If You Only Knew

Chapter Twenty Four

Ch.24

It was around 7:30 when I pulled into Josh’s driveway. This was my first time being at his house and I was in awe. It was huge and absolutely gorgeous. There were big marble pillars holding up the porch and everything was lit up and sparkling a gorgeous gold color. I couldn’t believe I was about to enter this home. I walked up to the door and pressed the doorbell. I heard a dog barking and footsteps coming down the hall.

“Hey gorgeous,” Josh said as he opened the door with a big smile on his face.

I threw myself into his arms giving him a tight hug, not wanting to ever let go.

“I missed you so much!”

“I missed you more!” he said.

“Wow, whatever it is you’re cooking, it smells great!” I said, as a delicious aroma hit my senses.

“It’s lasagna and garlic bread!”

“Yum! My fav!” I exclaimed.

“Good! It should be done in about an hour!”

Josh took my hand and led me into an enormous kitchen where the smell was coming from. He poured us each a glass of wine and we settled into the chairs placed at the bar. We caught up while the food finished cooking and I told Josh about how bad I felt for lying to Raven.

“I just don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to keep this up,” I said with a sad look on my face. “I feel terrible lying to her like this, but I’ll feel even worse if I tell her the truth.”

“Yeah, I know that’s got to be hard.” Josh said, sympathizing with me. “I think that you need to tell her, but give it a little more time. Once you’ve worked out how to tell her without hurting her feelings too much.”

“That’s the problem, no matter what I say, or how I say it, it’s going to hurt her feelings. As much as it hurts to say this, maybe we just need to call it off Josh…”

“Bella, what are you saying?” Josh said in a panicky tone.

“I’m saying that maybe we need to stop seeing each other… For good.”

Josh just stood there looking at me with the saddest expression I have ever seen as tears flooded to his eyes.

“No, Bella, please,” he pleaded, taking a step closer and taking both of my hands in his. “I don’t know what I would do if I couldn’t see you anymore. You mean so much to me, and that will never change. You are the kindest, sweetest, most beautiful girl I have ever known, and to be honest, I think I’m falling in love with you…”

My heart stopped. He said it. The words poured out of his mouth like a waterfall. He was falling in love with me, and I was falling in love with him. I couldn’t believe this was happening.

“Josh..I… don’t know what to say. I—I think I’m falling in love with you too...”

As the words left my lips, his lips replaced them. There it was again, that electric feeling of love being sent through my body.

“I’m not going to give up Bella. No matter what happens I will fight for you. I will always fight for you.”

The ding of the timer went off and pulled us back into reality. I helped Josh set the table and then we ate one of the best meals I have ever had in my life. God he was such a good cook. It was around 9 o’clock when we finished dinner, and after cleaning up we ventured to the front porch and began talking again. We sat on the porch swing, my head on Josh’s shoulder, his arms wrapped around me. We sat there for another hour before I decided I should get going. Josh walked me out to my car, kissing me goodnight before heading back inside. As I got in my car and started the engine, I realized that I felt truly happy for once in my life. Josh was falling in love with me, as I was falling in love with him. It was undeniable. There was no going back now.