You'll Say Yes (5 page)

His eyes tightened. "You're all I want, Abby. I don't care what people think or what people said. I want you and only you."

I stared at him, and I could see the sincerity and the love beneath those hazel eyes. "Will...you...wait for me...to love you?"

He smiled and kissed my forehead. "As long as it takes." He looked over at the clock on the wall and turned to me. "Come on, it's time for the princess to get home." Then he winked.

I rolled my eyes and got up from my seat. I followed Joshua to his car. He opened the passenger door and helped me in.

During our journey back to my apartment, I was thinking about what Joshua said about me being his fiancée. Was it right? I didn't have special feelings for him, yet. I was getting to know him again after all these years. Will Joshua accept our condition right now, the one-sided love? He said he'll wait for me, but for how long? I was busy with my thoughts until I felt the car stop, and I could see my apartment building.

Joshua opened the door for me and walked me to my door.

"Thank you. I really had a great time," I said with a smile.

He grinned, seemed happy to see me smile. "No problem, Abby." He ran his fingers through his bronze hair. "Um...Abby, are you free tomorrow night? My parents will be in town, and they want to meet you."

I gaped. "Your...your parents?" I never met Dr. Walsh and his wife, personally.

It was even harder when I remembered they were agreeing to this 'engagement'.

"Yes. They called me when we were at the diner. So, will you go with me?" He asked me again, pleading.

I blinked. "Well..."

"Please..." He gave me his famous puppy-dog eyes. Damn!

I rolled my eyes and sighed "Fine, I’ll go. Should I wear a dress?"

He grinned victoriously. "It's a semi-formal dinner. Dress will be fine. I'll pick you up tomorrow at seven, ok."

"Ok."

We stared at each other as he slowly caressed my cheek.

"You are so beautiful," He murmured.

I got lost in his hazel eyes as he leaned down to kiss me. As much as I didn't want to kiss him, my body seemed to have its own mind. Then suddenly images of Joshua in high school assaulted my memory. How he made out with the girls in the school hall, and it brought me back to reality. I looked away and sighed. Those lips were the same lips that kissed all those girls and I didn't want to kiss him. Joshua sensed my hesitation and kissed my cheek instead.

"Good night, Abby. Sleep well."

"Good night, Joshua," I whispered.

He walked to the elevator as I opened my door. I closed it behind me and leaned against it.

Lord, help me!

~O~

The next day, I arrived fifteen minutes early. I had to work with the files on the computer and felt glad about it. I didn't think I could take it anymore if I had to work from paper files.

Camila didn't speak to me much, perhaps still embarrassed with 'The Joshua accident' yesterday.

Joshua texted me at noon and reminded me to have proper lunch. He was also reminding me about dinner. I smiled at how caring sweet he was being.

I went home at five pm and walked, hurriedly, to my apartment to doll up for dinner. Joshua said it was a semi-formal dinner and now here I was, standing in front of my closet, trying to pick the right dress. I never had a dinner to meet parents before, and it was getting on my nerves. I silently prayed for tonight. I finally decided on a deep-blue dress and a -not so- high heels.

I showered and dressed.

I fixed my hair with semi curls and applied some light makeup.

I was standing in front of my mirror double checking myself when I heard a knock on my door. I looked at the digital clock on my night stand. It read seven pm.

I looked at myself for the last time and grabbed my purse as I went out my bedroom door. Then I opened the door. My jaw dropped when I saw Joshua. He was beyond handsome with a dark coat, dark trousers, and a grey turtleneck.

I smiled weakly. "Hi."

He cleared his throat. "Sorry...wow. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in a dress before. You look beautiful," he said sheepishly as a faint blush colored his cheeks.

I grimaced. "Yeah...I'm not a fancy type of girl."

He chuckled and offered his arm. "Shall we, my lady?"

I grinned and took his arm. "Of course."

I locked my door and walked with my hand in Joshua's arm to the parking lot. I stopped dead on my feet when I saw a black car instead of a white one. My black Honda looked like an ancient car next to it.

Joshua looked at me curiously. "Abby, what's wrong?"

"Um...is that your car?" I asked stupidly.

Joshua studied my face and chuckled. "Yes, Abby. This is my special-occasion car. It's a black Ford."

"Ah, ok," I said, awkwardly.

Joshua opened the passenger door and helped me in. He ran over to the driver’s side and slid in, then started the engine.

He drove swiftly out of the parking lot

During our journey, Joshua glanced often in my direction.

I smiled and looked at him. "Why are you glancing at me like that? Am I that bad?"

Joshua chuckled nervously. "No, Abby. I'm sorry. I shouldn't do that. It's just you are so beautiful. I don't know if I could keep myself from strangling all the men who will be looking at you tonight."

