Be mine

Artemis

My cousin didn't seem very pleased that everyone did exactly the opposite of what he wanted, but I knew Murilo well enough to know that he wasn't an arrogant man or someone who gets angry at others for such trivial matters, so everything was fine.

But if there was one thing I couldn't miss, it was the opportunity to talk to Joshua and be in the same car as him. I wouldn't be foolish enough to let that pass, no way!

I rarely found myself interested in someone, but that happened the moment I laid eyes on Joshua, and now I was accompanying him to the hospital parking lot to get his car and leave, with Murilo and Virginia walking alongside us, sharing the same goal.

"I need to talk to you real quick, Artemis," Virginia called me, holding onto my arm and letting the men walk ahead of us, making me stop a bit further away from them. "I know exactly what your intentions are with the kind gentleman...

Virginia was whispering, and the men were already reaching their respective cars, which is why I didn't reprimand her. Besides speaking discreetly, she was also absolutely right, I thought mischievously.

"I could never waste time, agree?" I replied, playing along. "After all, it's not every day that such a man appears—handsome, kind, sensible, charming..."

"I get it, Artemis!" Virginia cut me off with a laugh, but then quickly covered her mouth. "Sorry! I couldn't help myself."

I smiled too, mimicking Virginia's gesture and covering my mouth to conceal our laughter.

Even though we were trying to be discreet, the two men looked at us with intrigued expressions, and Virginia and I exchanged a quick understanding glance before each of us walked towards our respective cars, which coincidentally were parked almost side by side.

"Is everything okay?" Joshua asked as he saw me arrive by his side.

"Yes, yes," I nodded, smiling. "We can go."

"That's good," he approved, unlocking the car and opening the passenger door for me to get in.

While Joshua walked around the car, I took the opportunity to fasten my seatbelt. When he sat in his seat behind the wheel, flashing a beautiful smile at me, once again, I melted for that man.

Instead of driving out of the parking lot, Joshua stared at me attentively. Even though all I wanted was to keep admiring him, I ended up being the first to look away again.

"Sorry, Artemis, isn't it?" Joshua still had a smile on his face. "With all that commotion, we didn't get properly introduced."

"Yes, Artemis," I confirmed, still smiling, and decided to play along. "And you're Joshua."

"But that doesn't count, I introduced myself at the hospital," he teased. "But I also haven't asked yet where you live..."

"You're right!" I agreed, smiling. "I live in Jardim Paulista."

"How convenient! I live in the same neighborhood," he said.

That was quite useful information, and I was thrilled to know it.

"That's great," I replied, trying to conceal my excitement. "But have you ever thought about what if I lived on the other side of the city? It would be quite out of your way..."

"I would still take you home, and it would be a pleasure to have your company," he said.

Wow! That man wants to break down all my defenses at once. Not that I had any against him, but still, it would be impossible to resist.

"I'm glad to hear that," I returned his shameless flirtation, without any embarrassment.

"Well then, let's go."

Joshua drove out of the parking lot and headed toward our neighborhood. Throughout the journey, he seemed completely focused on the road, which was quite calm at that late hour of the night.

"Meanwhile, I tried to think of something to say just to start a conversation, because what I wanted to know was if he was single and what he liked to do, the places he usually frequented... as much information as possible about him and a way to see him again.

But I couldn't talk about such personal matters when we had just met, especially considering the circumstances of how we met, in a hospital.

The drive to Jardim Paulista was too fast for my liking, and now we were already arriving on my street, and we hadn't exchanged a word since we left the parking lot.

That made me sad because how would I ever see Joshua again?

"You've been delivered, miss," Joshua joked.

I tried to smile, but I was saddened by how quickly we had arrived and the fact that he didn't seem interested in me the way I was in him. After all, Joshua hadn't started a conversation either.

"Well... thank you!" There was nothing more to say, and I held onto the door handle, about to exit the car completely discontented. "It was very kind of you to bring me home."

"I wouldn't miss the opportunity to spend a few more minutes with you, Artemis."

My heart raced like crazy in my chest, and even my ears seemed to be buzzing. I thought I was imagining things because it couldn't be possible that Joshua had just said what I think I heard.

"What?" I was foolish enough to ask.

"I think you heard me correctly," Joshua teased, and I felt lighter, almost floating now.

I tried to think of something to say, but my brain seemed to be embarrassing me today because nothing came to mind.

"You're very kind," was the most intelligent response I could articulate.

"Kindness has nothing to do with it, Artemis," he said point-blank, leaving me breathless. "Can I have your phone number?"

I think I must have fallen asleep on the hospital bench, and now I was dreaming. It was the only plausible explanation.

"Of course!" I responded excitedly, and then I tried to use a calmer and less embarrassed tone of voice. "Yes, of course."

He picked up his phone from the car's dashboard, and I eagerly waited for him to ask for my number, which I promptly provided.

"I think it's best for you to go inside, after all, it's very late for us to be out here in the middle of the street," Joshua said, as always using his common sense.

But I don't have as much common sense as he does, and I couldn't resist asking something I needed to know right now.

"Do you have someone?"

"Someone? I don't understand the question," he seemed genuinely confused.

"If you're married, have a girlfriend or fiancée... or someone you're seeing, whatever it may be!" I explained, a little impatiently.

"Is this how you ask that nowadays in Brazil?"

"You're not Brazilian?"

"I've been out of the country for the past six years, but in response to your other question... I don't have anyone," he said, despite his playful tone, his expression was serious.

"When we ask a man if he's single, he says yes..." I clarify his question. "But if he has a girlfriend or even a fiancée, he still says he's single just because he's not married yet."

"That's absurd!" Joshua truly seemed indignant.

"I completely agree..." I say, pretending to be sad just to lighten the mood.

"Now I feel like having someone, you know?" Joshua joked because I refused to believe he was being serious. "What do you think about being my someone?"

"You're kidding me, right?"

"I'm not."

"We barely know each other!"

"We can fix that, if you want to..."

I stared at Joshua intently, my heart still hadn't returned to its normal rhythm, and he was already proposing something like this! It was too much for me.

"What do you mean?"

"Let's get to know each other better," he suggested. "And find out if we can be each other's someone."

I wanted to accept, but at the same time, I was afraid. After all, today was the first time we had seen each other... we knew nothing about each other, and there were so many other questions!

"Do you want to come in?" I asked, deciding to go all-in on this craziness.

"Open the garage, I need to park the car," Joshua replied with a playful response.

We both smiled at each other and without waiting any longer, Joshua was pressing his lips against mine, sending me into ecstasy with just one kiss.

One thing was certain: we had incredible chemistry, I thought breathlessly as I opened the garage.