Myra: [Zoe, please reply. I’m really worried about you.]


    Reading through Myra’s flood of messages, with the crying emoji at the end, I finally decided to respond. [I’m fine, don’t overthink it or jump to conclusions. Just focus on your work and I’ll be


    back soon.]


    Myra replied almost immediately. [Zoe, what’s going on between you and Mr. Dolton?]


    I nced at her message and typed a simple word. [Nothing.]


    Her status showed she was typing, but before I could read more, I heard Holly calling from outside. “Zoe, are you ready?”


    I tossed my phone aside. “Yep.”


    I slipped off my shoes and put on my slippers, opening the door to find Josh outside, filling up several water buckets.


    A row of white buckets stood lined up, and as each filled, he carried them, his strong shoulder muscles visible through his shirt. His presence exuded both strength and control.


    “Why are you filling up so many buckets? Is there a water outage or something?” I asked as I walked


    over.


    Holly, noticing my slippers, gave me a quick side-eye.


    Josh didn’t answer, but she did. “Just in case the water gets cut off.”


    Then, she turned to Josh. “I’m making fresh fish soup tonight. You two go buy some fish-make sure they’re fresh-and grab sometro.”


    It wasn’t really a request to buy things; it was more like a subtle nudge for us to go out and chat. But honestly, with these slippers on, I wasn’t feeling like going, and changing shoes would’ve been even more awkward.


    “Go change your shoes,” Josh said, his voice t.


    At this point, changing shoes would’ve been even more embarrassing, so I just shrugged and


    smiled. “No need.”


    Josh didn’t say anything more and walked off, but Holly gestured for me to follow. “Josh, wait for


    Zoe!”


    Reluctantly, I followed him out in my slippers. They weren’t ideal, but they werefortable.


    We hadn’t walked far when Josh suddenly stopped. “I heard you want to be in a rtionship with


    me?”


    I froze. “…What?”


    I thought, ‘Did Holly really say it like that? This guy really doesn’t beat around the bush.''”


    “So, you don’t want to?” He nced at me, and for the first time, I really took a good look at him.


    His features were sharp, his eyes deep. His lips weren’t too thin or too thick. His face was handsome -maybe even more than Alvin’s-but with slightly darker skin.


    I thought, ‘They say not to judge people by their looks, but who doesn’t notice someone’s face when they first meet? You can’t exactly check someone’s body right off the bat, right?’


    “I’m 31, served in the army for eight years, now I’m doing…” He actually started to introduce himself, but was interrupted before he could finish.


    “Josh!” A boy, probably around 17 or 18, called out to him, whistling and giving me a quick look as he passed by.


    “Is the taxi yours?” After the boy walked off, I asked.


    “No, it’s a friend’s,” Josh answered.


    “Have you been involved with the widow?” I blurted out without thinking.


    Josh’s gaze grew colder, but he answered simply, “No.”


    “Will


    you


    be in the future?” I asked, already feeling like I was crossing a line.


    He replied with his usual brevity, “No.”


    Iughed lightly. “I’m 24. I just ended a rtionship that almost led to marriage. Both of my parents are gone, and I’m not nning to get involved with anyone right now.”


    I justid it out there, since Holly had asked me if I was interested in trying things with him. To be honest, I wasn’t. I wasn’t interested in dating again, especially not through an arranged setup with a stranger.


    Josh lowered his eyes and said nothing. I thought he understood my point, so I started to turn away when-


    “Then, what about marriage?” he asked.


    His question made me stop dead in my tracks. I stared at him,pletely stunned.


    Josh stood tall, meeting my gaze without flinching. “What about getting a marriage license,” he repeated.