Page 90 of Between Here and There

I glance up at Joshua, who just smiles down at me like this is the most normal thing in the world. “Practically,” I echo with a small laugh.

We settle onto the couch, Joshua keeping his arm firmly around my shoulders. Tito Luis eyes us both with a knowing smile before leaning back into his seat. “So,” he starts, clasping his hands together. “How long have you two been together?”

“About a month,” Joshua says smoothly, leaning slightly forward. His answer is so confident that even I almost believe him.

I nod in agreement, offering a warm smile. Has it really only been a month since this whole charade began? It feels like a lifetime.

“So it’s all new, huh?” Tito Luis says, glancing between us.

“Yeah, all new,” I reply, letting my hand rest casually on Joshua’s thigh. The gesture feels natural, or at least I hope it does. “But we’ve known each other for years, so there’s that.”

Joshua glances down at me, his lips twitching in approval at my quick thinking. Then, with a grin, he says, “In fact, I’ve been convincing her to move in with me.”

I whirl to face him, my eyes wide. “You have?”

Joshua doesn’t falter, his expression softening as he looks at me, his voice dropping into something almost tender. “Of course, honey. We’ve been talking about it for days, remember?”

I blink up at him, my mind racing as I try to keep my cool. “Oh... right,” I say with a forced laugh. “Those late-night conversations. How could I forget?”

Tito Luis beams at us, clearly delighted. “That’s fantastic news! Since you’ve known each other a long time, I guess you’ve skipped the whole getting-to-know stage. Lucky—that stage is usually the deal-breaker.”

“Oh?” I say, tilting my head in mock curiosity. “You’re still in the dating pool, Tito?”

“About to give up on it and embrace singlehood,” he says with a dramatic sigh. “I honestly thought Joshua would follow in my footsteps. Thankfully, you talked some sense into him.”

I chuckle nervously, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “I didn’t really convince him or anything—”

“I didn’t need convincing,” Joshua interrupts, his voice firm but laced with affection.

It’s then that I realize his hand has shifted to my lower back, his thumb tracing small, absent circles there. The gesture is so subtle, so intimate, that it sends a shiver down my spine.

“Well, whatever you did, it worked,” Tito Luis says, raising his mug in a mock toast. “You two make a great team. I’m happy for you, Josh. You’ve got yourself a keeper.”

I laugh softly, unsure how to respond. But before I can say anything, Joshua leans down slightly, his voice low enough for only me to hear.

“Hear that? Great team,” he murmurs, his breath warm against my ear.

I glance up at him, and for a moment, our eyes meet. The teasing glint in his gaze is there, but beneath it, something softer lingers.

We spend the night chatting with each other. Tito Luis tells stories of when Joshua was younger, how he always worked harder than anyone else. He’s direct, and you can tell he respects the way Joshua has carved his own path. He speaks about Joshua’s work ethic, how he never settles for less than the best, how he always finds a way to overcome obstacles, no matter how difficult.

“There’s not a single project he’s been given that he hasn’t knocked out of the park,” his uncle says, shaking his head in awe. “The kid’s got this rare ability to focus on the details and still see the bigger picture. I’ve seen a lot of people work hard, but Joshua... he works smart. And that’s a rare quality.”

Joshua, who’s been listening quietly, doesn’t seem embarrassed by the praise. Instead, he smiles in that humble way he does, his gaze soft but sincere.

I sigh. Because Joshua isn’t just attractive, or kind, or dependable. He’s all of those things, yes, but there’s more. He’s sharp, humble, and so incredibly capable. And he makes everything feel effortless.

And since today is a day that I decided to want things for myself—from finally making the leap to start building my own firm, to taking control of my career and my future—I’ve also come to terms with something else. I want Joshua. Not just because he’s everything I thought I wanted, but because he’s everything I didn’t know I needed. And that’s a realization I can’t ignore any longer.

Joshua

As Tito Luis leaves, Emily and I are left alone again. Back to reality.

This is the first time we’ve been alone since… well, since I blurted out more than I intended that day in the café. Since she brushed it off. Since she showed up here and started taking care of me when I’m sick and planting flowers and throw pillows in my life like they belonged.

This is so confusing. Should I open it up again? Did she forget what I said yesterday?

“Well, that went well,” Emily says.

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