Joseph

Monday, December 14, 2002

Night

Thinking was all I was doing as I scanned my card, unlocking the room. It smelt like air freshener and everything was clean and put together. There were two beds and a flat-screen TV. The room cost a lot and I could see why. Everything was high end and the view from the balcony was stunning. Better than being in that house of memories.

My phone took me out the moment and Lance's name popped up. Being able to think was my main priority coming here, but after how upset I was this morning, he deserved an apology. I answered the calling, taking a breath.

"I'm sorry about this morning. I just needed time alone, time to think."

"Because you think I'm gonna do the same? Right?" He was right, and I didn't know how to answer. "Joseph, have I ever betrayed you?"

"No, but—"

"Then stop boxing me in with them. I'm here to stay and I'll do whatever I can to prove that." "Joseph I love you."

"I love you too Lance, I just need to think, okay?"

Before he could get a word out, I hung up, throwing the phone on the bed. The air was cool as I stepped onto the balcony, every car light and lit window made me smile; the sun was setting, and the red and purple horizon was stunning; however, Alex popped into my mind. The fact that I let myself be taken advantage of like that just made my stomach twist. I should have listened to my parents...

A knock on the door took me out the moment, and Alex's name popped on my phone. Making my way to the door, I looked through the peephole. A man in a white apron had a bouquet of roses with a basket of cookies. Opening the door in confusion, I looked at him. "Yes?"

He forced a huge smile. "Joseph Ramirez right?"

"Yeah..."

He handed me the basket, taking a note out of his pocket, clearing his throat. "My love. My best friend. My crush. I know you're hurt, but I will never leave your side. You are the only guy that I could ever have eyes for, the only guy I could see raising my children. I love you more than words can ever tell." his eyes went to the bottom of the note. "Sincerely your love, Lance."

I rubbed my eyes, trying not to cry. A smile grew on my face, but so did the fear in my head. The fear of all of this meaning nothing. That it'd all die out once he found someone better. When he eventually cheated on me... I set the basket on the floor, closing my door. "Is he here?"

"Yes, sir!"

"Show me."

He looked at me in fear, clearing his throat. "Follow me, sir."

We walked through the hallway and into the elevator. Pretty sure he could feel how upset I was, so he sat quietly with his hands behind his back, avoiding any kind of eye contact. The elevator dinged, and I followed him out. We went through the lobby to the pool area and Lance had a speedo on diving into the pool.

"Can I have that note? And thank you," I grinned, giving him a hundred-dollar bill.

"Oh- you're welcome!" he squealed, giving me the note, before walking off.

I put it in my pocket, watching in angry amazement as he swam to my side of the pool. He hung onto the ledge, moving his soaked hair out of his face. He wiped his eyes of water, looking up at me. "Joseph?"

"You having fun?"

He smiled getting out of the pool, water dripped down his built body and his speedo clung on tight to his everything... "You get the roses?"

I sighed, rubbing my head. "Yes, it was sweet, but why are you here?"

"I stay here every time I visit your parents," "Can we talk, please?"

"Yes, we can talk..."

He wrapped his wet hand in mine, guiding me to some pool chairs. We sat down and he refused to let go of my hand. "I love you, Joseph."

"Lance!" I huffed. "I love you too..."

"Then believe me when I say I would never cheat on you."

God, he looks good right now. "Lance, I don't want you to deal with trust issues. It's not fair to you."

His mouth twisted into a smile. "You're still the same, always worried about my feelings."

"Lance I'm serious!"

He pecked my lips. "I know handsome."

My face was hot, and the bulge sticking out of his pants was very noticeable. "Okay, well, I'll let you enjoy your swim."

I got up and so did he, blocking my path. "Am I making you nervous?"

"Lance-"

He got closer moving my hand to his now huge bulge. "Only you make me like this."

"Lance, we're in public..."

His face dropped to a frown as he moved his hair back. "I thought that's what you liked? The way you smiled when he touched you..."

"Lance, you're amazing the way you are, and yes you do look hot right now but that's not why I like you." "I like you beca—"

"LANCE! Bro!" A guy from behind me yelled. He ran up hugging him, he was a bit shorter than me and had short black hair. Lance lightly pushed him off and the googly eyes the guy was giving him was making me upset. "Nice speedo..." he cooed.

My feelings rose up, but this was an indicator of why I was here in the first place. I walked away, trying to calm down. "Joseph, wait!" he yelled, but I came here to be alone and that's what I'm gonna do. He quickly caught up with me, grabbing my arm, stopping me from going into the elevator. "He's a friend, I swear!"

That's what Sebastian said... "I'm not going through this again, just let me be alone."

"No, just let me explain for one second, please!"

"Lance, I'm tired of hearing explanations. We are best friends and that's all we'll ever be, okay?"

