Page 16 of Tonight's the Night
8
Angela
“Where are we going?”
Joshua grabs my hand and takes my carry-on from me. I’ve been clutching the handle for the last four hours, all the way from the airport in New York where I was informed by Joshua’s driver that I would be taking his private jet out to California to this moment. I think I was using it as a life-raft. I kind of feel like I’mdrowning.
“You’llsee.”
He flashes me the most beautiful, confident smile as he opens the door for me and I slide in. He comes in after me and I look over, a little self-conscious. He knows I’ve never flown on a private jet before, and as though he can read my mind — or maybe he’s just reading the expression on my face — he reaches over and takes my hand, not saying anything and just sliding his thumb over my knuckles. It’s instantly reassuring andcalming.
“How is Emily?” heasks.
“She’s great,” I reply. “Get this, she’s actually thinking about going to law school instead of med school. Can you imagine that, her as alawyer?”
“Ha. Her mom always said she’d become a doctor or a lawyer. Em was always interested in medicine. I wonder what made her change hermind.”
“I bet it has something to do with what a good lawyeryouare. She’s actually thought about working as a public defender.” I give it a moment of thought. “I guess that’s actuallynothinglike what you do,huh?”
“As long as she’shappy.”
I hate that I might cause a strain on theirrelationship.
They have a call every Thursday night but I know he hasn’t seen her as much as he’s wanted to, being out here in California for some business and going back and forth between here and New York. He’s always been a patient, compassionate and doting father, and it was always a relationship I looked at when I thought about the kind of man I would end up with. I never thought it would be Joshua, but now that I have him, I can’t imagine not being with him ever again. I know he’s going to be a good father — because he alreadyisa good father. I always thought he looked at me kind of like adaughter.
But he doesn’t. I feel my cheeks blush when I think about all the sexy, flirty texts we’ve been sending to each other. He’s demanding even over text, sending me things likeI want you to think of me tonight when you touch yourselforkeep your pussy safe for me. During the day we can say all the lovey-dovey stuff to each other, but at night, it’s different. He changes from this incredible man to an incredibly dirty talker. Possessive, demanding, hot. He sends me messages that make my heart race and make me tingle all over, and when I close my eyes at night and think about the life we’ll have together, I become overwhelmed withhappiness.
We ride in the back of his car in a deliciously comfortable silence, the kind you can only fall into with an old friend. The car ride is quick, though, and with my eyes closed, just as I think I’m going to fall asleep, we roll to a stop. I open my eyes and peer up through the window at a row of lush hedges and beyond it, a looming, modern gate. Palm trees sway peacefully in the breeze and I turn my face to look at Joshua, a weightless feeling lifting through mychest.
“Go on,” he says, “you wanted to know where we were going, so take alook.”
I get out of the car and look up, pulling my sunglasses off my head and slipping them into my back pocket. I throw a little look behind me —he has to be kidding. This is where we were headed and he didn’t want to give me a little warningfirst?
Stunned, I take a few slow steps toward the gate and he runs around me to punch in the security code. The gate starts to swing open and reveals a long driveway. He takes my hand and we make our way to the house, and once inside, I feel like I’m in adream.
“This is wonderful,” I say, walking in a small circle in the foyer. “But I’m confused. Why are wehere?”
“I bought it for us,” he says, putting his hands in his pockets. I feel like my breath has been takenaway.
“Forus?”
“I want you to move in with me.” He takes a big step forward. “I’ve wanted to ask you since the day you stumbled into my party, but I didn’t want to overwhelm you. The house is big enough for us to grow into with our family and there’s a pool, as you can see”—he gestures toward the back of the house, where large floor-to-ceiling windows show a stunning view of the pool and ocean—"and there’s an office where you can work on your books. The house is close enough to your school that you cancommute.”
“I can’t believe it.” I put my fingers to rest on the steel banister leading to the second story.I really can’t believe it. It’s everything I’ve ever wanted. A life with him. A home to growinto.
“So will you move in withme?”
“What about your work?” I ask. “You’re based in New York. I don’tunderstand.”
“I’m not doing that kind of work anymore. I’ve taken a position outhere.”
“Don’t tell me you’re becoming a public defender,” I say. Now I know that he’s spoken to Emily about it, and shedidget the idea from him. Daddy’sgirl.
“I figure I’ve spent enough time helping rich assholes break up. It’s time for me to give back. And it’s because you inspire me, Ange. I spent so long worrying about keeping up with my peers and landing the next client, and it got me nothing. When you came into my life, I realized that I was living for all the wrong things. I want us to start over here. Together. I just want you. I want to protect you and protect Emily from judgment, but I know we’re doing nothing wrong. I don’t care what people think about me, but I care about what people think about my girls, which means I will do everything I can to remove the stigma around us being together. That’s why I want our life to start here. I want a fresh start. I wantyou.”
“I want you too, Joshua,” I say. “You are the only man I’ve ever loved. The only man I’ve everwanted.”
“I can be jealous,” he says, taking a step toward me. “I can be possessive and I might get angry if I see any other man looking atyou.”
