"Five years and that's all you have to say to me?" he asked. Standing so close she could taste his breath.

She wanted to move away from him. But she didn't want him to know just how much he affected her. So she stood right there. She wasn't going to let him intimidate her.


"Well... Is there anything else you want me to say?" she asked 

The side of his mouth moved upwards.

He was smiling? Why the hell was he smiling like that? She thought. She didn't remember saying anything funny.

"You left... Kitty" he said. "I asked you to stay... Begged you to stay... And you left anyways.. With him. And now you come back... Acting like everything is okay between us...?"

There was something about him... She thought. Something about the way he called her 'Kitty' that made her heart flip. He was the only one who called her that. She hadn't even realized how much she missed him calling her that. 

"You shouldn't have gone with him". He said. 

"Oh really? Why not? Because you didn't want me to?" she asked. She was starting to get angry. 

"Yeah that's right" he replied. "And because of what you felt for me -what we felt for each other. When I came near you, you felt an excitement so intense that you ceased to breathe --like you are feeling right now. You wanted me just as much as I wanted you. And that should have been enough to make you stay"

ALWAYS BEEN YOU 

"You are not engaged, are you?" Penny asked. 


"No! I haven't met what Audrey would call the right girl. And I don't go out a lot or have a lot of friends... Especially female ones" 


So she had been right, Penny thought. He wasn't used to women. 


"So what kind of girl do you like? Penny asked with a smile. 


"I'm not sure "he said, smiling back at her." But I will know when I meet her" 


"Dark or fair?" Penny persisted mischievously. 


"I don't mind" Joey answered. "It doesn't matter a great deal what she looks like. I'm more interested in character. I want a wife with a certain amount of intelligence, a sense of humor and above all, no affectations. I can't stand airs and graces" 


Chapter Two Hundred and Eight