Every emotion ran through my body as I got in the elevator, clicking my floor. It hurt to think of my best friend cheating on me, but it's all I could think of. We weren't together, but it still hurt me inside; I didn't wanna lose him that way. The elevator stopped, and I got out, walking down the hallway to my room. I swiped my card, and the door hit the basket of roses. The sight of it just made my feelings worse.

My phone had too many calls from Alex but I didn't have the energy to address any of it. Plopping onto the bed, I stared up at the ceiling. Usually, I could imagine something interesting but the only thing on my mind was Lance and with these thoughts, tears ran down my face. I quickly got off the bed going into the bathroom.

Seeing myself in the mirror was something I wasn't used to. My eyes were puffy, and I was developing small bags under my eyes. Someone knocked on the door and I quickly wiped my face, trying to force a smile that didn't look very appealing. I stepped out of the bathroom, opening the door to Lance. He had a towel wrapped around his waist and his hair was semi-dry.

"I want you Joseph. He's a friend, that's all, I swear."

"It doesn't matter what he is, we're not together, so no reason for me to be upset..."

I walked deeper into my room and he followed behind. "Joseph, I love you." I ignored him, making my way to the balcony. "Jose, just talk to me!"

"Lance, stop!"

He walked beside me, staring out at the city. "Don't shut me out again..."

"I'm not Lance, I just don't wanna be hurt again," "Especially not from you..."

"Joseph, I'm not them." he turned my head to him. "You know I haven't dated a guy yet?"

"Really?"

"Yeah and wanna know why?" "Because I knew you were the one. I knew nobody would ever compare to you!"

It made my heart warm, but it quickly died out... "You're just saying that..."

"How can I prove it to you then, Jose?"

"I don't know, but it's a hard statement to believe, and Jose?" I hadn't heard that nickname in years, and it definitely put a smile on my face. "You still remember that?"

"I also remember the time you kissed me at that one party."

I'd completely forgotten about that time. "It was a dare, Lance."

"A kiss that you blushed at? And when I kissed that girl, I saw it in your face how jealous you were."

"I wasn't jealous, I just didn't like her..."

He chuckled kissing my cheek. "And I didn't like that guy, Martin."

So many memories. Locked away. I'd completely forgotten about Martin and the little crush he had on me. He was always nice to me for obvious reasons, but Lance was definitely not the biggest fan of him. "Martin was cool. You were just mean at the time."

"I wasn't mean. I was annoyed how much time you were spending with him and not me."

"Well, look at how times have been in your favor." I joked. He stared at me with that big smile I always liked. "What are you smiling about?"

"I like you better when you're smiling."

"And I like you better when you're not lying." I retorted.

"Joseph, I'm serious. I've waited for you and I thought you'd wait for me." His eyes went to my neck. "I missed my chance..."

"Lance, you didn't miss any chance," "I just need to do better..."

"Do better in what, Joseph?"

"They cheated on me for a reason. I did something wrong..."

"Joseph, when we were younger, I watched you play every sport, ace every test, learn every useless skill to please your father, and did your father ever change? Did you ever do anything wrong there?"

"No..."

He cupped my face, planting a kiss on my lips. "Then stop blaming yourself for everything! Sometimes people are just bad and there's nothing you can do about it."

"I'm a therapist. It's my job to make people better, to make them a better version of themselves..."

"No, Joseph, your job is to give them the tools to be better. It's their choice if they use them."

That small sentence alone made me feel better. "I just want what my parents have..." the stars in the sky twinkled and the breath I took felt like a weight off my chest. "Is that a lot to ask?"

He wrapped his arm around my hip, pulling me closer to him. "With me no." he chuckled. "With any other guy, yes."

"So you're my last option, is what you're saying?" I joked.

He lifted my chin to his gaze. "I wanna be your only option, Jose."

I pulled the note out of my pocket. "Did you mean everything you said?"

"Hold on!" he rushed running into the room. His towel dropped and wow, did he look good from behind. He dug in the basket of roses, pulling something out. He hid it behind his back, getting on one knee. "So Joseph," he choked, clearing his throat. "Will you be the love of my life?"

My heart dropped as he revealed the ring to me. It was a big diamond-studded ring, with a huge shining diamond in the middle. Tears started to fall from my face and I couldn't stop smiling. "Lance, as sweet as this is, isn't it too early for this?"

He got up, sliding it onto my finger. "I don't see a future with anyone else but you and I will prove that every day if I have to, Joseph." with those words a tear ran down his face. "I'm done taking it slow. I know it's early, but you are my world. You've always been since we were teenagers and there's not a single soul I'd rather ask then you, Joseph. I love you, make me the happiest man on earth and say yes."

The wind blew through us as I wiped my damp face, gazing into his tear-filled eyes. Everything in me poured out as I pulled him into a hug. "Yes! I'll marry you, Lance!"

━ ★ ━

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Hope you enjoyed the Chapter!

Sincerely, R.J