned sheepishly to Joshua. "Sorry there, Walsh. I didn't know you had visitor." He extended his hand to me. "Hi, I'm Lee Parker."

I raised my hand gingerly and shook his hand. He grinned and I grimaced. "It's nice meeting you. I'm Abby Bennett. Joshua's-"

"Fiancée," Joshua interjected.

Lee looked shock and quickly took his hand back. I almost laughed to see his expression. Joshua wrapped his arm to my shoulders and I clenched my fist in order not to hug him back. This was not the right time for PDA.

"I've heard about that gala from some annoying nurses and one of them asking me to go. Of course, I know and I'll go with my fiancée," He said again.

My heart turned erratic when I heard one of the nurses was asking him out, but he still wanted to go with me. I felt wanted and it made me shiver.

Lee grimaced. "I'm sure you will. So, you're going?"

Joshua raised his eyebrows. "Didn't you hear what I said? Of course, I'll go and I'll be there with Abby."

"Okay," Lee nodded and turned to me. "Well, it's nice meeting you, Ms. Bennett. See you later, Walsh." He turned around and got out from the room.

I blinked several times and looked at the grinning Joshua. "What was that?"

He chuckled. "That's Lee, one of the nurses in ER. He was about to flirt with you. He didn't know you're my fiancée."

"How could you know so fast?" I needed to know if these things happened often to all the people he met.

He shrugged. "Some people are easy to read, some people need to take a move before I could read them and..." He looked at me with his smoldering eyes. My core instantly went to Jell-O. "One person I couldn't read at all."

I'm momentarily lost in his eyes before I cleared my throat and shook my head. He smiled looking at my daze mode.

Damn him!

"And this..gala..dinner? What is it?"

"It's an annual event at the hospital. Mostly reward parties for our partners like the medicine company or some social service and insurances. They held the gala last year, but I didn't attend it."

I furrowed my eyebrows. "Then who's going to run this hospital if all the staff are going to the gala?"

He laughed lightly. "Not all of us are going, Abby. Only a staff which already served more than two years or with high hours here. But, it's still an option, though."

"But, last year-"

"Yes, I know what you're going to ask. Last year I was assisting most of Dr. Keller's surgery. That's why I could attend it, but I didn't go."

"I see."

"So," He said and took both of my hands. He looked at me again and smiled. My heartbeat turned to erratic again. "Will you go with me to the gala?"

I narrowed my eyes. "Not fair. I didn't use the eyes' effect when I asked you to the book launching."

We both grimaced to the memories. That was the worst day for our relationship, but Joshua quickly composed himself.

"Abby, you absolutely have no idea what you did to me at that time. I nearly passed out when you asked me to go with you. You don't know how long I've waited for you to ask me to go somewhere with you. But, that's not we're talking about now. So, what your answer will be?"

I bit my lip. "Is this gala involved...dancing?"

Joshua raised his eyebrows and burst out laughing.

I frowned. "That's not funny."

Joshua slowed down his laughter and looked at me. "Of course, there will be dancing, but don't worry. I'll have excuses to hold you all night long."

I rolled my eyes and rubbed my temple. I looked at him shyly. "All right. I'll go with you."

He grinned and gave me a quick kiss. "Thank you, dear. So, what are you going to do for the rest of the day?"

I pondered his question for a moment and I frowned internally when I remember we haven't discussed about my transfer yet. But, I didn't want to ruin this moment either.

"Abby?"

I blinked several times and smiled. "I think I just go home and wait for you in our apartment. What do you want to eat for dinner?"

Joshua looked at me and ran his hand through his hair nervously. "Um...I really like your enchilada. Can I have those for dinner?" He asked sheepishly and a faint blush creeps in his cheek.

It was cute.

I giggled and kissed his flushed cheek. "Of course, silly. See you at home."

He grinned and kissed my cheek back. "Thank you, dear."

Anytime, Joshua.

At least this was the best I could do for you.

~O~

Joshua went home exhausted that night. I fought back the intention to talk to him about my transfer. He did ask me about my conversation with my boss, but I insisted that he should take a rest. The next day was the same. I went home to an empty apartment and Joshua arrived at 10:00 pm with me asleep on the living room couch. I didn't talk to him until Saturday night when the gala dinner was held. And it was getting on my nerves to see Joshua's reaction. He seemed nervous. I was sure it was not because of the gala. I asked him at lunch, but he said it was nothing.

In the afternoon, we were both getting ready for the event. I wore a navy blue gown, a gown which Stella gave me as a present when I told her I was accepted in my office. I've never wore the gown before because I was not a party person. But, I knew I must wear it now. I was sure Stella will squeal happily if she saw me finally wearing her present. I applied light make-up and did my hair into semi-curl. This was my favorite hairstyle for special occasion. It made me feel more mature and...sexy.

Knock.

Knock.

"Abby, are you ready?"

"Yes," I answered immediately. I glanced to see a woman's reflection in the mirror for the last time and grabbed my purse and my shawl.

I opened my bedroom door only to greet a view of Joshua wearing a black tuxedo. My heart did the dance and I had to clutch my purse for the effect. I could feel my cheeks getting warm looking at his attire.

Joshua cleared his throat. "Wow...Abby, you look...absolutely...beautiful," He said breathless.

I smiled sheepishly. "Y-you too," I stuttered.

We stood there awkwardly and then Joshua broke the tension, "All right. Let's get going, shall we?" He offered his arm and I took it gladly.

We walked to the garage and I was sure he'll ride with his exquisite black car. "This one?" I asked him, raising my eyebrows playfully.

He chuckled and kissed the back of my hand. "You know me too well, Miss."

I smiled and got in the car after Joshua opened the door for me.

We drove in silence first before he spoke, "I know you're not fond with special occasions, but I'm really grateful that you decided to come with me." We've already reached the highway and Joshua sped a little faster.

I smiled to myself. "I need to get used to that sooner or later. If my bosses promoted me to the higher position, I'll be working with at least famous authors and I'm sure their book launching will be a festive."

Joshua chuckled. "Of course, they will."

We didn't speak again after that. I could see that Joshua was getting anxious and I knew he won't tell me what was bothering him even if I asked. So, I just held my tongue.

Finally, we're arrived at a convention hall. My eyes widened when I saw the venue. It was a huge dome and some people were seen getting out from their car and valets were driving the car away. Okay, I'll take my word back. I definitely need to be ready for a festive right now.

Joshua drove his car to the in front of the building and almost glared to the valet when he gave him his car keys. I grinned watching his expression. Joshua and I walked with our arms linked to each other and suddenly we greeted by some of his colleagues in the hospital, including Dr. Keller and the nurse, Lee. He introduced me as his fiancée. I was feeling nervous and happy too. Nervous because I didn't know if I could fit into his world and happy because he didn't feel embarrassed to tell the others that he wasn't single anymore.

I noticed some of the nurses too. Their flirting acts were gone when they saw me next to Joshua. Some of them were genuinely happy about our relationship, but the others were glaring at me and looking at me from head to toe as to compare myself to them. I sighed internally.

Joshua sensed my weariness and he guided me to the food stall. We ate our food properly and took our drink before the head of the hospital gave his speech.

"May I have your attention, please?"

Joshua and I turned our heads to the podium and saw a man with sandy brown hair stood behind the microphone.

"Thank you for your attendance in the gala. I, as the head of the hospital, wish you all a very humble thank you. Thank you for your partnership, your assistance to our patients and of course...for the insurance."

Some people giggled while I rolled my eyes.

"This night is a special night, not all of us as medical workers have the privilege to attend such an event. This is our night. So, please enjoy it ladies and gentleman."