Chapter 23
Prince Ezerette Mclane

Josh was talking to my mom with a smile tugged on his lips. This was it. Josh seemed like he didn't have any problem at all. He felt light and smile-y. Since I had forgiven him, he was all smiles. Even talking to my Dad. But of course Dad, being a dick he was, gave Josh a cold shoulder - not really, but whenever Josh tried to talk to him or bug him, he'd be annoyed but you could see a smile tugging on my Dad's lips.
And the moment I caught it, I knew Dad approved of Josh. Which made me happy. So happy.

This moment was like another regular moment, but much special. Eclair was not home but I was pretty sure he was having fun somewhere else since Mom ungrounded him. I just wished he was here so the home would be full and happy.

Mom was bombarding Josh a lot of questions, which made him chuckle. Even though Mom's questions were very personal, Josh didn't give a damn and answered it right away.

"What do you like about my son?" Mom asked Josh. Mom had this smile that reached her ears, and her cheekbones were stretched as she smiled. It was kind of creepy. But I found myself leaning down a bit, anticipating for his answer. What Josh did like about me? Did he like me at all? I was getting anxious as a second ticked by.

Finally, I turned around and caught Josh's eyes staring into mine. My heart picked up race as his eyes became more vivid and lively. More beautiful. Sincere. Perfect. And it made me feel like I was on a cloud nine with angels singing around me. Josh's eyes twinkled and it felt like the ground would eat me, or I would melt. Then he smiled at me. I thought I fainted, but no, this was real. I felt it. The tug of my heart, practically singing Josh's name.

"What I like about Ezerette..." Josh began, his voice was dreamy and deep and sexy. I pursed my lips, waiting for him to continue. "Everything." My breath hitched. And my heart stopped beating for a little while until it pumped again with a fast rhythm. "I love the way he snores at night when he sleeps. It's just cute. I love the way he smiles at simple things. I love the way his eyes twinkle when he looks at something interesting. I love everything about him."

My mom squealed, clapping as she did so. Josh was laughing lightly, watching mom in amusement.
But then my heart clenched. This was a lie. Everything was a lie. But this lie contained a little bit of truth. I just needed to know who had the largest part. Was it the lie? Was it the truth? I'd find out sooner or later.

That thought alone made me bitter and angry. Josh was saying things that a fake partner should not. We were just married in rumors, not in Church, not in West, not in papers. We were just in love in the name of rumors, not in the name of God. But then my heart shattered a bit as I thought that this might end sooner or later. That this would end sooner or later. Then Josh and I would move on. We would part ways, with nothing to look back. And someday, if we crossed a path, we would just give each other an act of acknowledgement, with no memories surfacing, as if nothing happened. At all.

But he told me he liked me. And I liked him. Was that enough to change the inevitable? Apparently, I was over thinking. If it happened, then it happened.

Josh's presence was behind me and his arms wrapped around me. Josh pushed me into him and my back hit his hard chest. He was warm and his scent invaded my nose, which was a mango. I smiled as he put his chin on top of my head.

"Boys," Mom said and Josh and I both looked at her. Mom was holding a camera in her hand and as soon as we looked at her, she captured and the blinding flash went on. We both grinned. "Oh this looks so good!"

Josh walked over to Mom to take a look at our captured moment and his grin grew large. I decided that I should take a look also. In the picture was Josh and I in a cute pose. Josh had his arms around me and his chin was placed on top of my head whereas my hands placed on top of Josh's palms. I was grinning at the camera and everything was perfect. But there was one thing that wasn't good. Dad was a photo bomber. He was there, at the back, making weird faces. But this picture was very good. Even though Dad tried to ruin it, he failed. Josh, Mom and I laughed.

"And oh, one thing," Josh said to Mom. Mom stopped laughing and looked at Josh. "I love the way Ezerette laughs. It's contagious."

Mom smiled and I blushed, cheeks heating up as Josh gave me a big bear hug. I burrowed my face in his chest, hiding from embarrassment. Nonetheless, I was smiling. Josh was too good to be true.

