Camille
1 year later
I've definitely said this before, but have you ever been so in love with someone? So in love that just seeing them brightens your day? Any small gesture puts a smile on your face? It had been a year since Josiah and I got back together, and now I'm sure he's the only one who can make me feel like this.
Not much had changed in the past year since we had gotten back together. Besides the fact that we saw each other a lot more. I still lived at my apartment and he still lived at his place. We didn't want things to move as fast as they did before, taking it slow was perfect for us.
I also talked sat down and had a talk with my brother about my relationship with Josiah. Ultimately things went well after they got the opportunity to sit down and talk. They're not best buddies now or anything, but Eli is much more accepting.
Josiah was true to his word when he said things would be different this time. As promised, no surprise kidnappings, random stab wounds, or leaving for days without notice. He did occasionally have business trips but he always let me know if he's leaving town. Everything seemed too perfect and it made me wonder if this was what Josiah really wanted. He seemed happy, but I guess I never really asked.
Maybe we could talk about it tonight, he had asked me out for dinner tonight at this beachfront restaurant I had been dying to try out. I was very excited to say the least.
Right now it was Saturday afternoon and all o could think about was our date tonight. Josiah had some work to catch up on and he said he'd pick me up around 7. For the most part I had the day free. My work was caught up on, I didn't have any important errands to run, I wasn't sure what I should do in the meantime.
I guess I could do some deep cleaning? It was currently 1pm, that gives me 6 hours till date time, and I'll need at least 2 hours to get ready. Leaving me with 4 hours. Totally doable.
I toss my hair into a horrible looking bun, throw on an old T-shirt, and turn on some music before getting to work.
I take my time scrubbing and reorganizing every single part of my apartment, occasionally stopping to dance around anytime a good song comes on. I notice the sun seemingly beginning to set and I look at the time, 5pm. I wipe the sweat from my forehead before examining my hard work. As I head toward the remote to stop the music, Beyoncé's Crazy in love begins blasting through my Tv speaker.
Okay last song, after this I'll go shower.
I grab the broom and look out at the fake audience before beginning my performance.
"Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh. Oh na na."
I'm bouncing up and down, shimmying, sashaying, giving my all to the audience. That I hadn't even realized someone had entered my apartment. I scream when I finally notice the intruder.
"Josiah what are you doing here? You're early!" I ask as I pause the television.
He was chuckling at my little performance, "You're moves haven't changed at all have they? And what do you mean? It's 7 o'clock why aren't you dressed?" I looked over at his attire, he was wearing a clean burgundy button up with the top few buttons undone and a gold necklace. His pants were black and he had a gold Rolex on his wrist. Damn he looked good.
I looked down at my attire, an old Beatles t-shirt with holes in it and Josiah's basketball shorts. "It's 5 o'clock see!" I point to the clock across the room. "Have you looked at your phone? It's 7 pm, and I called you an hour ago."
I grab my phone from the kitchen before seeing all the missed notifications, and the correct time. "Oh shit." I look over at Josiah, "Is it a reservation?" He nods his head and I sigh. "Give me 30 minutes I'm so sorry!"
I run to my bathroom and quickly throw myself in the shower. I make sure to keep my hair away from the water, otherwise that will be another two hours itself.
Once I'm out of the shower I throw on a red dress and put on minimal makeup. My hair was still in a horrible tangled bun. Unsure of what to do I spray on some water to soften it and begin brushing it into a sleeker nicer low bun.
I throw on some sandals and earrings before grabbing my phone and purse to meet Josiah out in the kitchen. "Okay I'm done! How long did I take?"
"45 minutes, and you look beautiful." I smile at him as he holds out his hand, "Shall we?" I grab his hand as he leads me outside. We arrive at the restaurant around 8:15pm and approach the front.
"Reservation for two under Wells." Josiah tells the host.
The man looks at the list and frowns, "It appears your reservation was an hour ago, we've given your table away."
