SWNOVELS Chapter 45
Right there, under the dazzling streetlights, Jocelyn was laughing her head off, looking drop-dead gorgeous, while the guy behind her had this look in his eyes, like he was totally smitten. They were the picture of a couple head over heels, with her making a fuss and him chuckling along.
Melvin had this thought bubble up: if life could always be this chill, it wouldn't be half bad.
There was this girl selling flowers by the curb, and Jocelyn stopped in her tracks, looking back at Melvin.
He strolled over and was like, "What's up?"
"Flowers."
"You're not even into that stuff."
"How did you know?"
"I've given them to you before."
"That was you screwing up and saying sorry with flowers."
Melvin gave her the eye, "So what's the occasion today?"
Jocelyn tilted her head up, lips pursed, "Just because love."
Jocelyn was eyeing those red roses in the jar, her heart doing somersaults.
The flower seller could totally see what Jocelyn was getting at and chimed in, "Sir, why not give your girlfriend one? One rose for a lifetime together." Jocelyn was all about 'forever and ever,' but Melvin? Not so much.
Melvin picked out a rose that wasn't all that lush and handed it to Jocelyn, then asked the seller, "How much?"
"Fifty cents."
Melvin raised an eyebrow, "That cheap?"
The girl flashed a smile, "Yeah, it's off-season, so prices are lower."
"I'll take them all." Melvin was feeling generous. "How much for the lot?"
The seller counted, "Just nineteen left."
"Wrap them up for me." Melvin paid with a quick scan of his phone.
The girl wrapped the flowers up nice and pretty, even added some extra touches, and handed them over to Melvin, "Wishing you two forever and always."
Melvin passed the flowers to Jocelyn, who buried her nose in them. They hardly smelled at all, but to her, it was like heaven.
"Hmph," chuckled Melvin, watching her clutch those flowers like they were a wad of cash.
"What are you 'hmph' about?" Jocelyn glared at him.
Melvin looked at her with mock disdain, "Look at you, acting like they're worth a fortune."
Jocelyn didn't argue, "Second time in my life getting roses, of course they're more precious than money."
Hearing that, Melvin laid off the teasing.
They walked side by side, turning heads with their killer looks.
Suddenly, Jocelyn had a thought, "You got snapped with Willow before. Do you think anyone will recognize you?"
"Nah," Melvin wasn't sweating it, "Even if they do, big deal. Everyone's got friends."
Jocelyn shrugged it off; he sure was laid back about it.
They strolled down the street for ages.
Out of the blue, Jocelyn stopped, stared at Melvin, tilted her head, and smirked.
"What's on your mind now?" Melvin sounded a tad impatient.
Jocelyn bent over and rubbed her calf, "Feeling a bit sore."
"Let's get a ride," said Melvin, whipping out his phone.
"I don't wanna. Might get carsick."
Melvin squinted at her, "So, what? We don't go back; hit up a hotel?"
Jocelyn took a couple of steps towards him, "Carry me."
"Jocelyn, don't push it," Melvin shot her a warning glance.
She raised her eyebrows, "Or I can just head home myself."
Melvin took a deep breath, glanced around, "Are you really gonna make a scene?"
"What's there to be embarrassed about?" Jocelyn was dead set on not walking another step, hugging the flowers like a stubborn kid, demanding a piggyback.
Melvin glared at her, but eventually caved and stood in front of her, looking up again, "Hop on, then."
Jocelyn was surprised; she was mostly joking, but he actually bent down and got ready.
In that moment, she felt loved.
"You getting on or what?" Melvin urged her, seeing she hadn't moved.
After a beat, Jocelyn went behind him and jumped on.
Melvin wrapped his arms around her backside, hoisted her up, and started walking down the sidewalk with her on his back.
There were a lot of onlookers, all stealing glances their way.
At first, Jocelyn thought he'd be too shy to carry her, but now she was the one feeling bashful.
She tapped on Melvin's shoulder, "Put me down."
"Didn't you want a lift?" Melvin wasn't letting go. He didn't care either way.
"Change of plans. Let me down," Jocelyn couldn't handle the stares.
But Melvin was now having a blast. The more she squirmed, the tighter he held on.
Jocelyn, cheeks flaming, smacked his shoulder again, "Let me down now."
"Nope." Melvin was having fun, sensing her discomfort, and he deliberately headed where the crowds were thickest.
Jocelyn felt like she was losing dignity big time and buried her head in the nape of his neck.
Out of sight, out of mind.
Feeling the dampness on his neck, Melvin figured it was enough and put her down behind a tree. Seeing her flushed face, he teased her, "Can't you handle a little attention?" Jocelyn shot him a look and pinched his waist, "Bet you can't carry me all the way home."
"Talk is cheap," Melvin said, unbuttoning his collar, his back drenched in sweat.
Jocelyn reached out, "Phone."
"What for?" Melvin frowned.
"Just give it."
He handed over his phone, and Jocelyn unlocked it with a scan of his face, then snapped a selfie of them together - their very first.
The lights, the passersby, the flowers, the bustling streets - they captured a moment that felt like a little slice of happiness to her.
"Can I tweet this?" Jocelyn asked tentatively.
Melvin snatched the phone back and pocketed it, "Don't even think about it."
Jocelyn wasn't surprised; him letting her touch his phone was already a big deal.
She was prepared, so no disappointment there.
Melvin walked ahead as Jocelyn took out her phone, held the flowers up against his blurred backdrop, and made sure the roses were in focus.
She tweeted it with the caption: [Capturing the feeling of having the whole world.]
Jocelyn pocketed her phone and quickly caught up with Melvin. Sidling up next to him, she grabbed his hand and interlocked their fingers without asking. Melvin didn't shake her off. He let her hold on. He wasn't putting up a fight anyway. If she wanted to hold hands, so be it.
True to his word, Melvin spent the next two days hanging out with Jocelyn at home. Daisy called up Jocelyn, curious to know where she was and who had sent the flowers.
There was Jocelyn, chilling in Melvin's living room, chatting with mom on speakerphone.
"Mom, who says I can't send myself flowers?" Jocelyn glanced at the guy on the balcony making a call. Whether he heard her or not, she just wanted to throw that out there.
"You, kiddo, always playing hard to get when it comes to love. Feeling the sting of being single now, aren't you? Oh, and Zelda from our block, her nephew is quite the catch, a good-looking chap and a white- collar worker, just two years older than you and single as a dollar bill. How about meeting him?"
Just as Daisy dropped that, Melvin walked in, catching the tail end of the conversation as he closed the door behind him. With his arms crossed over his chest, he took a few steps towards Jocelyn, giving her a look that spelled both warning and threat.
Jocelyn grabbed her phone, feeling the pressure mounting.
Pushing back against the stress, she replied, "Who says he'd even fancy me?"
"Why wouldn't he fancy you? What's not to like about my daughter? I haven't seen a girl prettier than you," boasted Daisy, brimming with confidence in her daughter's charms.
Jocelyn watched as Melvin inched closer, his eyes flashing a clear 'don't you dare' signal.