chapter 6

 My phone was ringing endlessly for the last five minutes, I was brushing my teeth and couldn’t get off fast to reach my phone to answer it. ‘UHHG!!!’ wait okay, whoever you are,’  I rolled my eyes. I rinsed my mouth and rushed out in the bathroom. I grabbed my phone and checked who the caller was “uncultured caller” Oh great! What the hell this pig wants. Clicking the green button, I pressed the phone on my ear.

        “Hello,” I answered

        “Kathy.” I deep baritone voice answered back. What? I had to look again to see whose name was on the phone— “uncultured caller.”

        “How in the hell you know my name?!” I yelled. I was pretty sure this was the caller who dialed my number and made the disgusting noise while doing their unholy deeds.

        “It's me, Miles” fucking hell, Miles?

        “Hey! Miles?” I whispered. Cat got my tongue. I was too shocked. Was he the one who called me that day?

        “Are you okay, were you on the other call? Did I bother you?” Miles was throwing questions from the other line. 

        No.No. And yes, you did!

        “Yes, I'm okay, I'm sorry for yelling, I was in the toilet when you were calling me” I answered, “Do you need to tell something and by the way, is this your new number?” I asked. I had to know.

        “Oh, no, its just my personal office number.” Miles said, “I called to tell you that we're leaving tomorrow at eight in the morning.”

        David and Lindsay were getting married on Saturday, Noon, and I already booked for a Friday off tomorrow so I could have time to prepare myself once we landed in California. “My driver is going to pick you up before then.”

        “Sure, thank you for letting me know” I sincerely thanked him

        “No worries, you can save this number, so you wouldn't have to yell at me when I call you,” he bantered. I already did you, pig!. How could you do that inside your office, on your office table? Just thinking of that stuff made me cringe.

        “Ha-ha.OKAY,” rolling my eyes as I hung and dropped my phone on my bed.

        I was about to go back and finish my bathroom business when my phone rang again. What was with these people calling at night? I checked it, and Josh’s name appeared

        “Hey! What's up?” I answered

        “Hey, K,” he sounded upset and crying. I scowled.

        “Is everything okay, J?”

        “I need my best friend…” I heard Josh sniffing

        “Where are you at? let me know, send me your location.” Josh seems distressed. I wonder what was happening to him right now. I hoped it wasn’t bad news.

        “I'm okay, but can I just come over to your place then?” He asked

        “You're always welcome here, J” I assured him “Let me know when you're outside, I'm just going to take a shower,” I told him

        “Sure, Babe,” then he hung up.

        I always felt secured with Josh, even though he was gay and still acted and dressed like a man, he knew his limits and treated me well. He was a gentleman, and I was so pleased to gain a best friend in him. I walked back to the toilet, and this time I brought my phone with me, just in case another person would dare to interrupt my business again.

        Josh arrived thirty minutes later. Bringing a bottle of wine with him. I prepared an inflatable bed on the floor next to my bed. This wasn’t the first time Josh slept over in my place. We always snoozed up late whenever he came for a sleepover.

         Josh poured me a glass of wine. I hesitated to drink it since I’ll be leaving the next day early in the morning.

        “Just a glass sweety,” he said

        “Okay, one glass” I took a sipped and walked back to my walk-in closet to take the clothes I would be packing up for the next three days. Josh was slumping on the bed on the floor. Drawing circles on the rim of his wine glass.

        I dropped all my clothes on the bed.

        “Now, spill!” I demanded. As I sipped the wine again

        “I'm getting married…” Josh sadly said

        My eyes widen as I choked on my wine! What the hell with these people breaking news to me while drinking my wine. I coughed, and Josh worriedly attended to me and started patting my back.

        “Are you okay?” I shook my head, tapping my heavy chest. Josh ran to my bedside table and gave me a glass of water.

        I took a gulped and handed him back the glass. “What did you just say again? You.are.getting.married?” I asked in a croaky voice.

        “Oh, you worried me” Josh held his chest as he felt relieved, putting down the glass on the table.

        He sat down on the edge of my bed while I started folding my clothes and putting inside the traveling packs.

        “Yes, I'm getting married, but I don’t want to!!” He protested and whined like a child.

        I faced him and rested my hands on my hips, giving him a death glare.

        “I’m pretty sure you don’t want to, hell I'm gonna let you!! I don’t even know the guy you’re getting married with!” I shrieked. As far as I knew, he was not dating any guy right now, not unless he…

        “Did you knock-up a woman?” I queried.

        “No!” He objected, “Of course not, I am not a lesbian!” he pulled his hair out of frustration. I tittered.

        “Then what was this marriage all about? stop beating around the bush, spill everything now!” I demanded out of frustration as I walked back inside the toilet and took my toiletries and makeup kit.

        “Okay here’s the deal, my Grandfather wants me to get married to this lady, a granddaughter of his Business partner, this is to merge the company.” He stated.

        Josh’s grandfather owned big business in the south, not as big as my Family’s, but business merging was a big step in securing the assets of the company.

        “He doesn’t have any idea that I’m a gay man, and getting married to a woman is my last resort, not unless it was you,” he still managed to kid his frustration.   

        I glared at him and didn’t speak. I crouched down and took the small luggage bag under the bed.

        “I just can’t let my grandfather down. He might never live that long, so I agreed with him,” he sounded broken and desperate.

        “It’s an arranged marriage, Kathy,” Josh continued.

        I accidentally dropped the bag on the floor upon hearing his words—arranged Marriage. I looked at him with an unreadable face. Josh frowned.

        “Did I say something wrong?”

        Yes.

        “No, what’s the plan?” trying to divert his attention from my reaction. “Have you seen or talked to her?” I asked him as I continued packing up my stuff.

        “I’m planning to meet her the day after tomorrow, I’m going to tell her everything, and maybe we could come up with an agreement or contract. I’m pretty sure she doesn’t want to get tied forever to a stranger sure as hell as a gay husband,” he clarified.

        “I bet she doesn’t,” I agreed with Josh. Maybe Miles and I could also come up with that agreement, I can’t even let Belinda down. It was her dying wish, and no matter what arises up, once she healed, we could always get a divorce. I just don’t know on what extent she can do to persuade Miles to marry me.

        “Hey, Kathy, you zoned out,” Josh poked my arm. I blinked and checked my bedside watch its ten in the evening.

        I yawned, “its late, Josh. I need to wake up early in the morning,” I told Josh while closing the last zipper of my bag. I was all set now for tomorrow. Josh headed down to his bed, and I flopped my tired body on my soft bed. I wish I could tell Josh that he and I were about to sail in the same boat. The only difference was mine was a one-sided unrequited love for Miles. Hence, with Josh, he could jump in and out of it without getting his feelings involved.

        “Good night, Josh.”

        “Goodnight, sweet Kate,” Josh mumbled.

        I chuckled. Sweetkate.