Hold Me Close: A Jemi Story

Chapter 7

"Ugh, I was hoping to throw a cute party for you two," Sel sighed, taking a sip of her Caramel Latte. "I mean, I could swear that he had bought a ring." 

"It's okay Sel," I laughed, "Our time will come. It's too soon right now anyway." 

"You guys would make a cute old married couple," Sel smirked. 

"You know, the way you word it makes me want to ask him myself," I winked. I dipped my finger into the whipped cream sitting on top of my White Chocolate Mocha and let it melt in my mouth. "Plus, I would definitely need to cut back on all of these Starbucks carbs if I wanted to put on a wedding dress."

Sel laughed, moving her brown curls from her face. "I think people are usually engaged for a while before they jump into the whole husband and wife thing."  

"The way you talk about this," I said, "Makes me know that you are not anywhere near ready and you should be the last person I ever go to for advice when Joe really does propose." 

Selena stuck her tongue out at me playfully. "Anyway, do you and Joe want to come over for dinner tonight? I'm making stir-fry!"

As if on cue, my stomach gave a growl. "How convenient that you're asking me right now." 

"Well go home and get ready, and be over in about an hour." Sel stood, buttoning up her jacket. 

We both walked out of Starbucks, and hugged goodbye. I got in my car and turned on the radio just before I pulled out of the parking lot. I dialled Joe's cellphone number, but it went straight to voicemail. I frowned, and set my cell down in the empty passenger's seat. I drove another five minutes before pulling into my parking spot. I glanced up at our apartment to see that the lights were on. I got out of my car and locked it behind me as I went up to the building. I walked up the stairs quickly, eager to see what Joe was busy with. 

"Baby?" I called out as I opened the door to our apartment. I closed the door swiftly behind me as I shook off my black flats. "Joe, are you home?"

He wasn't sprawled out on the couch like usual, so I walked to our bedroom. 

"Demi, I'm in here!" Joe called. 

As I approached the open door, I noticed a couple of suits layed out on our bed. "What's all this?"

"Hmm?" Joe replied absent mindedly, fixing his hair in the mirror. He was dressed in a dark blue dress shirt with a black blazer on top.

I walked up behind him, wrapping my arms around his body. "You look fancy," I hummed in his ear, looking at his eyes through the mirror. "It's a good thing you're already dressed for our dinner plans with Selena and Nick tonight." 

"Dinner plans?" Joe questioned. "Babe, I can't. I have dinner plans with my parents tonight, they said they have to talk to me about something important." 

"Oh," I frowned disappointedly,  "Well, I can get dressed quickly then. Where are we going?" 

"I'm sorry Baby, I guess I forgot to tell you about these plans. My parents don't want to meet you like this, they told me that tonight is just not a good night since there's some bad news." Joe explained, turning around to face me.

I kissed his cheek gently. "Well, I understand then. How could you forget about it then?"

"It just slipped my mind," He glanced into the mirror one more time before giving me a kiss. "I'm going to go so I'm not late. I love you." 

"Love you too," I smiled as he walked out of the room. I sat on the bed and pulled out my cell to call Selena.

"Hey Sel," I said before she even managed to utter a word. "Joe is going out to dinner with his parents so I'll just stay home and let you and Nick have dinner together." 

"Don't be ridiculous!" Selena exclaimed on the other line, "You're still coming. Be here at exactly seven!"

I hung up the phone, and placed it beside me on the bed. I let out a sigh as I fell backwards onto the pillows. How exciting that I get to be a third wheel tonight.