His cold, handsome face loomed in front of me, and I couldn’t help but feel a sense of bitterness rising. “Who told you to refuse me?” I shot back, unable to keep the edge from my voice.


    Josh didn’t answer. Instead, he looked at me, waiting. I frowned. “How did you find me?”


    “I’ve been looking for you,” he replied, his voice casual but firm.


    Of course, he had. He always had a way of finding me. He added, “What was it this time?”


    “I agreed,” he said. But I didn’t know what he meant.


    He took a breath. “I agree. I’ll be your boyfriend for real. Temporary, just like you wanted.”


    “Wait, you changed your mind?” I hadn’t expected that.


    “I didn’t change my mind,” Josh snapped. “You went on a blind date and got yourself followed? Did you think that was safe?” His voice carried a mixture of frustration and something I couldn’t quite ce-anger, maybe?


    His tone softened slightly, but his eyes were still intense. I smirked a little. “You look like you’re going against your will. Wouldn’t that make you unhappy?”


    Josh’s eyes narrowed slightly, sensing my teasing. He took a step closer, and I instinctively stepped back, but the railing was right behind me. I couldn’t escape.


    He leaned in, his arm stretching out to brace behind me, trapping me between his chest and the metal. My breath hitched. “Josh…”


    He lowered his voice, close enough that I could feel the warmth of his breath on my ear. “You’re such an idiot for going on a blind date.”


    His voice was rough, but there was something undeniably tender underneath.


    I didn’t move, didn’t speak. I just stood there, listening to his heartbeat thundering against my ear.


    Minutes passed before Josh finally pulled back, his arm dropping away from me. “Coming back thiste by yourself? Not happening again.”


    I exhaled slowly. “Okay,” I whispered.


    There was an awkward pause, but then I found myself saying, “Thanks.”


    I thanked him for showing up today and saving me, and also for agreeing to be my boyfriend, so I could handle the Dolton family and Alvin.


    Josh didn’t respond right away, and I wasn’t sure if he was mad or just too tired to reply. I gestured to the stairs, changing the subject. “I’m going up now.”


    But as I took a step forward, Josh’s voice stopped me. “That guy-he might still be around.”


    My heart skipped. ‘What if hees back?’


    Josh spoke again, his tone more serious now. “I’m staying tonight.”


    I blinked, surprised. “What? Why?”


    “Give me the keys,” he said, extending his hand.


    I stared at him, wide-eyed. “You’re staying here?”


    Josh raised an eyebrow. “Unless you want me to sleep in the hallway?”


    I couldn’t argue with that logic. He continued, “We’ve shared a room before. This isn’t a big deal.”


    That was truest time, everything had felt safe.


    I handed him the keys. We both went upstairs, and he unlocked the door.


    Once inside, Josh said, “I’ll sleep on the couch.”


    I nced at the couch in my living room-an old model from ten years ago, barely 5 feet long. How was someone as tall as Josh supposed to fit on that?


    There were other rooms in the house, but one of them belonged to my parents, and there was no way I could let him stay in there.


    “You should sleep in my room, I’ll take my parents’ room,” I said, setting my bag down and pulling open the wardrobe. I fished out a pair of my dad’s old slippers.


    It had been ten years. I wasn’t sure if they were still wearable, especially since the pipes had burst a decade ago.


    Josh took the slippers without a word, and I went to my room to grab my pajamas, making sure everything was in order before I left.


    As I was about to enter my parents’ room, Josh stopped me. “Wait.”