Page 17 of Picture Perfect Love

Abby

Aweek after Joshua’s surprise visit to my work, everyone finally stopped teasing me about my “stalker” mystery man… who really wasn’t much of a mystery, because everyone knew who he was. Which only made matters worse. Everyone was well aware of Joshua’s reputation as a party playboy, and they all insisted that if he was so hell bent on taking me out again, I was crazy to turn him down.

But I decided to take a gamble and keep my distance. I’m sure I could have found some way to reach him if I wanted to. I remembered where he lived, for starters. Or I could stay away and see just how relentless he’d become, risking the possibility that he might finally lose interest and back off. At least then I wouldn’t have to worry about making the choice. He’d make it for me.

It was a beautiful Saturday morning, perfect for a yoga session. The sunlight was streaming through the studio as we finished our last stretches of the class. I closed my eyes and took deep breaths, trying to drown out everything—the lingering icky feeling of being stood up and ghosted by Christopher and my anxiety about what Joshua might do next to try to win me over.

When class was over, I made my way to the front desk to pay the next month’s membership. I told the guy I wanted to purchase another month of classes and pulled out the wad of cash tips from my bag to count it out.

“No need,” he replied, eyeing the roll of ones. One downside of being a waitress with lots of tip money was knowing people probably regularly mistook you for a stripper.

“No need?” I questioned.

“Your membership has been paid up for the year,” he said.

“Oh...Are you sure? Abby Matthews?”

“Yep, I’m sure. A friend of yours came by and paid it up for you.” He turned his computer screen around so I could see for myself.

There on the screen, next to my name, was a year’s balance paid with a note next to it… Paid by Joshua Meadows.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I mumbled.”Okay, thank you.”

“Wait, Ms. Matthews?” he called out after me as I started for the door. “Here. He left this for you.”

I took the card from his hand which had a phone number scribbled on it. I couldn’t resist stepping outside and dialing it up to see if it would be him. I had to thank him for doing something so generous for me, right?

“I was hoping I’d hear from you soon,” Joshua answered.

“How did you know it was me calling?”

“I got a private line, just for you. I can’t have important messages and calls from you getting jumbled up with all the other useless things in my life.”

“Useless?” I laughed. “You run a multi-million dollar company. Surely you have important calls and texts for work.”

“None of it is as important as hearing from you.”

“Wow, you really are laying it on thick,” I teased. “Paying my membership for the year… It was too much. You really shouldn’t have. Especially if you think that’s going to guarantee that I’ll go out with you again.”

“That gift has no strings attached. A busy girl like you needs time to stretch and meditate. Wouldn’t want you pulling a muscle at work or anything. The world needs Abby Matthews. My only motive was providing you with a way to reach me, should you ever want to. And, okay, maybe a little incentive to want to reach me.”

“Well, then I guess you won. Here I am… calling you,” I blushed, kind of hating myself for being so predictable. “But I gotta go. Thanks again, Joshua.”

“You know where to find me,” he said before I hung up.

I thought that would be the end of it. Guys like him were probably used to having everything handed to them. Girls were lining up to gush all over them. His big gift followed by nothing more than a brief phone call from me… That would surely dampen his motivation.

Or so I thought until I showed up for my scheduled haircut a few days later.

“I have a coupon,” I explained to the receptionist.

“Wait. Abby Matthews, right?” she asked, scanning the appointment book.

“Yes. Is there a problem? I called last week…”

“No, no problem. But we have you down for the full package. Cut, color and style, and it’s all paid for. Right this way.”

My mouth dropped as I followed the lady back to my chair in the salon.

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