True Love Waits

Joshua wished he could slap Sheffield-hard. But he couldn't. He was held fast by the drunken doctor, who had him in a bear hug. So he called out, "Evelyn, please don't go. Gifford and I are taking off." He winked at the man near him.

Gifford got his subtle hint and walked to the balcony where his clothes were drying. "Yeah, Evelyn. Glad you're here. But we are just leaving." He picked up his still-wet clothes and gathered them in his arms without folding them.

It took all his strength, but Joshua finally broke free of Sheffield's arms. He kicked the drunken man hard before he left. He murmured, "Next time you won't be so lucky. I'll settle accounts with you next time." He walked towards the door together with Gifford, still in pajamas. Gifford turned to Evelyn and said, "Thanks for taking care of him. Hey, if he gets in your face again, call me. I'll come right over and beat the crap out of him!"

"And me, you can call me too. I'll help you kick his ass," Joshua added. Although he could not take Sheffield in a one-on-one bout, he could try and hurt him if the doctor were distracted by another foe. Evelyn was struck speechless. Did these two guys want to beat up Sheffield that much? "Yeah, you should go," she nodded.

Then the two men vacated the apartment in no time.

At the gate of the community

"Any idea what to do now?" asked Joshua, as he looked at a pajama-clad Gifford. He knew they were going to end up drinking, so Joshua had asked his driver to drop him off here and not wait around.

"I thought that would be obvious. We'll go to your place. I need to crash, and your couch is comfy. You don't mind, right?" Gifford had come by taxi.

Joshua rolled his eyes at him. "Listen to you. If I didn't know better, I'd think you were poor. You and Sheffield are loaded. I'm the guy short on pocket change. Why are we even friends?" Gifford put his arm around his friend's shoulder, grinning from ear to ear, and said, "I'll sleep wherever you want. I'm easy!"

"Awesome. There's a bridge a couple blocks away. You can sleep under that."

"At least go there with me so I have some company!"

Joshua felt so cold he gathered his coat about him more tightly. "You wish!" he snapped.

"Cut the crap, dude. Just get me out of here," Gifford smiled.

Grudgingly, Joshua hailed a taxi and took Gifford back home.

it, because his parents were home. He

no way he could match up to his friends, so all it did was cause problems. The more Joshua thought about

And he was right.

home and went upstairs, he ran into his father, Darius,

Gifford. You're in Y City? When did you get in? And why are you in pajamas?" Darius wrinkled

few at

need a place

think so. Sorry to bother you, Uncle

who was acting like a well-behaved child. Sheffield was the same. The two cunning guys knew exactly what to say to make his dad happy. It was an act, of course, but

Joshua, make yourself useful and get some blankets and

"Okay, Dad."

then that Darius finally turned his eyes to his son, with a burning gaze. "Why can't you be more like him? He's already a colonel.

be serious for longer

outsider in Darius' eyes, so he didn't mind lecturing his son rudely in his presence. "At least, your friend is a doctor, developing a high profile drug. He's set

sir! Will do!" Joshua dug into his ear with his finger, impatient. "I'm tired, I'm going to bed now," he added. His dad was relentless. Everyone else's kids were great, but he was always a disappointment. "Humph!" Turning his eyes to Gifford, Darius relaxed and his expression became friendly. "Good night, Gifford. You

Thank you, Uncle Darius," Gifford

so ingratiating? I swear, Dad treats you and Sheffield like kings and all I get

him

as the door of the guest room was closed, Gifford asked in a

said sarcastically, "Why? I thought the proud Colonel

Gifford that Sheffield had won over

they vowed not to get married before thirty. The one who broke the rule had to have sex with another gal the night before the wedding. But this was

D City, gathering materials for his research project,"

now. How'd

recall. And that's where he met