bChapter /bb222 /b

    “Huh?” Josh’s eyes were filled with confusion.

    I stepped toward him and moved close, close enough to smell the soap on him after his shower, which smelled good.

    +15

    When my parents were around, we always used soap to wash our hands and take showers. But we used hand sanitizer or body wash instead now, and it was rare to see soap, let alone smell its fragrance.

    “Are you hiding something?” I probed.

    Josh frowned and looked back. “How much have you drunk? Your eyesight seems to be off.”

    I took a drink. It wasn’t much, but he smelled it.

    His words made meugh. I reached out and pinched his shirt. “Josh, don’t pretend to be confused. I’m talking about your identity. Are you particrly wealthy? And are you also the boss behind the scenes?”

    Josh looked nervous for a second. But he only said, “I don’t know what you’re saying.”

    As he spoke, he retreated, wanting to distance himself from me.

    “You don’t know? Or are you pretending, or acting with me?” I followed him forward again, deliberately pestering him.

    Josh didn’t say anything else. He just looked at me and I looked back at him. The two of us looked at each other under the dim light of the stairs…

    The small courtyard where Molly lived shed across my mind. I thought of Molly’s illness and how I first met Josh. Finally, I was the first to avert my gaze and sneered, “You’re so poor. It can’t be you.”

    As I spoke, I let go and turned to walk to the house. However, Josh stopped me. “Did you drive back?”

    I smiled. “No, I’ve hired a designated driver.”

    After saying that, I teased him again. “I value my life and don’t want to harm society.”

    At that, Josh’s eyes looked a little less cold. Then, he raised his hand, and touched my head. “Good girl.”

    This action was like coaxing a baby. I blinked and said, “Josh. I’m quite envious of Molly.”

    Josh was confused. “Yes?”

    I smirked. “You must have loved and cared about her a lot when she grew up.”

    Josh’s eyes darkened as he looked at me. Then, he held my wrist and brought me into his room. “I’ll get you something to drink.”

    I wanted to say there was ino /ineed, but his hand was warm as if it held an attraction, and I followed him back to the house.

    I couldn’t help but sigh about how I couldn’t resist temptation.

    After a while, he made coffee for me, and I realized that the cup was ba /bcartoon cup with a cat’s head, which was obviously for girls.

    But Molly wasn’t here…

    “Whose cup is this? I don’t use other people’s cups,” I said, deliberately and tentatively.

    “It’s yours. I bought it for you.” Josh’s words made my heart skip a beat, and my cheeks turned red.

    I drank the coffee he made and found it yummy.

    14:40 Tue, 26 Aug

    I felt like I was being loved.

    A

    “In the future, don’t drink when you’re alone. It’s not safe,” Josh said.

    “I was with Oscar. I’ve told you that. I would be fine with him around,” I said honestly.

    Josh’s eyes were slightly dark, but he did not say anything.

    I took another sip of water before I heard him say, “Do you trust him that much?”

    “Well, he’s always been nice to me. He treats me like a sister.” I rub the stem of the cup.

    Josh didn’t say anything. I thought of Chuck, the person I saw tonight, so I said, “Guess who I had dinner with tonight.”

    “It’s not Oscar?” Josh’s words sounded a little strange.

    However, I didn’t think much about it. I only said, “There was also Chuck, Brannon’s son.”

    Josh’s expression instantly darkened. “What do you want to do?”