Chapter 22: Chapter 22

We were silent and still. Joshua's gaze alternated between Gregory and me, still wearing an intrigued expression on his face.

"Huh, I better go then," Gregory comments, breaking the tense atmosphere, and walks past Joshua, who remained in the middle of the door.

And suddenly, I become the center of his attention. I watch Joshua, waiting for him to speak up about why he's here. But he says nothing, forcing me to be the first one to say something.

"So... What brings you here?" I ask. Joshua shakes his head, indifferent.

"I guess it was a terrible idea to come here," he comments, turning to leave.

"Joshua, wait!" I stop him and walk towards the door. Even with his back turned, I can still deduce that he just let out a sarcastic nasal laugh. Joshua turns around again.

"Alice, I just wish I had been informed about your apartment by you, not by Samantha," he says, disappointment evident in his tone.

"And I don't even need to mention that you decided to leave without saying goodbye. And now, after seeing that a guy you met just a few days ago was in your apartment before me... It made me realize that I'm being a complete idiot chasing after someone who has made it clear they don't want me."

For a moment, my subconscious screams at me to run to him and make him not think he's being a complete idiot. But the hesitant part of me, which seems to take control of my entire body, insists that I stay put.

Joshua moves his lips as if he wants to say something more, but he decides against it and simply concludes our conversation.

"See you around, Alice," he presses his lips into a weak smile.

Watching him turn around and continue the path he was taking before I stopped him, I feel a tightness in my chest that I can't explain. And the conversation I had with Gregory seems to replay in my head incessantly.

The impulses in my body urge me to do something, exactly as Gregory had suggested. To embrace my life and not waste the moments it wants to give me. That includes not fearing what might happen between me and Joshua.

With my blood boiling and ignoring all the hesitation that had plagued me for days, I hurried my steps towards Joshua. I reach out my hand to his arm, stopping him from walking away. Joshua turns to me, and without thinking twice, I kiss him.

My hands rest on his chest, feeling his posture bend, allowing the soles of my feet to touch the ground again. His hands move to my waist, pulling me closer to him, as our lips and tongues move in perfect synchrony.

Unlike the other two kisses, this one was more intense. Perhaps it's because I'm fully giving myself to Joshua now.

Slowly, I pull our lips apart, leaving only inches between us.

"I like you too, Joshua," I whisper, breathless.

And finally, I allowed that explosion of unknown feelings to transform into a single sentence. Joshua smiles and leans in to join our lips again. His hands slide down to my thighs, urging me to wrap my legs around his hips. He carries me into my apartment, closing the door with his foot. I feel my back rest against the three-seater sofa. Joshua is between my legs, with one hand gripping my thigh. His lips slowly part from mine and move towards my neck, leaving a lingering kiss there. I feel his breath in my ear.

"You're beautiful," he whispers warmly. I can't help but smile. Joshua looks into my eyes, sharing the same smile, and then he turns to the side, lying down with me on the couch. His arm goes around my waist, and there we stay, in bliss.

"I'm sorry for leaving without saying goodbye," I whisper.

"When Samantha told me you had gone to take care of your move, I thought I would still find you at my apartment. But Mrs. Taylor said you were already gone. At first, I didn't believe it until I saw that your things were no longer there," Joshua comments and pauses for a moment. Almost in a whisper, he continues.

"And I admit I was upset that you didn't say goodbye to me."

I'm touched by what he says, and I turn my face to kiss his forehead, giving it a little peck.

"I promise I'll stop running away."

"I hope so too, Miss Parker. Otherwise, I'll be the dumbest guy in the world!" He squeezes my waist, teasing me with tickles.

I compose myself and bring up a new topic.

"Gregory said you made Samantha choose between you and him... Why?"

Joshua takes a deep breath.

"I see Gregory told you about our feud. But what happened between the three of us was a time when I was still an idiot. And anyway, I didn't know Samantha would choose me over her best friend."

"So, you know about him?"

"Yes, when Samantha practically begged me to believe that Gregory was really gay."

"And why did she do that?"

"I had developed feelings for her. But I didn't know about their relationship. And when I found out... Well, I don't like sharing anything with anyone," he says possessively and shrugs. "So, that's when Samantha told me it was a fake relationship. And since I knew it was part of Gregory's plan not to have his interest in men discovered, I forced everyone to believe he was just dumped. Well, I know it was stupid, but at least I didn't spread the truth to everyone."

"I still can't believe Samantha would choose a crush over her own friend."

"Some people just don't know how to differentiate the importance of their relationships."

"Gregory seems like a nice guy."

"I believe he is with you. After all, he let you stay in his building."

"Wait. What did you say?" I sit up on the sofa and look at him, confused.

"You didn't know?"

"Gregory didn't tell me he was the owner. In fact, he facilitated my conversation with the owner..." I close my eyes as I realize I might have been deceived. "A fake owner," I grumble. "I can't believe he didn't tell me that. Besides giving me the furniture, he..."

"He gave you the furniture?" Joshua furrows his brow.

"Yes. And I don't know what he intends to do by making things easier for me. But I will clarify everything now."

I lean to get up from the couch, but Joshua holds onto my arm, stopping me from getting up.

