When I woke up this morning, I was still thinking about that dream.


    This was the second time Josh had appeared in my dreams, and I couldn’t help but wonder if we had met before.


    Putting that aside, remember thest time I dreamt about a little boy carrying me on his back? He had a mole right where Josh has one.


    And then there was yesterday-he actually called me “Zoe,” and I’m sure I heard it right.


    I was deep in my thoughts when Myra’s voice snapped me back to reality. “What are you doing back here, sleeping again?”


    It was rare for this sleep-loving girl to wake up before the rm went off.


    I knew exactly what she meant, so I shot her a look and said, “What do you mean by ‘sleeping again’?”


    Myra grinned mischievously. “I thought you and Josh…”


    “What are you talking about?” I cut her off, frowning. “Why does your mind always jump to the most ridiculous things?”


    “Well, they’re just two adults, one single and the other unmarried. Isn’t it normal for men and women to fall for each other?” Myra wasn’t wrong, but I still gave her an exasperated look.


    “Doesn’t mean you can just fall for anyone anytime,” I retorted.


    Myra smirked and edged her pillow toward mine. “Zoe, you know, I really want to see Josh’s ‘do-no-wrong’ imagee crashing down.”


    “Huh?” I was confused.


    “You know, I want to see him, the ‘serious’ guy, acting anything but serious when he’s with a woman.” Myra’s words made meugh.


    “Well, if you really want to see it, you’re going to have to try it yourself. You won’t see it from anyone else,” I said as I sat up.


    Myra followed my lead and sat up too. “So, you can try it and tell me all about it,” she said with a wink.


    I stared at her, speechless, then said, “Should I record it for you?”


    “Yes!” she said without hesitation.


    I grabbed a pillow and threw it at her. Myra caught it quickly and rested it under her chin. “Zoe, did something happen between you and Joshst night?”


    Her question immediately made the scene of Josh helping me find a document sh in my mind, then the moment I covered him with the nket, and when he grabbed my wrist…


    “Did something really happen?” Myra must’ve sensed my hesitation, and she immediately jumped onto my bed, eager to gossip.


    “No. Don’t jump to conclusions,” I denied as I started getting out of bed.


    She grabbed my arm. “Come on, just tell me.”


    “I already told you, nothing happened. And stop shipping me with Josh. I’m not interested in him that way.” I added thest


    part to shut her up.


    I stood up and headed for the bathroom, but as I reached the door, Myra sighed. “Well, I guess after being with Mr. Dolton for so long, it wouldn’t be so easy to fall for someone else.”


    I snorted, but didn’t respond.


    After I finished washing up, Myra and I went downstairs for breakfast. As we opened the door, we bumped into Josh.


    He was wearing camo pants and a ck T-shirt, his entire vibe exuding a sort of hardness that felt…unexpectedly intense.


    For some reason, I felt a bit sweaty behind my ears.


    “Josh, why aren’t you working this morning?” Myra, who was definitely too quick with her words, asked without thinking.


    Josh looked at me briefly and said, “Don’t feel like it.”


    Myra was stunned but quickly recovered. “Well then, we can have breakfast together, and after that, you can go back to


    work.”


    Josh didn’t respond, and I could already feel the awkwardness.


    But Myra didn’t seem to care. She hooked her arm through mine and said, “You’ll drive me and Josh to the amusement park and then you can go back to work.”


    I scoffed. “You paying me for that?”


    “Myra, Josh’s paying you,” she said, turning to Josh. “Right, Josh?”


    I expected Josh to shoot her down immediately, but instead, he said, “If she wants to, she can.”


    I was speechless.


    Myra, sensing something was off, squeezed my arm and gave me a sly look. Apparently, she smelled a juicy story.


    Josh was turning into some kind of drama ma, wasn’t he?


    I wasn’t giving Myra any more gossip fodder. I shed a sly grin and said, “I’m not short on money, so no thanks.”


    ‘Zoe…” Josh called out, his voice soft but still carrying weight.


    I couldn’t help but feel a tight knot in my stomach, and Myra seemed to sense it, too. As we were eating breakfast, my phone rang. It was Lena Wace, myndlord. I thought she’d finallye to a resolution, so I answered the call. “Lena…”


    “Zoe, I’m really sorry to bother you so early,” Lena said, sounding polite but a bit ufortable.


    ‘It’s fine, just tell me,” I replied, sipping my milk.


    ‘I spoke with the person about the rental situation, but they won’t agree. They’re refusingpensation, so…” Lena’s voice sounded familiar, but I couldn’t quite ce it.


    “Zoe, don’t worry too much. I’ve checked on this guy. No criminal record, no bad habits, and he’s actually quite handsome. He’s even worked as…” Lena paused mid-sentence, but then Josh interrupted.


    “Zoe, can I have that fried egg?” Josh pointed to the egg on my te.


    I froze, not hearing Lena’s words anymore. All I could focus on was Josh standing there, looking at me.


    “Well, if you don’t want it, then forget it,” he added, already peeling a soft-boiled egg.


    “Josh, I’m done with the fried egg. You can have it,” Myra, ever the enthusiastic one, pushed her te toward him.


    “No thanks, I don’t feel like eating it anymore,” Josh turned her down coldly.


    I remained silent, watching as he shoved the soft-boiled egg into his mouth. The way he did it-so casual, so…direct-it made my throat dry.


    And yet, I had this odd feeling he didn’t really want the fried egg at all.


    But why had he asked for it then?


    Before I could process any more, Josh had finished his meal. He stood up, slinging his bag over his shoulder, and said, “You guys eat. I’m heading out.”


    Myra watched him leave and then smirked. “He didn’t want the fried egg. He just wanted yours.”


    “Seriously? Does eating my fried egg make him immortal?” I picked up my fork and took a bite of my egg.


    “Myra, Josh likes you,” she said, with a knowing look.


    I choked a bit, coughing and reaching for my milk. “Just because he wants my fried egg?”


    “No, it’s how he acts around you, the way he looks at you…” Myra made a face. “I can’t put it into words, but it’s definitely electric.”


    I wasn’t a teenager anymore, so of course I had noticed.


    From the moment Josh casually mentioned marriage, I had an inkling.


    But as time went on, especially after these past few days, includingst night, I started to think that maybe he really did like <ol><li></li></ol>


    “So what?” I said, deflecting, but as I looked up, I realized Josh had returned.


    He was staring straight at me, no attempt to hide it.


    That made me squirm, my fingers curling into my palm. Myra, seeing my difort, jumped in, “Josh, we were just talking about Zoe’s ex-fiance. She said…”


    “I get it,” Josh interrupted, locking his eyes on mine.