The Thoughtful Surprise...
1859 Words
The drive back home wasn't as long and stressful like in the morning. Though Olivia used the most part of it trying to figure out where her phone was.
She carefully pulled into the front of the house. She didn't have the strength nor enthusiasm to drive into the park.
She grabbed her purse and heels which she had just taken off and then walked in barefoot.
She spotted the slightly opened door as she got closer. She whined under her breath while Ryan would be so careless. She was still at this when she heard voices which meant he had a visitor.
"I thought we agreed on informing each other before having visitors over." Olivia said in a gentle tone as she opened the front door quietly.
Surprisingly, Ryan was also at the door and all dressed up. He was a little taken aback by her calmness. It made him curious as to why she had suddenly became nice but he knew better than to ask her that.
"Wow, what a coincidence? I was just about heading out. I hope you enjoyed your day. Uhm... I would be staying out late tonight so no need to worry about me. See you soon Ms. Lanes, bye Josh." Ryan chimed in calmly too while ignoring her question.
Olivia said nothing too. She only nodded. She then entered and saw Josh. She had been standing out while the banter went on so she never knew the other voice she heard was his. She squeezed her face at this realization. She had called Ryan out wrongly and might now need to apologize.
Ryan didn't wait for an apology which wasn't coming either. He hurried off on his way.
"Ms. Lanes??" Josh exclaimed in a taunting manner.
"When did you start going by Ms. Lanes?" He asked.
It came as a surprise to him when he heard Ryan call her, Ms. Lanes. No one calls her that, even at work, she would insist on being called by her first name.
"Well, in case you haven't noticed, I've always been Ms. Lanes." Olivia replied firmly as she hurried into her bedroom to drop her shoes and change out of her clothes.
"So why is your roommate referring to you as that?" Josh pressed further as he walked closely behind her into the room.
"I don't know, I'm sure he hasn't gone far why don't you run after him and ask?" She replied with sarcasm too. It sounded so funny that the two burst into laughter.
She opened the door and held it so Josh could also come in after which she closed it. She returned the shoes to the rack and then went into the closet.
"I know right, I sound really pathetic. It isn't my fault, I lost my phone. I don't know how or where and it's really killing me. I feel like my brain is going to explode any minute now from the deep thinking and calculations I've done today." Olivia replied from the closet while Josh struggled on with laughter.
"I think the overthinking trait is on again." He chipped in.
"I really need to switch it off. I feel so uncomfortable and restless." She added as she settled down at the dressing table. It was time to get her makeup off.
She had changed out of her corporate clothes and now wearing a simple tiny strapped free dress.
"Well, do you mean this phone?" Josh asked.
Olivia turned back immediately to find her lost phone sitting pretty in Josh's hand. She dropped the pack of face wipes she was holding, hurried to him and snatched the phone. One would think it was more than a phone with the way she held it tightly to her face. It was such a great passion she attached to the reunion.
"Oh my God, how did you get it? I could have swore it was stolen at the seminar." She said while holding the phone with both hands.
"That could never happen. Everyone is there for serious business and besides, it is so obvious it isn't a gathering of pickpockets? I can vouch for everyone there even without meeting them." Josh replied with so much passion in his voice.
"I thought so too but it was my first time there so I just couldn't rule out the possibility. I mean, pickpockets don't go about town with a description on their foreheads. Do they?" She argued too.
"But I do get your point. I was impressed as well." She added.
"I hope you have finally realized what you've been missing all this while." Josh asked.
"Give me the full gist, I need to know all about the event." He added while he adjusted his position into one ready to digest the report from her.
"Hello Mr. Do I look like a reporter? You should have made your way there if you wanted a first hand report." Olivia retorted and then went back to her dressing table where she started taking off her makeup.
"Hello to you too Ms. Lanes but do I need to remind you that you were the one who snatched my space." Josh answered and then went to her. He started to loose her hair bun which was now rough and started making it into a new one.
"You gave the ticket to me out of your free will. I never begged nor forced you to." She replied.
"Says the one who literally kept calling till I sent a copy of the ticket." Josh replied too as he brushed her hair one last time. Olivia thanked him for the hair with a thumbs up.
