"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 

Perhaps he felt for her more strongly now because he knew that she wasn't engaged to anyone anymore. He wasn't sure she was seeing anyone, although he knew she probably had a lot of men after her, but he hadn't seen her out on a date with anyone. Somehow he had to make his move before it was late. He'd hate to loose her again. 


Penny stared at the painting in front of her. "I was just thinking of the perfect price for this. I don't want to make it too expensive" she said. 


"I'm sure people would love it. It's a beautiful painting. The trees.... The ocean.... The birds... You didn't leave any detail out." Joey said, then he moved and he was right behind her, his voice was softer, almost a whisper. "I can imagine what it would be like to be in a place like that.... The quiet...the gentle breeze.... Watching the trees and the birds...... Would be even much better if it was a date... Would be amazing to go someplace like that with someone" 


Chapter Two Hundred and Fourty Three