Page 26 of Picture Perfect Love

I kept putting the pieces together over and over: the questionable work ethic, the lack of commitment to any one woman or relationship, the wild drunken nights and horrible decisions that kept landing him in the spotlight. I hoped if I read it all enough, it would drown out the other relentless fantasies swirling around in my brain. The ones that made it hopelessly clear—despite all that I knew and everything I should have been feeling—I liked him.

And he liked me. He didn’t just like me. He was somewhat obsessed with me, going so far as to invite me to move in with him. It was hard not to want to run with such big declarations and say screw it to the rest.

But there was no way I was going to let myself become another one of his playthings. I was not his job, where he could shirk all responsibility. I wasn’t some bimbo at a bar that he could forget ever existed the next day. Valerie was right in saying I deserved to be treated like a goddess. If I was going to entertain the idea of any kind of future with Joshua, I’d have to make it clear that I was not another one of his toys or play things.

I finally shut down my laptop and started pacing the living room, doing everything I could as a last ditch effort to change my own mind. I couldn’t keep doing this dance with him. Either we moved forward on my terms, or I needed to put a stop to all of this once and for all. Not that my first attempt at doing that did much good. Then again, I was the one who decided to try and pull that off with a nude picture of myself… Of course it didn’t work.

The more I paced through my racing thoughts, I decided the only way this was going to work was if I took control and laid down some ground rules. No way was I going to accept his ridiculous offer, but I wasn’t so convinced that meant I had to stop seeing him entirely either. After all, I was deathly curious about where a relationship between Joshua Meadows and me might go. Curious enough that I couldn’t just turn my back on it without finding out.

I finally pulled out my phone and dialed his number, as promised.

“There you are,” he answered. “What took you so long?”

“You got me in trouble at work… and you kind of freaked me out with all of your crazy talk. I needed some time to think.”

“Fair enough. I’m sorry, Abby. You know what they say… Love makes you crazy.”

“You don’t love me,” I grumbled skeptically.

“Maybe it’s too soon to say that much. You’re right. But I certainly don’t think it’d take me long before I couldn’t help but feel that very thing. Some people believe in love at first sight. I may not be that extreme, but I’m starting to understand how it happens.”

“Well, you’re certainly more romantic than I ever imagined you would be.”

“I’ll take that as a good thing,” he replied. “So, did you think about my offer?”

“As a matter of fact I did, but… I can’t accept.”

“That’s a pity,” he sighed. “Living with you and waking up next to your beautiful smokin’ hot body every morning sounded so appealing.”

As I was growing used to with him, a huge smile spread across my face against my will. “I can see some benefits to the arrangement too. But that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. I did give some thought to this whole thing between us though.”

“And?”

“I’m not going to live with you or quit my job. And I don’t want to work at Heartstring. I want to find a job on my own, build my own career so that there’s no question about how I got it. Everyone, including me, has to know I get to where I’m going because I’m good at it. Not because I’m sleeping around with the right contacts. So… there’s all of that. But…”

“Phew. I was hoping there might be a ‘but’ in there.”

“But, if I’m being honest, I do like you. You scare me, but you’re intriguing at the same time. And I’m willing to see where this thing between us might go.”

“I like these terms of yours, Abby. That’s all I’m really asking for. A chance to see what this thing is,” he explained. “I’ve been just as blindsided as you’ve been, trust me. This isn’t like me at all.”

“Oh, I’m well aware of that,” I grumbled. “Me and every girl I work with knows about your reputation with women. Hence why I’ve been so surprised by this romantic streak in you.”

“You and me both,” he laughed.

“Right. So, If we do this, that’s my first condition,” I said sternly. “You’re with me and only me. No more going out with all this crazy partying, drunkenly grinding on strangers. No more picking up random chicks left and right. My other conditions include respecting my busy schedule. That means we can’t stay up late drinking every night we see each other. I have to get up early in the mornings. And you should know, I have a ton of school work to do when I’m not in class or at work so…”

“I’ll bring you all the brain fuel you need and disappear into the background when you need quiet time to focus. You can count on me,” he assured me. “You know, Abby… All this bossy talk from you is kind of turning me on. What do your terms and conditions say about sex?”

I couldn’t help but feel my own surge of anticipation at the thought of his naked body expertly moving over me again.

“Can I come over?” he asked eagerly when I didn’t reply.

“No,” I blurted, hating myself for it. But I had to put him in his place right then, or all I said before that would be for nothing. “I have study group tonight and an early day in the morning.”

“How much time before your study group?” he persisted.

I laughed and glanced at the clock. “One hour.”

“I’ll be there in five,” he insisted. “Be naked when I get there. You know, to save time.”

“Uh-huh. Sure.”

“So… that’s a yes?”

“I’ll see you in five minutes, Mr. Meadows,” I sang before hanging up the phone.

I supposed it couldn’t hurt to test out just how well Joshua could play by my rules.

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