"That's by the way. Check this out..." She added and then hurried to the other side of the room where she had flung her purse and the fancy bag containing the trophy on entering the room. She brought out the trophy and showed it to Josh who quickly took it from her.
"Wow, this is so amazing. I can't believe you actually got the most coveted award. I've had my eyes on it for so long but never won." He chimed in while checking out the trophy in total awe.
"Ohh, really, I didn't know it was that important or special. I just felt it was a... You know, casual thing." Olivia revealed.
"What? No. I'm sure the calm countenance of the people present fooled you into thinking they don't want the award. Trust me, I can confidently say we all do." Josh asserted firmly.
He was right. The people present made it seem like it wasn't a big deal as they all already won one in the past. Or maybe, Olivia just assumed that.
"Speak for yourself Josh. Just a few looked interested or even attempted answering the questions. It's nice though, I enjoyed the glam and glee the award got me." She said with a smile while Josh let out a soft chuckle.
"Typical Olivia." He said.
"Says the little kettle who would not stop calling the pot black." Olivia replied with sarcasm.
"How long have you been here?" She asked.
Josh handed back the trophy which Olivia took to her small mantel and made space for, alongside three other ones which were there. She got one from her workplace, one during her internship and one in high school for being the valedictorian.
"Not too long. About two hours I think. I came here straight from work and that was about three hours or less ago." He answered while they made their way back to the living room.
Olivia made herself comfortable on the couch. Josh did the same too, beside her. She then laid her legs on his lap.
"How are things with Ryan? You guys finally getting along well?" He asked.
"Can we not talk about him please?" Olivia said with a tired smile.
"Alright, but I think he is cool though. We had a great time while I was waiting for you." He said while she gave him a stern warning look.
"Yes, I know you said I shouldn't be too friendly with him. But it isn't my fault that he is so friendly."
"I didn't even want to stay at first. I wanted to leave immediately I learnt you were not back but he insisted I stayed and wait around for a while. I did and trust me, I don't regret doing so. We really connected on so many levels. I think you just need to dial the strict front down a bit." Josh clarified while Olivia remained silent and listened with rapt attention.
"Didn't you catch that manly glance of unspoken confidence he flashed me before he left? Trust me, he likes and enjoys the attention. I stand my ground firmly. No unnecessary friendship, no deviation or distraction from the plan. I already have a best friend and I'm content." She clarified too.
"Fair enough then." Josh finally dropped the idea.
"I have a surprise for you." Josh revealed while Olivia's eyes flickered with excitement.
"Close your eyes please, Ms. Lanes." Josh said with sarcasm while she laughed but refused to oblige.
"Please," Josh insisted.
Olivia was eager to know what the surprise was, which made her eventually agree to close her eyes. Josh waved his hand over her closed eyes a few times to confirm if they were really shut. When he was sure, he stood up and tiptoed in the kitchen's direction.
When Olivia was sure he was gone, she also opened her eyes and looked. She was about sneaking after him when she heard his footsteps. She quickly withdrew to her position and went back to closing her eyes.
"Voila, you can open your eyes." Josh exclaimed.
She did and saw him holding a bowl of ice cream while bowing down as if in a stage play.
Olivia's reaction was not what Josh was expecting. It was a little less that he anticipated. He looked down to check if he took the right container. It was, but he wasn't showing the right side to her.
As soon as he corrected this and Olivia saw the label. She screamed so loud that the house would come crumbling down from any more of her high-pitched scream. It was ice cream and though, she saw this from the start, she didn't know it was from her favourite ice cream shop until she saw the label.
"I love you so much Josh, you're the best." Olivia said as she quickly snatched the bowl from him, opened it and scooped it down her throat.
It felt so refreshing, she hasn't had one from the shop since the suspension.
It was so thoughtful of him to get her one. He even got her a bigger size than she usually gets so it can make up for the lost time.
That was all Josh wanted, for her to be happy always and not feel the absence of bobby or the suspension. He smiled as he massaged her feet which she laid back on his lap when he sat.
What feeling can be greater than this? Olivia thought to herself as she gleamed with satisfaction.
- Writer
