Page 18 of Picture Perfect Love

“Was this paid for by Joshua Meadows, by any chance?” I asked as I sat down.

“Sure was,” she smiled. “And you must have really done a number on that guy. Plenty of girls come through here getting their hair done up for a date with him or to try and convince him to go out with them. They always get their hearts broken, and he’s certainly never called up and paid for any of them to get their hair done. Lucky girl.”

“Right,” I grinned in a blushing daze.

I couldn’t complain when I walked out a few hours later feeling better than ever. It had been years since I really had my hair done beyond a simple, cheap trim.

As if that wasn’t enough, I was surprised again the next week by a knock at my door. A delivery guy handed over a small package and asked me to sign for it.

I rushed inside to open it up and found the most stunning diamond necklace I had ever seen in my life. This was officially too much. Diamonds!?

I decided to reward Joshua for all of his generosity, but not with what he was hoping for. Something even better. I put on the necklace and stripped down to climb into a hot bubble bath, wearing nothing but the diamonds. I pulled my phone from the edge of the tub and held it out to snap a sexy selfie, my breasts poking out from under all the bubbles, and sent it off to Joshua with a text: Thanks for the jewelry. ;)

Almost as soon as the message sent, my phone started ringing.

“God damn, Abby. I thought maybe you’d finally agree to dinner, but that picture was… God damn. Your hair looks great, by the way.”

I laughed under my breath, trying not to let him hear just how giddy his reaction made me.

“Thanks to you. After all of this… I thought you deserved a parting gift,” I told him.

“A parting gift?”

“You’ve been so nice, and I really appreciate everything. I do. It’s just that… Well, I’m so busy. And not really into dating right now. I don’t want to keep stringing you along.”

“Believe me, if that one night and that picture you just sent is all I get from you… I’m still one of the luckiest guys on earth,” he said. “But… I can’t lie and pretend that it wouldn’t break my heart if you really never spoke to me again after this.”

For a moment, I considered caving in. But this guy was rich. These gestures that seemed so big and grand to me were nothing to him, like chump change. He must have thought I’d be too blindsided to refuse him, but I was not about to be predictable again. Besides, toying with Joshua Meadows was too much fun.

“Like I said. That picture was a parting gift,” I sighed, sticking to my guns.

“And I said my gifts came with no strings attached. You didn’t have to send me anything.”

“Consider it a tip,” I grinned.

“Oh? A tip? A tip implies you’re receiving great service, and you’d like to continue receiving it,” he suggested, a devilish tone to his voice.

“Goodbye, Joshua,” I sang before hanging up.

I tossed my phone onto the bath mat, further away from any risk of water damage. I was feeling pretty full of myself for being so coy with him. But then an empty sense of dread settled in. What if he really did stop after that? What if I never heard from him again? I had to admit, the thought made me sad.

Thankfully, Joshua was more determined than I would have thought to give him credit for. A few nights later I was at one of my study groups for school when a delivery man came right into the library with a big vase of red roses.

My studymates looked over the arrangement, flashing me a mixed bag of reactions. Some of the girls looked jealous. Some of the guys did too, but for different reasons. They all teased me to no end. I was relieved I hadn’t managed to push Joshua away yet, but I knew it couldn’t go on like this forever.

I left the library with the flowers in hand and a big smile on my face. It was nice having a secret admirer, a rich one at that, to spoil me with all sorts of lavish gifts. I never thought that sort of thing would impress me, but it certainly didn’t hurt. Still, I knew deep down I either had to see him again, or officially put a stop to this once and for all.

My nose was filled with the rose fragrance as I walked home, clutching the big bouquet to my chest. It was perfect timing since my peonies had just wilted and been tossed out. I was looking forward to looking at them while making dinner. My stomach growled at the thought, and I realized I forgot to grab lunch before class and the study group.

As if he could read my mind, my phone lit up with a text from Joshua. He sent a photo of a beautiful romantic candlelit dinner for two from what looked like the rooftop of his building where we had sex that first night together.

A second after the picture came another text.

Joshua: Hungry? ;)

I laughed and shook my head, staring at the picture. God, it did sound so good to run back off to his rooftop and enjoy whatever expensive delicious food he had in mind. I wanted to throw the guy a bone for all he had done, but for more practical reasons… I was starving. And I was deathly curious about what sort of things he had in mind for dessert. Rooftop sex, round two, perhaps?

For the second time, Joshua had convinced me, someone who was never impulsive, to do something completely unplanned at the drop of a hat. I texted him back that I was on my way, and called a cab to take me to his place.

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