I grinned. "It goes for you too, then. I don't know if I could keep myself from bitch slapping any woman that glances at you tonight, either.”

"What? Are you jealous?" It was a joking question, but I could sense a hope from him.

Am I jealous?
I asked myself.

"No, I'm not." I mumbled.

Joshua didn't say a thing, but clutched the steering wheel. He seemed to be hurt, but preferred not to remain quiet.

I sighed. "What I want to say is..." I tried to lighten the mood. "You were asking me tonight. It's not nice to see other women trying to pounce at you."

Joshua laughed sheepishly. "Trust me, Abby. They are nothing compare to you."

I rolled my eyes. "You are so blind, Joshua."

Joshua looked at me with sincerity. "I was blinding by you, and it still does."

I looked back at him, and we stared at each other before I grabbed his face with my hands and turned it to the road. "Eyes on the road, Walsh."

He laughed so hard.

We arrived at the restaurant. It looked more expensive than the one we had lunch at. He opened the passenger door and helped me out. "Wow," I said breathlessly. "You and your family really have excellent taste."

Joshua smiled and took my hand. "Come on, my parents are waiting for us."

I gulped and my nerves seemed to be going haywire.

"Okay," I said with a small voice.

Joshua looked at me and chuckled. "Don't worry, Abby. They love you."

Right!

We both approached a waiter on the porch. The waiter's eyes glued to my body, and Joshua tightened his hold on my hand.

"Good evening. May I help you?" He asked.

"Yes, we have a reservation, under Walsh," Joshua answered in a flat voice. He continued to glare at the waiter.

The waiter smiled. "Please, follow me, sir, ma’am. Mr. Walsh is waiting for you."

Joshua nodded, and we followed the waiter inside. He guided us to a table where an older couple were.

A woman with dark colored hair and hazel eyes rose from her seat, and Joshua loosened his grip on my hand to hug her. "Hello, Mom. It's nice to see you."

She smiled, and Joshua leaned back to greet the man with brown hair and blue eyes. "Dad," He said while the man patted his shoulder.

I smiled.

My parents were divorced, that was why sometimes I felt happy for someone who still has their parents together. It was also my dream to have a family someday.

"Mom, Dad, I'd like you to meet Abby," Joshua's voice brought me back to reality. Joshua turned to me and held my hand. "Abby, these are my parents, William and Farah."

I took a step forward and smiled. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Walsh and Mrs. Walsh."

Joshua's mother giggled and hugged me fiercely. I was taken aback for a moment but finally returning her hug. She leaned away from our embrace and looked at me.

"Hello, Abby. It's a pleasure to meet you, too. Please call me Farah and my husband William. Joshua is right, by the way. You are a very beautiful girl."

I blushed. "Thank you."

William also enveloped me with a hug. "Hello, Abby. It's nice to meet you, too." And then he looked at his son. "Finally!" Joshua grimaced, and I decided not to think about the inside joke.

"Come now, let's have dinner," William said.

We took our seats with me being between Farah and Josh.

A waitress approached us and like I predicted she had her eyes on Joshua, but he ignored her and kept his eyes on me. After writing our order, the waitress left, and I internally felt calm. Suddenly, I felt my BlackBerry buzz, and I opened my purse to find I had a call from Stella. Joshua looked at me curiously, and I smiled.

"It's Stella." I turned to Joshua's parents. "I'm sorry, but I have to take this."

William nodded, and I rose from my seat. Joshua was watching me walked outside onto the restaurant porch.

I pressed the answer button.

"Hi, Stella."

"Abby!" Stella's voice chirped from the other line. She seemed upset. "What took you so long to answer the phone?"

I sighed. "Sorry, Stel..I'm in the middle of..." What? Dinner? "A meeting with my author." I grimaced, and I knew Stella could sense my lies.

There was a pause.

"Oh, really? Then why do I hear soft music playing? So, the meeting is using music now, too?"

Oh, crap!

"Er..."

"Tell me the truth, Abigail. Where are you?"

Damn! She was using the full name treatment.

I sighed. "I'm at a restaurant."

"You WHAT?"

I had to put a space between my phone and my ear. “Stella, you could make me deaf, you know."

"Cut that out. What the hell are you doing at a restaurant?"

I rolled my eyes. "Having dinner, silly."

"Uh-huh. That is not what I'm asking. You can't be alone there, right?"

Damn! She's good.

"Well..."

"Tell me who he is, Abby."

I rubbed my temple and grimaced. "Joshua Walsh."

A high pitch voice screamed from the other line, and once again, I put a space between my phone and my ear. "Seriously, Stella. I still need my ear."