"That's nice," Mom said as she went straight pass us, to Dad. "Hey, call your brother, Eze. I think he's having too much fun at a friend's house. He might do something crazy."

"Sure," I said as I fished my phone out of my pocket to give my little brother a call.

Eclair picked up the call and something in his voice was not right. He was groaning and it sounded like he was beaten by 10 guys. I felt protective suddenly.

"Eclair, what's wrong?" I asked him, not lowering my voice. Mom looked at me with a concern expression and Eclair groaned again.

"Um," he started, getting nervous all of a sudden. "Nothing's wrong. I just... fell my butt on the floor. Quite painful. I'm at a friend's house."

"Who is this friend?" I asked him. Probing questions would be good.

"Charlonne," he said immediately. Charlonne? As in, Charlonne Charlonne? Josh's best friend?

"What are you doing in Charlonne's house?" I said, furrowing my brows. Josh looked at me as he heard his friend's name. I gave Josh a shrug, telling him I didn't know every single thing.

"Oh, he invited me here." Eclair said. "I had dinner here. So don't wait for me. And tell mom I'll sleep here."

Then a voice came on. "Hey, Eze. Tell mommy that Clair will sleepover at my house. Woah, wait!" Then the line got cut off.

I furrowed my brows ay my cellphone, confused about everything. I looked at Josh and this time, he was the one who gave me a shrug. I rolled my eyes at him. There was something off.

Out of the blue, I asked Josh, "Hey, is Charlonne gay or something?"

"Huh?" Josh looked at me, frowning. "No, why do you ask?"

I told him what I thought. "Well, for one, he took over the call when I called Eclair. Second, he sounded possessive. Like he caught Eclair talking to someone, I don't know."

"He's not..." Josh said, but he was unsure. His brows were furrowed as he gave it a thought. I waited for him. "Now I don't know. If he is, then there's nothing wrong with it. Right?"

I nodded. But would it be weird to see your own little brother fucking my hubby's best friend? Oops.

Blood rushed to my cheeks and Josh's eyes twinkled as he sensed something. I squirmed and practically ran upstairs, to my room. Little did I know that Josh was running behind me, and when I got to my room, Josh entered and locked the room. I gulped.

Josh was slowly walking as he looked at me dead in the eye. He was like a good looking monster and I was his prey. He pushed me onto the bed and crawled on top of me. His finger teasingly trailed down to my Adam's apple to my chest. His touch, even through the thick fabric I was wearing, was enough and warm. It sent me to the edge. Josh smirked as he saw my eyes fluttering.

He took off my shirt and threw it somewhere around the room. He ran his large hands across my chest and my skin tingled at his warm touch. Josh leaned down and kissed me full on the lips and we both smiled at the kiss. This was the right time to say everything was perfect and completed.

My mind flashed an image of Josh and J sitting on a bed, reading books as our fingers were interlaced. And Josh and I sleeping together, arms wrapped around each other. And Josh and I laughing and goofing around as we held hands.

Josh was with me in the future.

He pulled away and the warmth of his lips had been taken away against mine. I felt disappointed but did not show it. Josh raised his hand and combed my hair with his fingers. He rested his forehead on mine and his minty breath was fanning my face. He smiled.

"What's your favorite song?" Josh asked me, running his nose against mine and we chuckled.

"The One Who Loves You The Most," I answered as I ran my fingers across his jawline. He shut his eyes, feeling my soft touch. Then I began to sing. "...When the sky is falling from above you. And the wind is raging from the coast. And you want someone who truly loves you. I will be the one who loves you the most."

"That's beautiful," Josh whispered, kissing my lips again. A little longer than the first. More passionate. Softer than before. My heart shattered. Not because it had been hurt but because it exploded because my heart couldn't contain the happiness anymore. "You're beautiful."

"Thank you,"

"Be with me everyday?" Josh asked me with his eyes holding the sincerity.

"You're a pain in the ass," I chortled, pecking him on the lips. "But I wouldn't mind. So sure."

Then we kissed again.

And no one could stop us.