Josiah looks unpleased, "Then I'm sure there's another table you could show us to?"
The host shakes his head, "We are currently full, you can be added to the waitlist if you like?"
"How long is it?"
"You would be number 56."
"Is there no possible way for us to jump a little higher since we had a reservation?"
The man shakes his head, "The point of reservations are that you come at the time of your reservation. That is all."
Josiah glares at the man, his jaw noticeably clenched. He lets out a deep breath before speaking, "Then we will just be going." Josiah leads me away from the host and toward outside where you could see plenty of people outside waiting.
It was strange to see Josiah respond that way. Almost as if he was holding back. Normally he would have threatened someone and flashed his gun to get in. Or emphasized who he was to scare them into letting us in. But this time he just accepted it.
"I'm sorry I made us late." I said as we drove to an unknown location. "It's okay, I didn't really care about eating there anyway. Are you okay though? You were really excited about it before."
I nod, "I was just excited to go out with you. You've been busy lately." He smiles as he holds my hand while driving.
"I know, but I'm all yours today. And I have a back up plan."
We pull up to a Red Lobster restaurant and a waitress comes outside with a bag. "Here you are sir." He thanks her before placing it in the backseat and starting the engine again. "Where are we going? And when did you order Red Lobster?"
He shushes me and smiles as he drives to another unknown location.
After another 20 minutes we were at a beach. For the most part no one was around, and a table was set up on the sand with two seats and a rose in the middle. I giggle, "Josiah what is all this?"
He leads me over to the table and sets the food down. He begins setting up the food and pours us two glasses of wine. "Josiah what is going on? Did you plan all of this ahead of time? You knew I'd make us late?"
"I made some precautionary arrangements after you didn't pick up my phone calls."
I laugh, "I'm just that predictable huh?"
He chuckles, "And I love that about you."
We begin eating our meal and flirting as the waves roar lightly behind us.
"Josiah are you happy?" I ask suddenly.
He gives me a puzzled gaze, "Of course I am, why do you ask?"
"Do you feel like you're holding back your true self with me? Like today at the restaurant, you didn't go off on that guy. But you looked like you wanted to."
He chuckles, "Camille I'm the happiest I've ever been. And yes I'm holding back because I don't want to go back to who I was or my old ways."
"Because of me?"
"Yes and no. I love you, and I want you to love me too."
"I do love you, I don't want you to fake who you are because of me."
He shakes his head, "I'm not faking anything. This is who I want to be, a better person."
"But- "
"Nothing about this is fake, I'm truly still trying to change. Not only for you but for me too."
I nod, "Okay then."
He smiles at me before holding my hand across the table. "Now that you've gotten that out of your system, there's something I've been wanting to talk to you about."
I gulp, what could he want to talk about?
"As you know, I love you so much Camille. You're the first person to make me feel the way I do."
I feel the same way.
"Every since the day I first laid eyes on you I knew I felt something toward you. I was just always afraid to accept how I felt. You've changed me in so many ways for the better and you inspire me in more ways than one."
I love him so much.
"And I know we agreed to take things slow, but I know exactly how I feel about you. And I know you're the only one I want to spend the rest of my life with."
I gasp as he gets down on one knee and pulls a velvet box out of his pocket. He opens it to show a huge diamond ring.
"Will you Camille Rose Ali, marry me?"
I stared at him in complete utter shock. My throat was dry and I suddenly I couldn't speak. The man who once refused to call me his girlfriend, was now asking me to marry him! Tears begin to fill my eyes as I leapt forward into his arms.
"Is that a yes?" He asked. I nodded and brought my lips to his and kissed him passionately. He arms secured around my waist as he brought us off the ground and kissed me back.
"I love you Josiah Wells."
"I love you more future Mrs. Wells."
Suddenly he picked me up bridal style and spun me around. We spent the night laughing and playing around the beach. Just him and I, alone and at peace.
I was truly at my happiest.
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