"Leave it for tomorrow, Ali. Let's enjoy our time together." His voice sounds pleading. I pull back.

"Maybe he's just desperate to have a friend. But we don't need to think about that now. Let's not ruin our moment."

I lie back down and rest my head on Joshua's chest, but I'm still puzzled about Gregory.

I wake up in Joshua's arms. We ended up sleeping on the couch without realizing it.

"Good morning, beautiful," he whispers in my ear.

"Good morning," I reply back and feel his lips give me a peck.

Joshua lifts his arm that was resting on my waist and checks the time on his wristwatch.

"I need to go back to my apartment. Need a ride to the office?"

I make space for Joshua to get up from the couch.

"No, thank you. I have something to take care of before I go."

"Are you going to talk to Gregory?"

"He owes me some explanations."

"Okay. Just don't be late. I want to show you something today."

Joshua gives me a parting smile and walks to the door of my apartment.

"See you later."

I return his farewell smile and watch him leave the apartment.

I get up from the couch, about to start my morning routine before setting out to find Gregory.

***

I observe the tall, dark-skinned man coming down the stairs of his house.

"Oh! Wasn't expecting to find you at my door so early."

Gregory comments with a sarcastic tone, coming down the last steps and approaching me.

"I wasn't sure if you'd be home. So, I decided to wait a bit."

"And what brings the honor of this morning visit? Are you here to tell me how your night was with Joshua?" He gives me a sly smile.

I remain serious as I stare at Gregory, and he soon backs off, realizing something is off.

"Is everything okay?"

"Yes. In perfect harmony," she replies.

"And why do you look so serious?" he questions.

"I'm just lost in thought."

"With what? Don't tell me you're still letting those hesitations take over you."

"No. It's not about that. In fact, I mustered up the courage to accept Joshua."

"Really? That's great, Alice!" Gregory beams with excitement and takes out the car keys from his coat pocket. "I'm heading to the café. Have you eaten yet? I can give you a ride there before you go to work."

I force a smile and nod, agreeing to go with him to his café. I follow Gregory to his car, which was parked in front of his house.

"Tell me all the details! Did you kiss?," he asks.

"Yes."

"Oh my God, girl! How was it? Was it like the other times, or was it more intense?"

Gregory says, starting the car. I shrug indifferently.

"It was the best, for sure."

"And what happened after? Did it get hotter?"

The same mischievous smile reappears on his lips.

"Are you trying to ask if we had sex?"

"Obviously!"

"No. And maybe it won't happen anytime soon."

"Why? You're not a virgin anymore."

I fall silent.

"Wait. Are you still a virgin?"

I roll my eyes as I digest his surprise.

"How cute, Alice! And your first time will be with Scott. Make sure it's at an expensive place, since he's a millionaire!"

I wanted to laugh at what he had said, but I was a little angry with him for hiding from me that he was the owner of the building where I was living.

After a few minutes, we arrive at his café. I get out of the car and wait for Gregory to unlock the doors of his shop. I enter after him.

"I was thinking... How about we watch a movie tonight? We can get pizza," he suggests as he fiddles with the lights in the café.

I shake my head, declining.

"I'll be busy."

"And what about the weekend?"

"I'll be busy then too."

"Doing what?"

"I'll be getting ready for work."

The café lights come on, and Gregory turns to me with a furrowed brow.

"Seriously?"

I shrug, pretending not to understand the slight indignation rising in him.

"After you 'accepted Joshua,' did you decide to cut your friend out of your life?" He crosses his arms, indignant but with an ironic smile on his lips.

"That's what Samantha did, right?"

"What?"

"Maybe you hid something from her too. That's why she chose Joshua."

"Alice, I don't understand."

"No? Then let me clarify." I moisten my lips and stare at him. "When were you planning to tell me the truth about the apartment?"

"What do you mean?" He analyzes me, confused.

"Don't play dumb, Gregory. Joshua said the building where I'm living is yours."

Gregory looks shocked.

"When were you planning to tell me? Never?" I arch my eyebrows.

"I didn't know you would care."

"How could you not? If you claim to be my friend, the least I would expect from you is your honesty!" I exclaim, frustrated.

"Alice, I saw your reaction when I furnished your apartment..."

"And you thought that hiding the fact that the building was yours would help?" I interrupt.

"I understand that you're angry now. But..." Gregory takes a deep breath, struggling with a lack of words.

"What did you hope to achieve by all of this, Gregory? Were you trying to buy my friendship by furnishing the apartment and letting me stay there?" I analyze his face, disappointed.

"I admit I went too far. But I was desperate."

"Desperate for friendship?"

My indignation only grows.

"There are things you can't buy, Gregory. And friendship is one of them."

"Alice, you're right to hate me now. But I'm truly sorry."

"I won't hate you, Gregory. Because despite it being a stupid move and a terrible way to try to be friends, you tried to help me. And I appreciate that. But please, don't hide anything from me anymore, and don't try to shower me with gifts thinking it will strengthen our friendship, because it won't."

"So, does that mean we're okay?"

"I'm still upset with you. But who knows, after our night together tonight, I might feel better." I give a small smile, and it elicits a relieved chuckle from Gregory.